Chapter VII: Part 7

“To avoid every appearance of hostility, and preserve peace to
the last, the British authorities had kept their forces at a
distance from the frontier; and the enemy thus emboldened by
forbearance, which was probably taken for timidity, crossed the
Sutlej, and attacked our possessions without even a declaration
of war. In this difficulty it was only by extraordinary exertion
on the part of the troops, by toil and fortitude never surpassed,
if ever equalled, that your comrades posted along the frontier
could be saved from ruin, and an unprincipled foe checked in
time to avert the greatest calamities.

“The march from Umballa must ever be memorable in the annals of
war. Under the burning sun of India, you supported, at duty’s
call, an excess of toil and fatigue, which would have tried the
hardiest and the best, even in the bracing atmosphere of our
northern climate; and your victory of _Moodkee_ was actually
achieved over bold, numerous, and well-prepared foes, after a
march of twenty miles, performed under the rays of a vertical
sun, through a waste and parched country, not affording even a
drop of water to allay the scorching thirst occasioned by the
clouds of dust raised from the burning soil; fought, and won in
fact, after an excess of toil that would have overcome all but
the first and foremost soldiers of their time.

“A single defeat was not, however, to daunt the fierce and
numerous foes with whom you had to contend; and hardly had
you recovered from the fatigues of your long march and first
victory, when you were called upon to storm an entrenched camp,
defended by vastly superior numbers, and by a train of heavy
and well-served artillery such as the East had never beheld. To
assail works, under such circumstances, is one of the most trying
and difficult operations of war; and when the strength of the
position, and the fierce resolution with which it was defended,
are considered, your victory may safely be termed an action of
unsurpassed boldness, energy, and perseverance.

“Never will your country’s banner suffer a stain, so long as
its soldiers shall equal those who stormed the Sikh camp of
_Ferozeshah_: greater fortitude and gallantry than those of
which you had given proof in these actions could not possibly be
displayed. But every species of high soldiership was to be called
for during the course of this brief campaign, and it was your
fortune to be present in the different actions, all fought under
different circumstances.

“At _Aliwal_ you had to execute on an open and level plain, and
under a heavy fire of artillery, the skilful movements which
ensured the success of that brilliant day; and at _Sobraon_ you
were again called upon to force entrenchments, constructed with
European science, and defended with all the fierce resolution
of Asiatic despair. But neither savage valour, nor European
art, could withstand your efforts,--could compete with high and
matchless gallantry, regulated by discipline, and fired to noble
exertion by the consciousness of what was due to your country’s
name and fame!--The _Battle of Sobraon_, which crushed the power
of unprincipled adversaries, terminated your exploits in the
East, saved the British provinces from devastation, and secured
to our youthful and beloved Sovereign the peaceful and happy
possession of India! Never indeed were nobler objects attained by
nobler conduct!

“It is needless for me to tell you how greatly all ranks of your
countrymen sympathised with your fortunes during these trying
times; how much they felt for your sufferings; how deeply they
mourned for the heavy losses you sustained; and how highly they
exulted in the gallantry you displayed. The admiration your
behaviour excited, must have reached you even on the distant
shores of India; and I feel confident that every step you
take on British ground will show how justly your conduct is
appreciated by all those whose good opinion can be of value.
It only remains for me, therefore, again to offer you my most
sincere congratulations on your return to your native land, to
wish you every success and happiness in your future progress, and
to assure you, that as far as my sphere of action extends, no
effort shall be wanting to give effect to the sentiments I feel
such high satisfaction in now expressing.

“Believe me,
“My dear Colonel, ever yours sincerely,
“COLIN HALKETT,
“General, and Colonel Thirty-first Regt.

“Lieut.-Colonel Spence, C.B., “Commanding Thirty-first Regiment.”

As an additional testimony of the consideration of the services of the officers and men of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment who had returned from India, His Grace the Commander-in-Chief was pleased to authorize the following letter to be addressed to the officer commanding, dated Horse Guards, 21st of December, 1846:--

“Sir,

“In transmitting the enclosed Copy of the General Order of the
30th of October last, granting leave of absence to officers, and
furloughs to non-commissioned officers and men, to the 10th of
March next, I have it in command to intimate to you, that the
Commander-in-Chief, duly considering the glorious and important
services recently performed by the regiment under your command,
as well as its protracted service abroad, has been pleased to
direct that furloughs may be forthwith granted to such of the
non-commissioned officers and men recently returned from India,
without limitation as to numbers, as may be desirous of availing
themselves of that indulgence, so as to enable them immediately
to visit their friends; and that leave of absence may, in like
manner, be extended to as large a portion of the officers as can
be spared from the duties of the regiment.

“I have, &c.
(_Signed_) “JOHN MACDONALD,
“_Adjutant-General_.”

The usual directions were given by the Secretary at War for reducing the establishment of the regiment, in order to assimilate it to that of other regiments on home duty, from the 6th of December, 1846.

After transferring to the Invalid Depôt the men selected for discharge on account of wounds and other disabilities, and incorporating the depôt with the other companies, the regiment was removed from Chatham to Walmer, where it arrived on the 20th of December, and was received at Deal and in the neighbouring parts, with the same honors and marks of distinction as had been evinced on its arrival in the garrison of Chatham.

[Sidenote: 1847]

The remainder of the regiment, consisting of five officers, viz., Lieutenants Plaskett, Law, Pilkington, and Noel, Assistant-Surgeon Massey, and 111 men, arrived at Gravesend on the 13th of January, 1847, on board of the Plantagenet freight ship: the delay in their arrival was occasioned by that vessel having sprung a leak, which compelled her to put back to Calcutta. This division proceeded from Chatham on the 20th of January, to join the head-quarters of the regiment at Walmer.

On the 30th of June, 1847, the regiment was apprised by the Adjutant-General, that her Majesty had been pleased to approve of its bearing on the regimental colour and appointments the words MOODKEE, FEROZESHAH, ALIWAL, and SOBRAON, in commemoration of the distinguished conduct evinced by the THIRTY-FIRST at those battles.

Lieut.-General the Honorable Henry Otway Trevor was appointed to the colonelcy of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment on the 12th of July, 1847, in succession to General Sir Colin Halkett, G.C.B., who was removed to the forty-fifth regiment.

On the 6th of September, 1847, Lieut.-General Sir Henry Smith came to Walmer to see the regiment, before he proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, of which colony he had been appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief. On the 7th of September he reviewed the regiment, and expressed his satisfaction at seeing its discipline so perfect, considering that only a few months had elapsed since it returned home a mere skeleton.

The regiment was inspected by Major-General Brown on the 4th of May, and on the 1st of October, 1847; it was inspected on the 10th of November, by His Grace the Duke of Wellington, who expressed his approbation in the highest terms. In November the regiment was removed to Manchester by railway in three divisions, where it was completed to its establishment of 39 officers, 47 serjeants, 40 corporals, 17 drummers, and 760 privates.

[Sidenote: 1848]

On the 7th of April, 1848, the regiment proceeded to Ireland, and arrived at Dublin on the following day. In July the regiment marched to Athlone.

New Colours were presented to the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, on the 19th of May, 1848, by Major-General His Royal Highness the Prince George of Cambridge, K.G., and the following account of the ceremony was given in “_Saunders’ News-Letter_” of the following day:--

“The interesting military ceremonial of the presentation of
New Colours to this gallant and distinguished corps took place
yesterday, in the ornamental grounds in front of that fine
building, the Queen’s Inns, Henrietta-street, Dublin. The
regiment was formed in full review order at three o’clock,
shortly after which His Royal Highness Prince George of
Cambridge, accompanied by his aide-de-camp Captain the Honorable
James Macdonald, Major-General John M‘Donald, and several other
officers of distinction, came upon the ground.

“In front of the line were four standards, captured by the
regiment from the Sikhs, one of them taken at _Ferozeshah_, one
at _Aliwal_, and two at _Sobraon_. The Colours of the Corps,
torn to pieces from the grape-shot through which they were led
to victory, and stained with the blood of the Ensigns who were
killed carrying them to the muzzles of the Sikh guns, were
objects of great interest to the numerous citizens who thronged
the grounds. Lieut.-Colonel Spence, C.B., who commanded the
gallant regiment in all these actions, except Sobraon (where he
commanded the first brigade of Sir Henry Smith’s Division), was
in command, and looked in admirable health and spirits.

“The survivors of the Indian campaigns were decorated with their
medals. After the usual routine of parading the old colours, and
giving them up, the band playing ‘_Auld lang syne_,’ the Regiment
formed a hollow square, and the Garrison Chaplain repeated the
prescribed formula for the occasion. The New Colours were then
handed to Ensigns Christian and Brown, when His Royal Highness
the Prince George of Cambridge briefly addressed the Regiment,
stating his gratification at having this pleasing duty to
perform. He had not seen service himself, and the task would have
fallen more appropriately upon one who had. In encouraging the
troops to the performance of their duty, he related the anecdote
of the Serjeant who, when the Ensign bearing the old colour had
fallen mortally wounded, seized it,--carried it onwards,--and
victory resulted. The non-commissioned officer was promoted to an
ensigncy in the Eighteenth, Royal Irish, regiment.[36]

“The corps then formed in line, and gave a Royal salute, the band
playing ‘_God save the Queen_.’ The day was remarkably fine, and
after the ceremony the regiment marched into its quarters in the
Linen-Hall Barracks.”

Certain of the distinguished officers of the garrison of Dublin were entertained by the officers of the regiment at dinner in the evening; but His Royal Highness Prince George was prevented from attending by an expected disturbance in the city.

[Sidenote: 1849]

On the 1st of February, 1849, the establishment of the regiment was reduced from eight hundred to seven hundred and fifty rank and file.

On the 20th of July, 1849, Lieut.-Colonel Spence retired, after a lengthened service of forty-one years, and Major George Staunton was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, in succession to Lieut.-Colonel James Spence.[37]

During the year 1849 the regiment remained at Athlone.

[Sidenote: 1850]

In April, 1850, the regiment proceeded from Athlone to Dublin, where it continued to be stationed at the conclusion of the Historical Record.

FOOTNOTES:

[6]

Colonel Thomas Saunderson’s Marine Corps, now 30th Regiment.
Colonel George Villiers’s do. now 31st do.
Colonel Edward Fox’s do. now 32nd do.
Colonel Harry Mordaunt’s do. disbanded in 1713.
Colonel Henry Holl’s do. do. do.
Colonel Viscount Shannon’s. do. do. do.

[7] Minorca, an island in the Mediterranean, on the eastern coast of Spain, is about thirty miles in length and twelve in breadth, and is chiefly valuable for the excellent harbour of Port Mahon. In September, 1708, Minorca was taken by Admiral Leake and a land force under Lieut.-General Stanhope, after a siege of about three weeks. The island was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Utrecht, and remained in its possession until 1756, when, in April of that year, it was besieged by the French, under Marshal the Duke de Richelieu. After a brave defence by the Governor, General Blakeney, the garrison, consisting of the 4th, 23rd, 24th, and 34th regiments, surrendered, and, in consideration of their gallantry, were permitted to march out with all the honors of war. At the peace of Fontainebleau, in 1763, Minorca was restored to the English in exchange for Belle-Isle. In February, 1782, the garrison, under the Governor, Lieut.-General the Honorable James Murray, after suffering severely from sickness, surrendered to the Duke de Crillon, the Commander-in-Chief of the combined French and Spanish forces, and Minorca was retained by Spain at the peace of 1783. Minorca again surrendered to a British force under General the Honorable Charles Stuart, on the 15th of November, 1798; and at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, Minorca was restored to the Spaniards, under whose sway it remains at the present period.

[8] The nature of the services on which the _Marine Corps_ were employed has since obtained for them the Royal authority to bear the motto, “_Per mare, per terram_.”

[9] “On the morning of Sunday, the 10th of June, 1688, a day long kept sacred by the too faithful adherents of a bad cause, was born James Francis Edward Stuart, the most unfortunate of princes, destined to seventy-seven years of exile and wandering,--of vain projects,--of honours more galling than insults,--and of hopes such as make the heart sick.”--‘History of England,’ by _Thomas Babington Macaulay_. Vol. ii. page 363.

[10] _James Francis Edward_, “_The Pretender_,” son of _James II._, and of _Mary_, daughter of the Duke of Modena, his second wife; was born on the 10th June, 1688. He married, in 1719, Mary Clementina, daughter of Prince James Sobieski, and granddaughter of John Sobieski, King of Poland. He died on the 1st June, 1766 (aged 78 years), leaving issue two sons:--

1. _Charles Edward Louis Cassimir_, termed in England “_The Young Pretender_;” born on the 30th November, 1720, who married the Princess Stohlberg of Germany, and died at Rome, without issue, on the 31st January, 1788.

2. _Henry Benedict_, called _The Cardinal York_; born on the 24th March, 1725. When the last grand effort for the restoration of his family, in 1745, proved abortive, he took holy orders, and was elevated to the Purple by Pope Benedict XIV. in 1747, and died at Rome in 1807. The Cardinal was the last male branch of the House of Stuart.

[11] From the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht, in April, 1718, until 1739, the only events that appeared at times to threaten the _general_ tranquillity of Europe which prevailed during the above period, arose from the Rebellion in Scotland, in favour of the Pretender, in 1715, which was suppressed by the Battle of _Sheriffmuir_, on the 13th of November of that year. Charles XII., of Sweden, also espoused the cause of the Pretender in 1717, but the death of King Charles, in the following year, put an end to the projected expedition to Great Britain. In 1719 Spain supported the Pretender with troops, which were, however, defeated at _Glenshiel_, on the 10th of June, 1719. This was followed by the British expedition against Spain, but in January, 1720, the Spanish Monarch accepted the conditions of Peace. In 1726 Spain made an unsuccessful attempt to recover _Gibraltar_, and in 1729 a treaty of Peace was concluded at Seville, which remained unbroken for the ten following years.

[12] The “_Pragmatic Sanction_” was published by the Emperor Charles VI. on the 17th of April, 1713, whereby, in case of his having no male issue, his daughters were to succeed to his hereditary dominions, in preference to the sons of his late brother, Joseph I.

[13] See list of British regiments which served in Flanders and Germany between 1742 and 1748, during the “_War of the Austrian Succession_.”--Appendix, page 224.

[14] The following tradition has been preserved in the regiment:--The facings and breeches of the THIRTY-FIRST being of the same colour as those worn by the _Third “Buffs,”_ King George II. mistook it for the latter regiment, and called out “_Bravo, Buffs_,” with a view of animating the men to further gallantry; and when reminded that it was the THIRTY-FIRST, and not the “Old Buffs,” His Majesty then rejoined, “_Bravo, Young Buffs_;” and this name, valuable for the time and manner of its being conferred, has been since retained by the Regiment.

[15] Although the results of the _Battle of Dettingen_, fought on the 27th of June, 1743, were not equal to those attending the victories gained over the French by Edward the Third and Henry the Fifth, yet there are circumstances which render the conflict at _Dettingen_ similar to those of _Creçy_ and _Agincourt_. At _Creçy_, on the 26th of August, 1346, King _Edward the Third_ and his son _Edward the Black Prince_ were present; and at _Dettingen_, _King George the Second_ was accompanied by his son the _Duke of Cumberland_. It was the _début_ of both the Royal Princes on the tented plain, and the chivalrous bearing of the _Black Prince_, particularly his behaviour to the prisoners, finds a parallel in the conduct of the _Duke of Cumberland_, who refused to have his wound attended to, until the surgeons had examined that of a French officer, the Count De Fenelon, who had been taken prisoner and conveyed to the Duke’s tent. “Begin,” said His Royal Highness, “with the wound of the French officer; he is more dangerously hurt than I am, and stands more in need of assistance.”

The disadvantage under which the British fought at _Dettingen_ was equal to that at _Agincourt_, and the impetuosity of the enemy, in both instances, prevented the English army perishing from want of provisions.

All these battles are likewise noted for the number of the French Royal family and nobility who were present; and the battle of Dettingen is further remarkable as being the last action in which a British Monarch commanded the army.

The want of provisions and tents, unfortunately, compelled the victors to abandon the field of battle, otherwise Dettingen might have rivalled many of the achievements recorded in British History.

[16] “The Dutch, in their flight, breaking in on the _English_ ranks, were fired upon by those troops, which did them considerable damage; a _Highlander_ in Lord Semphill’s (forty-second) regiment being asked ‘Why he fired upon them; they were his friends?’ replied, ‘I am sure they are the greatest enemy we have seen this day.’”--_Biggs’s Military History of Europe from 1739 to 1748._

[17] _Vide_ List of Battles, Sieges, &c., inserted in Appendix, page 223.

[18] The regiments which returned to England from Flanders, on this occasion, are specified in the List inserted in the Appendix, page 224.

[19]

2nd Batt. Constituted
3rd Foot, the 61st Regiment.
4th ” the 62nd Regiment.
8th ” the 63rd Regiment.
11th ” the 64th Regiment.
12th ” the 65th Regiment.
19th ” the 66th Regiment.
20th ” the 67th Regiment.
23rd ” the 68th Regiment.
24th ” the 69th Regiment.
31st ” the 70th Regiment.
32nd ” the 71st Regiment.
33rd ” the 72nd Regiment.
34th ” the 73rd Regiment.
36th ” the 74th Regiment.
37th ” the 75th Regiment.

The 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th regiments were disbanded after the peace of Fontainebleau in 1763.

[20] Major-General John Burgoyne was promoted, to the rank of Lieut.-General on the 20th of August, 1777.

[21] _Martinique_ was captured by the English in 1762, but was restored to France at the Peace of Fontainebleau in 1763.

[22] Promoted to the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel on the 1st of March, 1794.

[23] Return of the Troops at _Guadaloupe_ on the 1st of September, 1794.

+----------------------------+--------------------------+
| | Rank and File. |
| +----------+-------+-------+
| Corps. | Fit for | Sick. | Total.|
| | Duty. | | |
|----------------------------+----------+-------+-------+
|Grenadier Battalion | 152 | 208 | 360 |
|Light Infantry Battalion | 33 | 382 | 415 |
|35 Regiment | 47 | 116 | 163 |
|39th Ditto | 24 | 284 | 308 |
|43rd Ditto | 23 | 176 | 199 |
|56th Ditto, three companies | 67 | .. | 67 |
|65th Ditto | 43 | 209 | 252 |
| +----------+-------+-------+
|General Total | 389 | 1375 | 1764 |
+----------------------------+----------+-------+-------+

The _Grenadier_ and _Light Infantry_ battalions were composed of the flank companies of the 8th, 12th, 17th, 31st, 33rd, 34th, 38th, 40th, 44th, and 55th Regiments.

[24] While stationed at Jersey, a soldier of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment displayed the following example of courage and presence of mind:--On the 4th of June, 1804, a salute had been fired in honor of the anniversary of the birthday of King George III. The bombardier, whose duty it was to deposit the slow match in the magazine on the Town Hill at St. Heliers, after the performance of the ceremony, neglected to observe whether it was extinguished; it unfortunately was still alight, and set fire to the building; there were within the place three hundred and twenty-five barrels of powder, and, from its central situation, an explosion would have destroyed the greater portion of the town. Private William Pentenny, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, assisted by two inhabitants of Jersey, broke open the magazine, when another moment’s delay would probably have been too late, the fire having nearly reached the spot where the powder was deposited, when he entered. With infinite coolness and decision, he carried the nearest barrels away in his arms, and continued so to act until the whole stock was removed out of danger. This important service was highly appreciated. The Patriotic Fund at Lloyd’s awarded Private William Pentenny a pension of 20_l._ a year, while the states of Jersey conferred an additional 12_l._ upon this deserving soldier, and presented to him a gold medal, struck on purpose to commemorate the achievement, which he was permitted to wear. The Governor, Major-General the Honorable William Stewart, ordered a ring of silver lace to be worn round his arm as a further distinction.

[25] This extract is from an excellent pamphlet published in Edinburgh soon after the event, by a “_Passenger_.” It was written by Major Duncan M‘Gregor of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, who was afterwards the Lieutenant-Colonel of the ninety-third Highlanders.

[26] General Avitabile, one of the military instructors of the Sikhs, was a native of Italy, and at the conclusion of Napoleon’s bright, but evanescent career, sought employment in the East. He was handsomely rewarded by the Sovereign of the Punjaub, Runjeet Singh, together with another Italian officer, named Ventura, and two Frenchmen, Allard and Court, for introducing European tactics into the Sikh army. Runjeet Singh also conferred the governorship of Peshawur upon General Avitabile, and by his vigorous administration it was reduced from a state of anarchy to one of comparative security. Peshawur signifies “_advanced post_,” that name having been conferred upon it by its founder, the Mogul Emperor Akbar, in consequence of its being the frontier town of India towards Affghanistan.

Runjeet Singh died in 1839, and his son and successor, Kurruck Singh, being of weak intellect, was shortly afterwards deposed, when his son, Noo Nehal Singh, assumed the reins of Government. His death, which occurred in returning from his father’s funeral, caused the throne to be again vacant, and the crown was bestowed on Prince Shere Singh, a twin-son of Runjeet Singh. Shere Singh was a firm friend to the English, and by his interference Major-General Pollock was permitted to proceed with his army through the Punjaub to Cabool in 1842, although the Sikh Sirdars were disposed to attack the British troops.

[27] Vide Memoir of Lieut.-Colonel Skinner, Appendix, p. 226.

[28] The Punjaub derives its name from two Persian words (_punj_, five, and _aub_ waters), signifying _five waters_. In fact there are _six_ rivers intersecting the country, namely the _Indus_, _Jhelum_, _Chenaub_, _Ravee_, _Beas_, and _Sutlej_. The course of the _Beas_ is much shorter than the five other rivers, so that it appears to have been disregarded when the name of the Punjaub was bestowed.

[29] On the death of Assistant-Surgeon Gahan, Assistant-Surgeon Patrick Gammie, of the 80th regiment, was appointed to take medical charge of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment.

[30] Vide Memoir of Colonel Bolton, inserted in Appendix, page 225.

[31] Vide Memoir of Major Baldwin, inserted in Appendix, page 230.

[32] Shortly after the storming of the village of _Aliwal_, an European officer in the Sikh service was given in charge to the regiment, having surrendered himself as a prisoner to an officer of one of the cavalry regiments in the Company’s service. He said his servant had galloped off with his charger, and, being rather stout, preferred giving himself up to the chance of running away; his name was John Potter, a native of Maidstone in Kent; he had deserted from the Company’s Artillery twenty years before, and was at this period a Colonel of Artillery in the Sikh service, having a native wife and family at Lahore. At first he was kept a very strict prisoner, but the severity of his confinement was gradually relaxed, and when the army encamped before Lahore, he was released altogether. The Governor-General afterwards permitted him to hold an appointment in the Sikh service.

[33] This officer was promoted from Quarter-master-Serjeant to Ensign after the battle of Ferozeshah.

[34] This part of the action is represented in the engraving of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment at the battle of Sobraon.

[35] In some copies of this General Order it was erroneously stated that Brigadier Hicks commanded the first brigade: he was not at the battle of Sobraon.

[36] Vide pages 146 and 165 of Regimental Record.

[37] A beautiful silver inkstand has been recently presented to Lieut.-Colonel Spence, by the Officers of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment. It is an elegant testimonial, and is tastefully embellished with military trophies, a soldier of the regiment being introduced on the two extremities, in the position to receive cavalry,--the whole surmounted by the British Lion. The following inscription is engraved on the testimonial:--

Presented to

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SPENCE, C.B.,

By Lieutenant-Colonel Staunton and Officers of the THIRTY-FIRST
Regiment,
As a token of their esteem and attachment,
On his leaving the Regiment, in which he had served for a period of
forty-one years,
With high distinction to himself and honor to his Country.

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF THE

SECOND BATTALION

OF THE

THIRTY-FIRST, OR THE HUNTINGDONSHIRE

REGIMENT OF FOOT.

[Sidenote: 1804]

Napoleon Bonaparte, upon being raised in May 1804 to the dignity of Emperor of the French, increased his immense preparations to carry into effect his project for the invasion of England, that he might, by one great effort, crush the power of the British people, who appeared as a barrier to his ambitious designs. This menace of invasion had aroused the spirit of the British nation; patriotic enthusiasm pervaded all ranks; and among the measures of defence[38] adopted by the Government was the introduction of the “_Additional Force Act_” which was passed on the 14th of July 1804.

[Sidenote: 1805]

Under this Act of Parliament, a _second battalion_ was added to the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, which was to be formed of men raised in the county of Chester for limited service.

The second battalion was embodied by July 1805, and in October it proceeded from Chester to Winchester, where the first battalion was stationed.

[Sidenote: 1806]

After the first battalion had embarked for Sicily in April 1806, the second battalion continued at Winchester until June following, when it proceeded to Gosport.

[Sidenote: 1807]

On the 8th of January 1807, the second battalion embarked at Gosport for Guernsey, where it arrived on the 15th of that month. In May 1807, the battalion proceeded to Ireland, and was stationed at Limerick.

[Sidenote: 1808]

In March 1808, the battalion was removed from Limerick to Dublin.

Important events had in the meantime occurred on the Continent, which occasioned the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment to be ordered on active service. Napoleon, having reduced Germany to submission to his will, and forced Russia to accede to his decrees, next attempted the subjugation of Spain and Portugal. The Spaniards and Portuguese rose in arms to assert their national rights, the French Emperor having conferred the crown of Spain on his brother Joseph, who relinquished the throne of Naples in favor of Marshal Murat.

In the summer of 1808, Portugal was delivered by a British army under Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley; and in the autumn Lieut.-General Sir John Moore received orders to advance with a body of British troops from Portugal into the heart of Spain; at the same time several regiments were embarked from the United Kingdom to co-operate in the enterprise.

The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST, which had proceeded in August to Fermoy, marched on the 8th of September to Monkstown for embarkation, and sailed in a few days afterwards to Falmouth, where a fleet was assembling with a force for service, the command of the troops being held by Lieut.-General Sir David Baird. In a short time, the fleet sailed, and arrived in the Bay of Corunna on the 23rd of October. The THIRTY-FIRST did not, however, land with the army, the battalion being despatched to Lisbon, where it arrived on the 5th of November.

Lieut.-General Sir John Cradock, who commanded in Portugal at this period, detached some regiments towards the frontier, with a view of reinforcing Lieut.-General Sir John Moore in Spain. The THIRTY-FIRST, being one of the corps destined for this service, marched with a force under the command of Brigadier-General Richard Stewart from Lisbon, on the 18th of December, upon Castello Branco, where the battalion arrived in ten days.

The communication with Lieut.-General Sir John Moore being at this period suddenly interrupted, Brigadier-General Stewart was ordered to halt, and unfavourable intelligence being received from Spain, Lieut.-General Sir John Cradock determined to concentrate his army near Lisbon, and the further advance was, therefore, countermanded.

[Sidenote: 1809]

The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST, and the other corps of the division, commenced their march to the rear on the 1st of January 1809. On arrival at Santarem, the intelligence of Sir John Moore’s advance upon Sahagun had reached head-quarters, and the anticipated danger being thus drawn from the frontiers of Portugal, Brigadier-General Stewart was again ordered to halt. His head-quarters continued at Santarem, and the THIRTY-FIRST occupied cantonments in the neighbourhood of Bucellas. A month’s march in incessant rain had seriously damaged the appointments, and the men being indifferently provided with shoes, rendered a rest in this pleasant quarter of infinite benefit.

In the meanwhile, the army under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore had continued its retreat over two hundred and fifty miles of mountainous country, constantly repulsing the attacks of the enemy. The British army arrived at Corunna on the 11th of January, being closely followed by Marshal Soult, who occupied a position on a height above the town, in order to make an attack on the troops while proceeding to embark. This operation commenced on the 16th of January, and the French descending from the heights in three columns, a sanguinary action ensued. Lieut.-General Sir John Moore received a mortal wound from a cannon-ball, and his country was deprived of an officer, who, both in his professional and private character, had acquired universal esteem and admiration. Lieut.-General Sir David Baird lost an arm, and the command devolved on Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, who vigorously maintained the action, the British remaining masters of the field. The embarkation for England was effected on the following night, no further molestation being offered by the enemy.

No change was made in the disposition of the army in Portugal until the middle of March, when Lieut.-General Sherbrooke, and Major-General John Randoll McKenzie, with their corps arrived. The army was then drawn together between Lumiar and Sacavem, in which position it encamped until toward the end of April, when Lieut.-General Sir John Cradock commenced his advance towards Spain on the 24th of that month; and when Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, who had arrived at Lisbon with reinforcements, assumed the command of the army, the force was assembled at Leiria. The first object of Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley was to dislodge Marshal Soult from Oporto, and he accordingly marched towards that city at the end of April.

A corps of British and Portuguese was detached, previous to Sir Arthur Wellesley’s march upon Oporto, under Major-General McKenzie, to watch the right bank of the Tagus in observation of Marshal Victor in Estremadura. The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST joined this army, and remained posted at Thomar until after the famous passage of the Douro by the British General, and the fall of Oporto, which compelled Marshal Soult to retreat.

In the month of June the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST was at Cortiçada with Major-General McKenzie’s head-quarters, and in that officer’s division reached Placentia, whence on the 17th of July it commenced its march to Oropesa, where it arrived on the 20th. A junction with the Spanish army under General Cuesta was effected here, and on the 22nd the advanced guards, to which the THIRTY-FIRST belonged, moved forward to the attack on the French posts at _Talavera_. The enemy’s position was turned by the British cavalry and infantry, while the Spanish General drove the French on in front. On the 25th, in consequence of General Cuesta having followed the enemy, two divisions of infantry were sent across the Alberche to Casa Legas. The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST was in that commanded by Major-General McKenzie, and was brigaded with the twenty-eighth and forty-fifth regiments.

On the 27th of July, when General Cuesta had retreated from Alcabon under cover of Lieut.-General Sherbrooke’s divisions, Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley withdrew to the position of _Talavera_, leaving Major-General McKenzie on the Alberche to protect the movement. When the French, on the 27th of July, crossed this river, Major-General McKenzie’s division was posted near the Casa des Salinas, his infantry in the forest, and cavalry on the plain.

The attach was somewhat sudden, and the THIRTY-FIRST and eighty-seventh regiments, which were in the wood on the right of the Alberche, sustained some loss. As the enemy increased his numbers on the British side of the river, Major-General McKenzie fell back gradually, and entering the position by the left of the combined army, took up his ground in a second line, in rear of the foot guards. In the dusk of the evening the enemy commenced his attack on the British left, but failed; in the night the attack was repeated, and on the morning of the 28th of July the French renewed the attack on the height on the British left, and were again repulsed with considerable loss. After a pause of some hours the attacks were renewed upon the whole British front, and the action became general. Brigadier-General Alexander Campbell’s division, on the British right, sustained the assault of the enemy’s fourth corps, assisted by Major-General McKenzie’s brigade. “The English regiments, putting the French skirmishers aside, met the advancing columns with loud shouts, and breaking in on their front, and lapping their flanks with fire, and giving no respite, pushed them back with a terrible carnage. Ten guns were taken; but as General Campbell prudently forbore pursuit, the French rallied on their supports, and made a show of attacking again: vain attempt! The British artillery and musketry played too vehemently upon their masses, and a Spanish regiment of cavalry charging on their flank at the same time, the whole retired in disorder, and the victory was secured in that quarter.”[39]

The ten captured guns remained in possession of the British;--Major-General John Randoll McKenzie was killed;--and the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under Major John Williams Watson, conducted itself in such a manner as to merit notice in the despatch, as well as approbation in General Orders. Major Watson received a medal, and was afterwards promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel for his conduct on this occasion.

The THIRTY-FIRST, in the actions of the 27th and 28th of July, had Captain William Lodge, two serjeants, and forty-two rank and file _killed_; Captains Nicolls and Coleman,--Lieutenants George Beamish, Adderley Beamish, and Girdlestone,--Ensigns Gamble and Soden,--Assistant-Surgeon Edwards,--eight serjeants, and one hundred and eighty-two rank and file, _wounded_. Most of the wounded fell into the hands of the French, on the abandonment of Talavera afterwards by the Spanish General. Assistant-Surgeon Edwards, who was left in charge of the wounded, died shortly afterwards.

The news of the brilliant victory of _Talavera_, gained over the French army commanded by Joseph Bonaparte in person, excited great joy in England, and Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley was raised to the peerage by the title of Viscount Wellington. The Royal Authority was afterwards given for the THIRTY-FIRST to bear the word “TALAVERA” on the Regimental Colour and Appointments, to commemorate the distinguished conduct of the second battalion on that memorable occasion.

After the battle of the 28th of July, the second battalion was posted to Major-General Tilson’s brigade, in the division commanded by Major-General Rowland (afterwards Viscount) Hill; and on the 3rd of August marched from Talavera, in order to oppose the French, who had entered Estremadura by Placentia.

On the 3rd of September, the head-quarters arrived at Badajoz, and the army was distributed about Elvas, Campo Mayor, and other places, the THIRTY-FIRST being in the division cantoned at Montejo. The troops had suffered greatly on the march from Talavera, generally from dysentery, brought on by bad food, fatigue, and exposure. When the second battalion had rested awhile in its position, the sickness that had been kept off in a great measure by the previous excitement, now visited the men severely, and a considerable number died.

[Sidenote: 1810]

When Viscount Wellington broke up from the Guadiana in the month of December, and crossed the Tagus, he left Lieut.-General Hill, who had been appointed to serve on the Staff in the Peninsula as a Lieut.-General, after the battle of _Talavera_, with a force of ten thousand men, British and Portuguese, at Abrantes. Among the former was the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST; it continued at that place until February 1810, when Lieut.-General Hill, on the approach of Marshal Mortier on Badajoz, marched to Portalegre, and occupied that strong position. He made a move on the 23rd of April through the Sierra de St. Marmede, which had the desired effect of relieving General O’Donnell at Albuquerque, the enemy retiring to Merida. Lieut.-General Hill was once more at Portalegre on the 26th of April, and on the 15th of May he again quitted his cantonment, by which movement he disengaged Badajoz from the attention of the enemy, who had made a reconnoisance on the 12th of that place, and relieved General Ballasteros, returning in a few days afterwards to his old position.

During the continuance of the division at Portalegre, it was always on the alert, owing to General Regnier’s movements in Estremadura. In the beginning of July, Lieut.-General Hill concentrated his corps at Campo Mayor, previously to an expedition into Estremadura in conjunction with the Marquis de Romana. General Regnier had, however, frustrated this plan, by quitting Merida on the 10th of July, and marching upon Aleonete and Almaraz, effected the passage of the Tagus on the 16th. Lieut.-General Hill made a parallel movement, and crossing the river at Vilha Velha, was at Castello Branco on the 21st; he encamped at Sarzedas, in front of the Sobreira Formosa, remaining some time in observation between the Estrella and the Tagus.

Upon Marshal Massena concentrating his force for the invasion of Portugal, Lieut.-General Hill fell back from his position at Sarzedas, and on the 21 st of August, arrived on the Alva. On the 26th, the THIRTY-FIRST in Lieut.-General Hill’s corps, crossed the Mondego, arrived on the _Sierra de Busaco_, and was posted on the right, across the road leading over the mountain ridge to Peña Cova, but the battalion was not engaged in the action.

When General Regnier attacked the position held by the third and fifth divisions, Lieut.-General Hill withdrew towards his left to support them; it was unnecessary however, these divisions having repulsed the enemy, and he therefore continued in his original position.

After the battle of Busaco, fought on the 27th of September, the army withdrew from the Sierra, and Lieut.-General Hill’s division marched on Thomar, arriving there on the 4th of October; whence continuing its retreat by Santarem, it took up its ground, on the 8th, on the right of the Torres Vedras lines at Alhandra, on the right of the Tagus, in which position the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST had several skirmishes with the enemy, without sustaining much loss. The battalion remained at Alhandra, opposite which was the second French corps under General Regnier.

On the 17th of November, the second division crossed the Tagus at Villada upon Abrantes, where the French were in retreat. Upon Marshal Massena taking up a position at Santarem, it halted at Chamako, where the head-quarters were stationed; the troops being so distributed as to have an eye to the enemy, and prevent his crossing to the south of the Tagus. Lieut.-General Hill returned to England on account of ill health in December, and Marshal Sir William Carr (now Viscount) Beresford succeeded him in the command of his division, which amounted to fourteen thousand men, British and Portuguese.

[Sidenote: 1811]

The hostile armies remained in the same positions until the beginning of March, when Marshal Massena broke up from Santarem, and Major-General the Honorable William Stewart, with a body of troops, of which the THIRTY-FIRST formed part, crossed the Tagus at Abrantes, and moved to Thomar, while Marshal Beresford remained at Barla, and did not join in the pursuit of Marshal Massena.

Towards the end of March, Sir William Beresford arrived at Portalegre with twenty thousand infantry, two thousand cavalry, and eighteen guns, with orders to relieve Campo Mayor, and besiege _Olivenza_ and _Badajoz_. The first object was effected on the 25th of March; it was an affair of cavalry only. On the 6th of April, the passage of the Guadiana took place at Jurumenha, and the army occupied a position on a strong range of hills. On the 9th of April, _Olivenza_ was summoned, and not surrendering the army encamped round it. General Latour Maubourg having retired to Llerena, Marshal Beresford leaving the fourth division, with Colonel Madden’s cavalry, opposite Olivenza, took post on the 11th at _Albuhera_, the infantry being on the 16th drawn nearer to _Badajoz_, which place was invested on the 8th of May.

On the 8th and 10th of May, the French made two sorties, but were driven back with considerable loss. Marshal Soult’s approach to relieve Badajoz having been ascertained, the siege was raised on the night of the 12th, and moving to _Albuhera_, the British were in position on the 15th of May.

The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST was on the left of Lieut.-Colonel Colborne’s brigade, in the division under Major-General the Honorable William Stewart, which was drawn up, in one line, behind the village of _Albuhera_; its right on a commanding hill, over which the Valverde road passed; its left on the road to Badajoz.

On the morning of the 16th of May, the grand attack was made by the French on the right of the position, and in a line at right angles to it: this point was contested by the Spaniards without success,--they gave way, and the French columns pushing on, seized the crown of the hill, and bringing up their reserves, established their batteries in position on it. At this moment Major-General the Honorable William Stewart brought forward Lieut.-Colonel Colborne’s brigade, and arrived with it at the foot of the hill, while all was in confusion above. The Major-General rushed on in open column of companies, attempting to form his line in succession as the battalions arrived. The THIRTY-FIRST, the left of the brigade, was still in column, when four regiments of hussars and lancers, which had been concealed by the heavy rain falling at the time, passed by the right flank to the rear of the line.

“_One battalion only_ (_the_ THIRTY-FIRST) _being still in column, escaped the storm, and maintained its ground, while the French horsemen, riding violently over everything else, penetrated to all parts._”[40]

Major-General the Honorable William Lumley sent some squadrons of cavalry to take the attention of the Lancers, but the THIRTY-FIRST continued to hold the height, while the Spaniards would not advance, and Marshal Soult still kept his columns together on the point he had assailed. Major-General Hoghton’s brigade coming up in good order, under Major-General the Honorable William Stewart, and being soon afterwards reinforced by a portion of the fourth division, relieved the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST from the difficulty of its position.

The THIRTY-FIRST had two serjeants and twenty-six rank and file _killed_; and Captains Fleming and Knox, Lieutenants Butler, Gethen, and Bolton; Ensigns Wilson and Nicholson; four serjeants, and one hundred and sixteen rank and file, _wounded_.

Major George Guy Carleton L’Estrange, who commanded the battalion, at the battle of _Albuhera_, was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the army for his conduct on that day, and received a medal. Viscount Wellington alluded to his gallantry in the following terms:--

“There is one officer, Major L’Estrange, of the THIRTY-FIRST, whom I must recommend, in the strongest manner, for promotion in some way or other. _After the other parts of the same brigade were swept off by the Cavalry, this little battalion alone held its ground against all the ‘colonnes en masse.’_”

Captain Peter Fearon, of the THIRTY-FIRST, distinguished himself on the same day in command of the Lusitanian legion, and received a medal for his conduct.

The Royal Authority was afterwards given for the THIRTY-FIRST to bear the word “ALBUHERA” on the regimental colour and appointments, to commemorate the distinguished conduct of the second battalion on that memorable occasion.

The army was again in position during the 17th of May, the enemy appearing to meditate another attack; the remainder of the fourth division, however, arrived by forced marches from Jurumenha, and on the 18th Marshal Soult retreated, followed by Marshal Beresford, who left the Portuguese to make a show of investing Badajoz. The infantry had no affair with the enemy during his retreat; and when he assumed a position at Llerena, the operations terminated.

Major-General Hill at this period rejoined from England, and the second siege of _Badajoz_ commenced on the 30th of May.

The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST continued under Lieut.-General Hill, to which rank he was promoted on the 4th of June 1811, in the covering army, which was posted between Merida and Albuhera. Having been much reduced in the late action, it was formed, with the sixty-sixth regiment, into a Provisional Battalion, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Colborne.

When Marshal Soult advanced, and the siege of Badajoz was raised, the covering army was once more concentrated on the position of Albuhera. The French Marshal did not, however, attack; on the 17th of June, the British crossed the Guadiana, and prepared for the probability of an engagement with the united corps of Marshals Marmont and Soult. In July, the British were relieved from their presence, and the Commander-in-Chief, Viscount Wellington, leaving Lieut.-General Hill to watch Estremadura, at Portalegre, Villa Viciosa, and Estremos, with ten thousand men, put the rest of the army into quarters near the Tagus.

The THIRTY-FIRST continued with Lieut.-General Hill in the second division: this part of the army was constantly on the alert, but nothing very important occurred until October.

On the 9th of October, Lieut.-General Hill’s force was concentrated behind Campo Mayor, and on the 22nd marched to drive Marshal Girard from Caçeres: at daylight on the 28th of October, the British General surprised the French Marshal at _Arroyo dos Molinos_, in which brilliant affair the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST was present.

The army returned to its cantonments about Portalegre immediately afterwards, and remained in them until the 24th and 25th of December, when it moved upon Merida, and arrived there on the 30th to surprise General Dombrouski, and attack General Drouet. They both retired, abandoning magazines of wheat, and Lieut.-General Hill took up his cantonments at Merida on the 6th of January, 1812.

[Sidenote: 1812]

Immediately afterwards Lieut.-General Hill fell back upon the frontiers of Portugal, while the grand army was investing _Ciudad Rodrigo_, and occupied Portalegre.

In March, _Badajoz_ was invested for the third time, and Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s[41] corps again formed part of the covering army. He halted at Almendralejos, while Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch) took post at Zafra. Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill’s division then moved forward, and took post at Medellin. When the breaches at Badajoz were nearly practicable, Marshal Soult, having effected a junction with Generals Drouet and Daricau, advanced to relieve it. Viscount Wellington thereupon determined to fight him at Albuhera. Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham then fell back towards that place, and Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill having destroyed the bridge at Merida, marched from the Upper Guadiana to Talavera Real. Marshal Soult did not however advance in time, and _Badajoz_ was taken on the 6th of April.

After the fall of Badajoz, when Viscount Wellington marched towards Beira, two divisions of British infantry, in one of which was the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST, remained with Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill in Estremadura, to cover Badajoz during the re-establishment of its works. Nothing occurred in the army until the 12th of May, when six thousand men, with twelve field-pieces, crossed the Guadiana at Merida, and joining the battering train and pontoons, formed the force destined to surprise the French at _Almaraz_.

The THIRTY-FIRST remained in position on the Guadiana, while the expedition proceeded to attack the French works on the Bridge at _Almaraz_, on the Tagus, which were captured on the 19th of May. The bridge having been destroyed, and the communication between the several divisions of the French army rendered more difficult, the British troops returned to the south of the Guadiana.

A great part of June was passed in operations against General Drouet, until he was reinforced on the 18th of that month with General Barrois’s division of infantry, and two divisions of cavalry. Hereupon Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill fell back gradually to Albuhera, and took up a position on the former field, awaiting an attack. The enemy did not advance, and on the 2nd of July, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill broke up from Albuhera, and moved upon General Drouet, who retired towards Cordova. At the end of July, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill was at Llerena, and the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, in Brigadier-General Byng’s brigade, was detached to Merida. General Drouet made a demonstration, but no action of infantry ensued.

After the victory gained by the army under Viscount Wellington on the 22nd of July at Salamanca, the troops under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill penetrated the Spanish provinces: during the month of August they were engaged in the pursuit of General Drouet, and in the beginning of October they were on the Tagus, between Aranjuez and Toledo.

While the army under the Marquis of Wellington, which title was conferred upon him after the victory of Salamanca, was engaged in the siege of the Castle of _Burgos_, the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment remained at Aranjuez. In consequence of the necessity of raising the siege of Burgos, and retreating, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill broke up from his ground on the Tagus, to effect a junction with the grand army, which commenced its retrograde movement from Burgos on the 21st of October.

On the 30th of October, Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, having taken up a position of defence on the Jarama, was pressed by the enemy, who attacked the bridge of Aranjuez. The French were repulsed by Colonel Skerrett, with the forty-seventh (of which he was the Lieutenant-Colonel), and part of the ninety-fifth regiment, now the Rifle Brigade. The retreat continued without molestation; and on the 8th of November, the troops under Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill were at Alba, while the Marquis of Wellington occupied the heights of San Christoval. The brigade of the second division, in which the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST was posted, being in the neighbourhood of the fords of Encinas.

On the 14th of November, the enemy passed the river near that place, and the Marquis of Wellington moved with the second division to attack him, while the remainder of the troops were ordered towards the Arapiles in the evening. No engagement occurred. The enemy fortified himself at Mozarbes, on the ground he had taken up the night before, and moved bodies of cavalry and infantry to the communication with Ciudad Rodrigo. The superiority of numbers on the part of the French caused the British army to continue its march to Ciudad Rodrigo, which it reached on the 19th of November. Thus ended the retreat from Burgos. The men had suffered greatly on the march and required rest; the enemy had pressed the retreat closely with his cavalry, and made an attack upon the rear upon the passage of the Huebra; the roads were difficult, and in some parts impassable. The second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST did not share in the hardships of the main retreat until it had crossed the Tormes.