Chapter M: DCCC XLVIII (1)

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES & SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.

THE TWELFTH, OR THE EAST SUFFOLK,

REGIMENT OF FOOT

BEARS ON ITS REGIMENTAL COLOUR

THE WORD _MINDEN_; THE WORD _GIBRALTAR_,

With the _Castle and Key_ and the Motto, _Montis Insignia Calpé_;

AND THE WORDS

"SERINGAPATAM" AND "INDIA;"

IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS DISTINGUISHED SERVICES

AT THE BATTLE OF _MINDEN_
ON THE 1st AUGUST, 1759;

IN THE GLORIOUS DEFENCE OF _GIBRALTAR_
FROM THE YEAR 1779 TO 1782;

AT THE STORMING AND CAPTURE OF _SERINGAPATAM_
ON THE 4th MAY, 1799;

and of its Gallant Conduct on many arduous Duties in INDIA
from the Year 1798 to 1807.

CONTENTS.

Year Page

1685 Formation of the Regiment 1

1686 Station and Establishment 2

---- Arms and Uniform 3

1687 Names of the Officers 4

1688 Assembled on Hounslow-heath -

1689 Inspected at Hull after the Revolution 5

---- Embarked for Ireland 6

---- Engaged at the Siege of Carrickfergus -

---- Advanced to Dundalk -

---- Death of its Colonel, Henry Wharton, and of
many soldiers by disease 7

1690 Engaged at Cavan 8

---- ---- the battle of the Boyne 9

---- ---- the siege of Waterford -

---- ---- the first siege of Limerick -

---- ---- Lanesborough -

1691 Marched to Mullingar 10

---- Engaged with the Rapparees --

---- ---- at the siege of Ballymore 11

---- ---- at the storming of Athlone --

---- ---- at the battle of Aghrim --

---- ---- at the siege of Galway 12

---- Surrender of Limerick, and termination of the
war in Ireland --

---- Embarked from Kinsale for Plymouth 13

1692 ---- for the coast of France --

---- Proceeded to Ostend, and took possession of
Furnes and Dixmude --

---- Returned to England --

1693 Remained in England --

1694 Embarked for Flanders 13

---- Engaged at the siege of Huy 14

1695 ---- ---- ---- attack on Fort Kenoque --

---- ---- ---- ---- defence of Dixmude --

---- Surrender of Dixmude to the French 15

---- Released from Prisoners of War and placed
in garrison at Malines --

1696 Marched to Ostend and Bruges 16

---- Encamped and stationed in and near Bruges --

1697 Marched to Brabant --

---- Encamped before Brussels 17

---- Peace of Ryswick --

---- Returned to England --

1699 Proceeded to Ireland --

1702 War with France and Spain --

1703 Embarked for the West Indies 18

1704 Proceeded to Jamaica --

1705 Returned to England --

1708 Embarked as Marines 19

---- Landed at Ostend --

---- Employed to escort ammunition, &c. to the army
besieging Lisle 20

---- Surrender of Lisle 21

1709 Returned to England --

1710 Reviewed at Portsmouth --

1712 Embarked for Spain --

1713 Peace of Utrecht --

---- Proceeded to Minorca 22

1719 Returned to England from Minorca --

1722 Reviewed by King George I. --

1739 Remained in England twenty years --

1740 Embarked as Marines --

1742 -------- for Flanders 23

1743 Marched to Germany --

---- Engaged at the battle of Dettingen --

1743 Returned to Flanders 24

1744 Engaged in operations on the Scheldt --

1745 Advanced to the relief of Tournay --

---- Engaged at the battle of Fontenoy 25

---- Casualties at the battle of Fontenoy 26

---- Returned to England 27

---- Engaged in suppressing the Rebellion --

1746 Proceeded to Scotland --

1747 Returned to England 28

1748 Embarked for Holland --

---- Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle --

---- Returned to England --

1749 Embarked for Minorca --

1751 Royal Warrant issued for regulating Clothing,
Colours, &c. --

1752 Returned to England 29

1755 Commencement of the Seven years' War with France --

1757 Second Battalion added to establishment --

1758 Second Battalion constituted the 65th Regiment --

---- Embarked for Germany 30

---- Marched into quarters at Munster --

1759 Battle of Minden 31

---- Royal Authority to bear the word "MINDEN" on the
colours and appointments 33

---- Entered cantonments at Osnaburg 34

1760 Arrived at Paderborn --

---- Encamped at Fritzlar 34

---- ----------- Kalle --

---- Marched to engage the French at Warbourg --

---- Went into quarters at Paderborn 35

1761 Advanced into Hesse --

---- Engaged at Kirch Denkern, &c. --

1762 ---------- Groebenstein and Wilhelmsthal 36

---- ---------- Lutterberg --

1762 Engaged at Homburg 37

---- ---------- the siege of Cassel --

1763 Peace of Fontainbleau --

---- Returned to England --

1764 Proceeded to Scotland --

1769 Embarked for Gibraltar 38

1779 Attack of Gibraltar by the Spaniards --

1780} {39
1781} Siege and Defence continued {to
1782} {47

1783 Returned to England 48

---- Styled the East Suffolk Regiment --

1784 Reviewed at Windsor by King George III. --

1788 Proceeded to Jersey and Guernsey 49

1790 Embarked as Marines --

---- Returned to Portsmouth --

1791 Embarked for Ireland --

1793 Flank companies embarked for the West Indies --

1794 --------------- engaged at Martinico 50

---- -------------------------- St. Lucia --

---- -------------------------- Guadaloupe --

---- Battalion companies embarked for Flanders 51

---- Engaged at Werwick, and on the Lys --

---- ------- in the relief of Ypres 52

---- ------- near Boxtel 53

---- Retired beyond the river Maese 54

1795 Returned from Holland 55

---- Flank companies returned from the West Indies --

---- Embarked on an expedition for the coast of France --

1796 Embarked for the East Indies 56

1797 Arrived at Madras --

---- Embarked for Manilla --

---- Returned to Madras 57

1798 Proceeded to Tanjore in the Carnatic 58

1799 Engaged in operations against Tippoo Saib 59

---- Advanced against Seringapatam 60

---- Action near Malleville --

---- Storming and Capture of Seringapatam 65

---- Received the Royal Authority to bear the word
"SERINGAPATAM" on the colours and appointments 70

1800 Proceeded against the tribes of the Wynaad country 71

1801 Returned to Seringapatam --

---- Proceeded to Trichinopoly --

1802 Two companies returned from Java 72

---- Three companies employed against the
Polygans --

1805 Marched to Seringapatam --

1807 Proceeded to Cannanore --

1808 Embarked for the port of Coulan in the Travancore
country 73

---- Serjeant Tilsey and 33 men destroyed
by the Natives 74

---- Operations in the Travancore country 75

---- Returned to Seringapatam 81

---- Proceeded to Trichinopoly --

1810 Flank companies proceeded against the Isle of Bourbon 81

---- Embarked against the Mauritius, or the Isle of France 82

---- Capture of the Mauritius 83

1811 Stationed at the Mauritius 85

1812 Second Battalion added to the Establishment and
embarked for Ireland --

1813 First Battalion proceeded from the Mauritius to the
Isle of Bourbon --

1814 Island of Bourbon restored to France 86

1815 Proceeded to the Island of Mauritius on its being
retained as a Colony of Great Britain --

1815 Second Battalion returned to England, and embarked
for Flanders 86

---- ---------------- advanced to Paris --

1816 ---------------- returned to England, and proceeded
to Ireland 87

---- First Battalion continued at the Mauritius --

1817 --------------- returned to England --

---- --------------- proceeded to Ireland --

1818 Second Battalion reduced, and incorporated with
the First Battalion 88

1820 Embarked for England --

1821 Proceeded to Portsmouth, and thence to Jersey and
Guernsey --

1823 Returned to England 89

---- Embarked for Gibraltar --

1825 Augmented to ten Companies, six Service, and four
Depôt Companies --

1827 Presentation of new colours with the authorised
Inscriptions conferred as Honourable Distinctions --

1828 Casualties from an epidemic disease at Gibraltar 90

1834 Returned to England 91

1835 Embarked for Ireland --

1837 Formed into six Service, and four Depôt Companies,
and embarked for the Mauritius --

1838 Depôt Companies remained in Ireland --

1839 Augmentation of the Establishment --

---- Depôt Companies embarked for Wales --

1840 --------------- proceeded to Scotland --

1841 --------------- returned to South Britain --

1842 Augmentation to two Battalions 92

1843 Reserve Battalion arrived at the Mauritius --

1847 First Battalion Embarked for England --

1848 The Conclusion --

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.

Year Page

1685 Henry Duke of Norfolk 93

1686 Edward Earl of Lichfield 94

1688 Robert Lord Hunsdon 95

---- Henry Wharton --

1689 Richard Brewer 96

1702 John Livesay --

1712 Richard Phillips 97

1717 Thomas Stanwix --

1725 Thomas Whetham 98

1741 Scipio Duroure 99

1745 Henry Skelton --

1757 Robert Napier --

1766 Henry Clinton 100

1779 William Picton 101

1811 Charles Hastings, Bart. 102

1823 Hon. Robert Meade 103

PLATES.

Costume of the Regiment _to face_ 1

Colours of the Regiment " 28

Attack of Gibraltar in 1782 " 48

Storming and Capture of Seringapatam in 1799 " 70

TWELFTH FOOT.

1848.

_For Cannons Military Records._]

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF

THE TWELFTH, OR THE EAST SUFFOLK

REGIMENT OF FOOT.

[Sidenote: 1685]

After the Restoration in 1660, when King Charles II. had disbanded the army of the commonwealth, a number of non-regimented companies of foot were embodied for garrisoning the fortified towns, and one company was constantly stationed at Windsor, to furnish a guard at the castle. This company sent a detachment to Virginia in 1676. It was commanded by HENRY DUKE OF NORFOLK, Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle, and was united to several companies raised in the summer of 1685, and constituted a regiment, of which the DUKE OF NORFOLK was appointed Colonel, by commission dated the 20th of June, 1685. This regiment having been retained in the service to the present time, now bears the title of the TWELFTH, OR THE EAST SUFFOLK, regiment of foot.

The formation of this regiment was occasioned by the rebellion of James Duke of Monmouth, who assembled an army in the west of England to support his pretensions to the throne; and King James II. found it necessary to make a considerable augmentation to the regular army. The companies, of which the regiment was composed, were raised in Norfolk, Suffolk, and the adjoining counties, by Henry Duke of Norfolk, Captains Henry Wharton, Charles Macartney, Dominick Trant, Jasper Patson, Charles Howard, Francis Blathwayt, Sir Alphonso de Mottetts, and George Trapp: the general rendezvous of the regiment was at Norwich, and as the several companies were formed, they were quartered at Norwich, Yarmouth, and Lynn.

[Sidenote: 1686]

The formation of the regiment was not completed when the rebel army was defeated at Sedgemoor, and the Duke of Monmouth was captured soon afterwards, and beheaded; but King James resolved to retain the newly raised corps in his service, and the Duke of Norfolk's regiment was ordered to march to London. It was quartered a few days, in the beginning of August, in the Tower Hamlets, and afterwards encamped on Hounslow-heath, where it was reviewed by the King. In the beginning of September the regiment marched into garrison at Portsmouth.

On the 1st January, 1686, the establishment was fixed at the numbers and rates of pay as shown in the next page.

Leaving Portsmouth in May, 1686, the regiment proceeded to Hounslow, and pitched its tents on the heath, where a numerous army was assembled; and while at this camp the colonelcy was conferred on EDWARD EARL OF LICHFIELD, by commission dated the 14th of June, 1686.

At the camp on Hounslow-heath, the Earl of Lichfield's regiment was stationed in the centre of the line of infantry; it was distinguished by its _white_ colours bearing the red cross of St. George; the soldiers wore broad-brimmed hats, with the brim turned up on one side, and ornamented with white ribands; scarlet coats lined with white; blue breeches, blue stockings, and high shoes with square toes; and the pikemen, of whom there were twelve in each company, wore white sashes round their waists.

+------------------------------------------+--------------+
| THE DUKE OF NORFOLK'S REGIMENT OF FOOT. | Pay per Day. |
+------------------------------------------+--------------+
| STAFF. | £. _s._ _d._ |
| | |
| The Colonel, _as Colonel_ | 0 12 0 |
| Lieut.-Colonel, _as Lieut.-Colonel_ | 0 7 0 |
| Major, _as Major_ | 0 5 0 |
| Chaplain | 0 6 8 |
| Chirurgeon 4_s._ and 1 Mate 2_s._ 6_d._ | 0 6 6 |
| Adjutant | 0 4 0 |
| Quarter-Master and Marshal | 0 4 0 |
| +--------------+
| Total Staff | 2 5 2 |
| +--------------+
| | |
| THE COLONEL'S COMPANY. | |
| | |
| The Colonel, as Captain | 0 8 0 |
| Lieutenant | 0 4 0 |
| Ensign | 0 3 0 |
| Two Sergeants, 1_s._ 6_d._ each | 0 3 0 |
| Three Corporals, 1_s._ each | 0 3 0 |
| One Drummer | 0 1 0 |
| Fifty Soldiers, 8_d._ each | 1 13 4 |
| +--------------+
| Total for one Company | 2 15 4 |
| +--------------+
| Nine Companies more at the same rate | 24 18 0 |
| +--------------+
| Total | 29 18 6 |
| Per Annum £10,922 12_s._ 6_d._ | |
+------------------------------------------+--------------+

After passing in review before the King several times, and receiving the expressions of His Majesty's approbation, the regiment struck its tents on the 10th of August, when two companies proceeded to Windsor, three to Tilbury-fort, and the remainder to Jersey and Guernsey.

[Sidenote: 1687]

A grenadier company was added to the regiment when it pitched its tents on Hounslow-heath in the summer of 1687, at which period the following officers were holding commissions, viz.:--

_Captains._

Edward Earl of Lichfield (col).
Thomas Salisbury (lieut.-col).
George Trapp (major).
Dominick Trant.
Charles Macartney.
Sir A. de Mottetts.
Francis Blathwayt.
Henry Wharton.
John Berners.
Thomas Dowcett.
Thomas Lord Jermyn.

_Lieutenants._

Charles Potts.
Charles Houston.
Edward Rupert.
Robert Doughty.
John Cuthbert.
William Fisher.
Alexander Waugh.
Robert Stourson.
James Seppens.
John Broder.
George Raleigh. }
Elric Le Mountay.} Grenadier company.

_Ensigns._

James Carlisle.
Henry Bows.
John Beverly.
Ferdinand Paris.
Valentine Saunders.
Isaac Foxley.
Daniel Mahony.
Richard Waldegrave.
William Timperly.
Miles Bourk.

William Denny, _Chaplain_.
John Ross, _Chirurgeon_.
John Blakes, _Adjutant_.
James Healy, _Quarter-Master_.

[Sidenote: 1688]

The frequent assembling of a numerous army, admired for its perfect equipment, discipline, and formidable appearance, on Hounslow-heath, was calculated to impress the English nation with a sense of the King's power, and to facilitate the overthrow of the religion and laws of the kingdom, which His Majesty had determined to accomplish. His Majesty resolved to make a trial of the disposition of his soldiers, to gain them over to the support of his measures; thinking, if one regiment could be induced to give a promise of implicit obedience, its example would be followed by the other corps. Accordingly in the summer of 1688, soon after the Earl of Lichfield's regiment had pitched its tents on the heath, it was formed on parade in presence of His Majesty; a short speech was made to the officers and soldiers to induce them to give an unreserved pledge, and the major was directed to call upon all who would not support the repeal of the test and penal laws, to lay down their muskets; when the King was surprised and disappointed at seeing the whole ground their arms, excepting two officers and a very few soldiers, who were Roman Catholics. After some pause His Majesty commanded them to take up their arms, telling them that for the future he would not do them the honour of asking their opinions.

The conduct of the King occasioned the nobility and gentry to solicit the Prince of Orange to come to England with a Dutch army, and when the crisis arrived, His Majesty discovered that his soldiers had as much aversion to papacy and an arbitrary government, as his other subjects.

Soon after the Prince of Orange had landed, the Earl of Lichfield was removed to the first foot guards, and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Robert Lord Hunsdon, whose commission was dated the 30th of November, 1688.

After the flight of King James to France, Lord Hunsdon refused to take the required oath to the Prince of Orange, and His Highness conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on HENRY WHARTON, a gallant officer and a zealous protestant, who raised one of the companies of the regiment at its formation, and possessed the confidence and affection of the officers and soldiers: at the same time Captain Richard Brewer, from the fourteenth regiment of foot, was promoted to the lieut-colonelcy.

[Sidenote: 1689]

In the beginning of 1689 the regiment was stationed in Oxfordshire: it afterwards proceeded to Hull, where it was inspected, on the 28th of May, by the commissioners for remodelling the army.

The elevation of the Prince and Princess of Orange to the throne, under the title of King William and Queen Mary, was resisted in Ireland; and King James arrived in that country, with a body of troops, from France. King William sent an army thither, under Marshal Duke Schomberg, to rescue that part of his dominions from the power of the Roman Catholics, and the TWELFTH regiment, commanded by Colonel HENRY WHARTON, was selected to take part in this service.

Embarking from England in the early part of August, the regiment arrived in Ireland in the middle of that month; it landed near Bangor, in the county of Down, without opposition, and encamped on the beach. The fortress of Carrickfergus was garrisoned by King James's troops, who were summoned, but refused to surrender; and the first service performed by the regiment, in the field, was the siege of that place.

A practicable breach having been made in the works, the regiment was under arms at six o'clock on the morning of the 27th of August, to take part in storming the town. The soldiers had arrived at the trenches, and Colonel Wharton stood with a pike in his hand ready to give the signal for the attack, when the Irish displayed a white flag on the walls, and agreed to surrender. Story states, in his History of the Wars in Ireland, 'Colonel Wharton lay before the breach with his regiment, and was ready to enter, when the Duke sent to command his men to forbear, which, with some difficulty, they were induced to do, for they had a great mind to enter by force.'

After the surrender of Carrickfergus, the regiment advanced with the army to Dundalk, and the Duke Schomberg, believing King James's forces were more than double his own in numbers, formed an entrenched camp. The situation of this camp was particularly unfavourable; the ground was low, and the weather proving wet, the infantry regiments lost many men from disease. The TWELFTH sustained a very serious loss in non-commissioned officers and soldiers; and on the morning of the 28th of October their commanding officer, the gallant Colonel Henry Wharton, died. This officer is represented by historians as possessing a noble disposition, refined understanding, and lofty sentiments of honour, which, added to a tall graceful person, and a gallant bearing, occasioned him to be admired and beloved by the officers and soldiers of his regiment. Story states,--'Colonel Wharton was a brisk, bold man, and had a regiment that would have followed him anywhere, for the officers and soldiers loved him, and this made him ready to push on upon all occasions.... He was of a comely handsome person, gifted with a rare understanding.' Colonel Sir Thomas Gower died on the preceding day, and the remains of these two officers were interred, on the 30th of October, in a vault in Dundalk church, their regiments attending and firing three volleys.

King William promoted the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, RICHARD BREWER, to the colonelcy, by commission dated the 1st of November, 1689.

On the 7th of November the regiment struck its tents and marched towards Armagh; and it was employed on various services during the winter.

[Sidenote: 1690]

In February, 1690, the regiment was stationed at Belturbet, with the Inniskilling horse and dragoons (now sixth), and the Queen Dowager's foot (now second); and information having been received that the enemy was assembling a body of troops at _Cavan_, Colonel Wolseley left Belturbet on the night of the 10th of February, with three hundred horse and dragoons, and seven hundred foot of the second and TWELFTH regiments, to surprise the enemy in his quarters. Encountering difficulties on the march, the day had dawned before the Colonel came in sight of Cavan, when he was surprised at discovering four thousand Irish soldiers, commanded by the Duke of Berwick, formed on a rising ground to oppose him. The Colonel had only one thousand tired soldiers[6] to attack four thousand fresh opponents with, but trusting to the valour of his men, he sent the cavalry forward to commence the action. The enemy's cavalry drove back the Inniskilling dragoons; but a volley from the English musketeers, brought down ten Irish horsemen, and the survivors fell back. Wolseley's infantry formed line and advanced: arriving within pistol-shot of their opponents, they opened a sharp fire with good effect, and after a few volleys, drew their swords to charge, but on the smoke clearing, they discovered that their opponents had fled. Pursuing the fugitives, they entered the town, and finding stores of necessaries and provisions, they halted to possess themselves of the booty; when the Irish rallied and resumed the fight, but were repulsed by the reserve. After the action the troops returned to Belturbet.

A numerous body of recruits from England replaced the losses of the regiment, and in June it brought five hundred musketeers, one hundred and sixty pikemen, and sixty grenadiers into the field, to serve under King William III., who commanded the army in Ireland in person.

The TWELFTH regiment, commanded by Colonel Brewer, had the honour of taking part at the forcing of the passage of the _Boyne_ on the 1st of July: it formed part of the main body under King William III., and after fording the river, engaged King James's army, and contributed to the gaining of a decisive victory. After the loss of this battle, King James fled to France; but the Irish Roman Catholics, aided by the French troops, adhered to his interest.

From the field of battle the regiment accompanied King William to Dublin; it afterwards proceeded to Limerick, but on arriving at Carrick-on-Suir, it was detached, under Major General Kirke, to besiege _Waterford_: the garrison of this place surrendered without waiting for an attack.

King William afterwards besieged _Limerick_; but King James's soldiers made a more resolute defence than appears to have been expected, and His Majesty was induced to raise the siege, and send the troops into quarters.

The TWELFTH regiment was employed in various services during the winter, and detached parties of the corps had several rencounters with the bands of armed peasantry called _Rapparees_. Towards the end of December, the regiment was in motion against the enemy, and on the 31st of that month it approached the town of _Lanesborough_, when it encountered some opposition from a body of Irish troops formed up to oppose its advance. Colonel Brewer led the regiment forward with great gallantry; some sharp fighting ensued, and the enemy was driven from the trenches cut across the road, through the town, and across the river. The TWELFTH were unable to follow their opponents for want of boats or other means to cross the stream.

[Sidenote: 1691]

From Lanesborough the regiment marched to Mullingar, of which place its commanding officer, Colonel BREWER, was appointed governor. The quarters of the regiment were infested with parties of armed Roman Catholic peasantry, called rapparees, and on the 28th of April, Colonel Brewer advanced with six hundred men of the TWELFTH and eighteenth regiments, and twenty dragoons, towards the castle of _Donore_, beyond which place two thousand rapparees had taken post and occupied a number of huts. At daybreak the following morning the soldiers arrived at the quarters of the rapparees, who formed for battle on the hills; but when the musketeers of the TWELFTH and eighteenth advanced to commence the action, the enemy fled; the soldiers pursued some distance, and killed fifty of the fugitives.

Parties of rapparees continued to hover round Mullingar, and on the 2nd of May, they intercepted a serjeant and four soldiers of the TWELFTH regiment between that place and _Kinnegad_; they put the serjeant and three of the soldiers to death, and put out the eyes of the fourth soldier. Three of the perpetrators of this cruelty were captured; two of them were hanged on the spot, and the third, to save his life, guided Captain Poynes and a hundred soldiers of the regiment, to one of the lurking-places of the rapparees, where the men of the TWELFTH fell suddenly upon a large company of these marauders, killed forty, dispersed the remainder, and recovered a quantity of property, which had been taken from the Protestants.

Towards the end of May, one division of the army encamped at Mullingar, where General De Ginkell arrived and assumed the command.

From Mullingar the army advanced to the fort of _Ballymore_, which was besieged, and surrendered on the 8th of June.

After repairing the breaches of Ballymore, and putting the place in a state of defence, the army advanced to _Athlone_, and on the 20th of June, the regiment was ordered to support the storming party at the attack of the Westmeath side of the town. Major-General Mackay commanded the troops employed on this service, and after making the necessary arrangements for the attack, took his post on the battery to see the issue, when he observed that the advanced party had missed its way and halted. He instantly hastened to the TWELFTH regiment, and taking the first captain he came to by the hand, pointed the way to the breach. The regiment immediately rushed forward, stormed the breach in gallant style, and overcoming the resistance of the Irish, drove them across the bridge to the Connaught side of the town.

Several batteries were raised against the works on the Connaught side of the river, and the grenadier company of the TWELFTH was engaged in forcing the passage of the Shannon, and in capturing the town by storm, on the 30th of June, which was a most desperate service, and was performed with distinguished valour and intrepidity.

The Irish army, commanded by a French officer of talent and reputation, General St. Ruth, took up a position near _Aghrim_, where it was attacked on the 12th of July. During the action, Major-General Mackay ordered the TWELFTH, and three other regiments, to pass a difficult bog, ford a rivulet, and drive the Irish from behind the hedges of the nearest enclosures. The soldiers waded through the bog and rivulet, which was waist deep, and drove the Irish out of the first enclosures in gallant style. They afterwards pressed forward with too much ardour, before the troops designed to support them had arrived, and becoming insulated, they were attacked in front and on both flanks by very superior numbers, and driven back to the edge of the bog. The Irish followed, shouting and plying them with musketry; but a support arriving under Major-General Talmash, the four regiments faced about, repulsed their pursuers, and by a spirited effort recovered their lost ground; the cavalry passed the bog near the castle of Aghrim, and by a determined charge completed the overthrow of the Irish army: the French general, St. Ruth, was killed towards the close of the action by a cannon-ball.

The TWELFTH regiment had one major, one captain, one ensign, and a number of private soldiers killed, one lieutenant, and seven rank and file wounded.

The regiment afterwards marched with the army to _Galway_, and formed part of the force employed in the siege of that place, which surrendered on the 21st, and was delivered up on the 26th of July. Major-General Bellasis was appointed governor of Galway, and the TWELFTH, twenty-second, and twenty-third regiments were selected to form the garrison of that fortress.

During the remainder of the campaign, the TWELFTH regiment was stationed at Galway; and in the autumn, the war in Ireland was terminated by the surrender of Limerick, which delivered that country from the power of King James the Second.

The conquest of Ireland enabled King William to withdraw several regiments from thence to strengthen the allied army in the Netherlands, assembled to oppose the progress of the French conquests in that country. The TWELFTH regiment marched from Galway on the 23rd of November, embarked at Kinsale towards the end of that month, and sailed to Plymouth, where it landed in the beginning of December.

[Sidenote: 1692]

During the summer of 1692, the regiment was selected to form part of an expedition against the coast of France, under the command of the Duke of Leinster: it embarked at Southampton, and the expedition menaced the French coast at several places, occasioning much alarm; but the French had assembled so great a number of regiments to oppose the descent, that a council of war decided against landing. The troops afterwards sailed to Ostend, where they landed, and being joined by a detachment from the confederate army under King William III., they took possession of the towns of Furnes and Dixmude, which they fortified, to be occupied as frontier posts during the winter. After these places were put in a state of defence, the regiment returned to England.

[Sidenote: 1693]

During the year 1693, the regiment remained in Great Britain; but the loss of the battle of Landen, by King William, rendered it necessary for the confederate army in Flanders to be augmented, and Colonel Brewer's was one of the regiments selected to proceed on service.

[Sidenote: 1694]

The regiment embarked for Flanders in the spring of 1694; it was stationed at Malines a short time, and afterwards formed part of the escort which accompanied the train of artillery to the army at Tirlemont, where it arrived on the 6th of June; on the 10th the regiment was reviewed by the King, who expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline. It was formed in brigade with a battalion of the Royal, the third, fourth, seventh, and nineteenth regiments, under Brigadier-General Erle, and was engaged in the toilsome operations of the campaign, which was passed in manœuvring, without a general engagement. The regiment formed part of the covering army during the siege of Huy, and after the capture of this fortress it was stationed at Bruges.

[Sidenote: 1695]

The progress of the French conquests had been arrested, and in 1694 the current of success flowed in favour of the Confederates. In 1695, King William resolved to undertake the siege of Namur. As a preparative measure, the TWELFTH, and several other regiments, marched to Dixmude, in May; in June an attack was made on the fort of _Kenoque_,--a strong post situate at the junction of the Loo and Dixmude canals, to draw the French forces to that part of their line of fortifications. The TWELFTH were engaged in this attack; and they were formed in brigade with the fourteenth, fifteenth, and seventeenth regiments, under Colonel Leslie; they had several men killed and wounded. The French troops having taken post behind their lines, leaving _Namur_ exposed, the King seized the favourable moment and invested the town. The attack on fort Kenoque was then discontinued, and the TWELFTH marched into garrison at _Dixmude_, where three British and five Dutch regiments of foot, and the Queen's (now third) dragoons, were stationed under a Dutch officer,--_Major-General Ellemberg_.

A powerful French army, commanded by Marshal Villeroy, approached the town of Dixmude, and on the 15th of July the place was invested by a strong division under General de Montal. The trenches were opened on the same night, and on the following day a battery of eight guns and three mortars commenced a heavy fire. The works beginning to crumble under fire, Major-General Ellemberg called a council of war of the commanding officers of regiments, and suggested the necessity of surrendering, using, at the same time, various arguments to induce the other officers to agree to his proposal. Colonel Brewer, of the TWELFTH foot, remonstrated against this measure, and recommended a resolute defence of the town to the last extremity; but a majority in the council of war voted for surrendering. The garrison expected to march out with the honors of war; but the French King sent orders to make the whole prisoners of war. The soldiers in garrison were anxious to be permitted to defend the town; many of them broke their arms sooner than deliver them up to the French, and several stands of regimental colours were destroyed by the men, that they might not become trophies in the hands of the enemy. The regiments in garrison were all made prisoners of war, and were marched into the territory subject to France, Louis XIV. refusing to deliver them up on the conditions of the cartel previously agreed upon.

In the mean time King William was carrying on the siege of Namur, and when the citadel was surrendered, he permitted the garrison to march out with the honors of war, but ordered Marshal Boufflers to be arrested, and detained, until the regiments made prisoners by the French at Dixmude, and detained contrary to the cartel, were delivered up.

This produced the desired effect--the TWELFTH, and other corps in prison, were liberated, and rejoined the army, and the necessary arms, equipments, and clothing, were procured as speedily as possible, to enable the regiment to resume its duties; it was afterwards placed in garrison at Malines.

A general court-martial assembled for the trial of the officers who delivered up Dixmude and its garrison to the enemy; _Major-General Ellemberg_ was sentenced to be _beheaded_, and executed at Ghent on the 20th of November; Colonels Graham, Leslie, and the Dutch Colonel Aüer were cashiered; Colonel Brewer of the TWELFTH foot, and the other commanding officers, who remonstrated against the surrender of the town, were acquitted.

[Sidenote: 1696]

The French monarch made preparations for the invasion of England in favour of King James, and in the spring of 1696, several regiments were withdrawn from Flanders, when the TWELFTH marched from Malines to Ostend and Bruges; but the enemy did not venture to put to sea, and the regiment was not required to embark for England.

On the 28th of May, the regiment joined the troops encamped between Ghent and Bruges; it was formed in brigade with the first battalion of the royals, the fifteenth, and Collingwood's (afterwards disbanded) regiments, under Brigadier-General the Earl of Orkney, and served the campaign of this year with the army of Flanders, under the Prince of Vaudemont. The troops of that army were encamped behind the Bruges canal, nearly all the summer, to cover Ghent, Bruges, and the maritime towns of Flanders: in the autumn the regiment was ordered to occupy quarters in the town of Bruges.

[Sidenote: 1697]

In the spring of 1697, the English regiments were ordered to proceed to Brabant, to join the army commanded by King William in person; the TWELFTH foot were, however, detained in Flanders until the Brandenburg troops arrived, when they marched to Brabant, and served under the King during the remainder of the campaign. They were formed in brigade with a battalion of the first royals, and the fifth, Collier's and Lauder's (afterwards disbanded) regiments, commanded by the Earl of Orkney.

The regiment was encamped before Brussels, when the war was terminated by the treaty of Ryswick, and King William saw his efforts, to prevent the aggrandizement of France by conquest, attended with complete success. During the winter the regiment returned to England.

[Sidenote: 1698]

[Sidenote: 1699]

Considerable reductions were made in the establishment of the army in 1698 and 1699, and the TWELFTH were ordered to proceed to Ireland.

[Sidenote: 1700]

[Sidenote: 1701]

While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, the death of Charles II., King of Spain, occurred, and he was succeeded by Philip, Duke of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV., in violation of existing treaties, which rekindled the war in Europe.

[Sidenote: 1702]

Various circumstances occurred to induce Great Britain to take part in the contest, and Queen Anne declared war against France and Spain, in May, 1702.

The establishment of the TWELFTH regiment was augmented, and it was held in readiness to proceed on foreign service; but it was detained in Ireland several months, during which period Colonel Brewer was succeeded in the colonelcy by Lieut.-Colonel Livesay, by commission, dated the 28th of September 1702.

As soon as hostilities were commenced, Vice-Admiral Benbow, commanding the British naval force in the West Indies, began an active warfare against the commerce of the enemy, with some success. Soon afterwards the TWELFTH regiment was ordered to form part of a powerful armament, designed to be sent to the West Indies, under Charles Earl of Peterborough who was promoted to the local rank of General, and a Dutch naval and land force arrived at Spithead, to accompany the British fleet; but this joint expedition was laid aside.

[Sidenote: 1703]

The TWELFTH regiment embarked for the West Indies during the winter. In the early part of March, 1703, an unsuccessful attack was made on the island of _Guadaloupe_, by the troops under Colonel Codrington; two regiments landed and gained some advantages, but the expedition was not of sufficient strength to capture the island.

[Sidenote: 1704]

Additional regiments were afterwards sent to the West Indies:[7] but nothing of importance took place, and the TWELFTH were sent to the island of Jamaica, where they were stationed during the year 1704.

[Sidenote: 1705]

The regiment sustained very serious losses from the effects of the climate, and, in 1705, it transferred the non-commissioned officers and soldiers fit for service, to the twenty-second foot, and the officers and a few of the serjeants returned to England to recruit.

[Sidenote: 1706]

[Sidenote: 1707]

[Sidenote: 1708]

During the years 1706 and 1707, the regiment was employed in recruiting, training, and disciplining its ranks, and having attained a state of efficiency, it was reported fit for service, and in the spring of 1708, it was held in readiness to serve on board the fleet as marines.

During the summer, the regiment was encamped in the Isle of Wight, where it was reviewed, on the 19th of July, by Major-General Erle, and afterwards embarked on an expedition against the coast of France, the fleet being under the orders of Admiral Sir George Byng, and the land forces under Major-General Erle.[8] The fleet sailed from Spithead on the 27th of July, and menaced the coast of Picardy with a descent, creating considerable alarm and consternation; a landing was afterwards effected a few miles from Boulogne, but nothing of importance was accomplished.

In the mean time, the allied army, commanded by the great Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy, was carrying on the siege of the celebrated city of Lisle, the capital of French Flanders, which was defended by fifteen thousand men, under Marshal Boufflers. The French and Spaniards, thinking to prevent the allied army receiving supplies from the coast, detached a body of troops, under General Count de la Motte, towards Ostend; and the troops employed in alarming the French coast, were suddenly ordered to proceed to that port, where they arrived on the 21st of September. The TWELFTH, and other regiments of the expedition, having landed at Ostend, the French general retired; first cutting the dykes, to lay the country between Ostend and Nieuport under water, and to prevent the troops, under Major-General Erle, communicating with the grand army under the Duke of Marlborough. A strong detachment from the TWELFTH, and two other regiments, seized on Leffinghen, constructed some works, and established a post at that village.

At this period, the army before Lisle was deficient in ammunition for carrying on the siege, and the Duke of Marlborough, having heard of the arrival of the troops at Ostend, and of their having established a post at Leffinghen, sent seven hundred waggons thither, under a strong guard, for supplies. The soldiers of the TWELFTH, and other corps at Ostend, were employed in draining the inundations; they built a bridge over the canal of Leffinghen, opened a communication with the grand army, and assisted in loading the seven hundred waggons with ammunition and other necessaries.

The waggons left Ostend on the 27th of September; the troops employed to guard the convoy, under Major-General Webb, were attacked on the following day in the wood of Wynendale, by twenty-two thousand French and Spaniards, under Count de la Motte, who was repulsed, and the convoy arrived in safety at the head-quarters of the army. Major-General Webb received the thanks of Parliament for his conduct on this occasion.

The Duke of Vendôme was so chagrined at this success, that he advanced with a numerous army to Oudenburg, posted his men along the canal between Plassendael and Nieuport, and caused the dykes to be cut in several places, in order to let in the sea, and lay a great extent of country under water. The TWELFTH, and other corps under Major-General Erle, were encamped on the high grounds of Raversein, and watched the enemy's movements; at length, the Duke of Marlborough put the covering army in motion, to attack the enemy, when the Duke of Vendôme made a precipitate retreat. The TWELFTH were afterwards employed in conveying another supply of ammunition and other necessaries, for the besieging army, across the inundations in boats, which enabled the generals of the allied army to continue the siege of Lisle, and insured the reduction of that fortress. The Duke of Vendôme sent a body of troops to besiege Leffinghen, which was captured after a short resistance; the enemy also menaced the camp at Raversein, when the TWELFTH, and other regiments under Major-General Erle, retired into the outworks of Ostend. The supplies furnished to the army, however, proved sufficient, and the citadel of Lisle surrendered on the 9th of December.

[Sidenote: 1709]

The service, for which the regiment was sent to Flanders having been accomplished, it returned to England in the early part of 1709, and was stationed in garrison at Portsmouth.

[Sidenote: 1710]

On the 4th of July, 1710, the regiments of Livesay (TWELFTH), and of Montandre, Lord Mark Kerr, and Windsor (afterwards disbanded), were reviewed at Portsmouth by Lieut.-General Erle.

[Sidenote: 1711]

The regiment was detained on home service in 1711.

[Sidenote: 1712]

Colonel Livesay was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by Lieut.-Col. Richard Phillips, whose commission was dated the 16th of March, 1712.

Being in an efficient state, the regiment was embarked for Spain, to reinforce the allied army in that country. In the summer of 1712, preliminary articles for a treaty of peace were agreed upon, which was followed by a cessation of hostilities, and the TWELFTH regiment proceeded to the island of Minorca, which had been captured by a body of troops under Major-General Stanhope in 1708.

[Sidenote: 1713]

Minorca was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, and the TWELFTH regiment was one of the corps selected to form part of the garrison of that island.

[Sidenote: 1717]

Colonel Phillips was appointed to the command of the fortieth foot, on the formation of that regiment from non-regimented companies in America, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the TWELFTH by Colonel Thomas Stanwix, from the thirtieth foot, whose commission was dated the 25th of August, 1717.

[Sidenote: 1719]

Having been relieved from duty at Minorca, in 1719, the regiment returned to England, where it arrived in October of that year.

[Sidenote: 1722]

In the summer of 1722, the regiment was encamped on Salisbury Plain, and it was reviewed on the 30th of August by King George I., and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, afterwards King George II.

[Sidenote: 1725]

On the 14th of March, 1725, Brigadier-General Thomas Stanwix died, and King George I. conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Major-General Thomas Whetham, from the twenty-seventh foot.

[Sidenote: 1739]

The regiment was employed on home service for several years; and on the breaking out of the war with Spain, in 1739, its establishment was augmented to nine hundred officers and soldiers.

[Sidenote: 1740]

In the summer of 1740, the regiment pitched its tents near Newbury, where an encampment was formed of two regiments of horse, three of dragoons, and four of infantry, under Lieut.-General Wade. It afterwards served on board the fleet as marines.

In the autumn of this year, Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, died, and the succession of his daughter Maria Theresa, as Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, was disputed by the Elector of Bavaria, who was aided by a French army.

[Sidenote: 1741]

King George II. resolved to support the house of Austria, and the TWELFTH was one of the regiments selected to proceed on foreign service. It was encamped, in the summer of 1741, on Lexden Heath, and was held in readiness to embark; in the autumn it went into cantonments.

General Whetham died on the 28th of April; and the colonelcy remained vacant until August, when His Majesty conferred that appointment on the lieut.-colonel of the regiment, Scipio Duroure, who had performed the duties of commanding officer with reputation during the preceding seven years.

[Sidenote: 1742]

During the summer of 1742, King George II. sent an army to Flanders under Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair, to support the house of Austria, and the TWELFTH foot embarked on this service under Colonel Duroure.

[Sidenote: 1743]

The regiment passed several months in Flanders, and in February 1743 it commenced its march for Germany. It was encamped a short period near the forest d'Armstadt, and afterwards at Aschaffenburg, where the King and His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland joined the army.

On the 27th of June, as the forces commanded by His Majesty were marching along the bank of the river Maine, the French under Marshal Noailles crossed the stream and took post near _Dettingen_, to intercept the march. The allied army formed for battle and a severe engagement took place, in which the TWELFTH had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves under the eye of their Sovereign. On one occasion they repulsed a charge of the French cavalry, and afterwards engaged the enemy's infantry with signal intrepidity and determination. The opposing army was forced to give way before the steady valour of the infantry of the allied army, and the charges of the British cavalry completed the overthrow of the French host, which was driven across the river Maine with severe loss.

The TWELFTH regiment had Captain Phillips, Lieutenant Monro, and twenty-seven rank and file killed; Captain Campbell, Lieutenant Williams, Ensign Townshend, three serjeants, two drummers, and sixty rank and file wounded, on this occasion.

After passing the night on the field of battle, the regiment marched to Hanau; it was encamped several weeks on the banks of the Kinzig, and in August marched towards the Rhine. It crossed that river above Mentz, and was employed in various services until October, when the army marched in divisions back to Flanders. The TWELFTH formed part of the fifth division, under Major-General the Earl of Rothes, and arrived on the 22nd of November, at Brussels, from whence they proceeded to Ostend for winter quarters.

[Sidenote: 1744]

The TWELFTH regiment served the campaign of 1744 under Field-Marshal Wade: it was encamped some time on the banks of the Scheldt, and took part in several operations, but no general engagement occurred: in the autumn it was again stationed in Flanders.

[Sidenote: 1745]

In the spring of 1745, a very powerful French army appeared in the Austrian provinces of the Netherlands, and commenced the siege of Tournay. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland assumed the command of the allied army, and advanced to the relief of the besieged fortress; and the TWELFTH regiment of foot was withdrawn from garrison to take part in the enterprise. The French army took up a position at the village of _Fontenoy_; and the allies, though much inferior to the enemy in numbers, resolved to hazard a general engagement.

At two o'clock on the morning of the 11th of May, the allied army advanced to attack the formidable position occupied by the enemy, and the TWELFTH regiment, commanded by Colonel Duroure, was detached with several other corps, under Brigadier-General Ingoldsby, to attack a large fort, mounted with cannon, in the wood of Barri. Against this post the regiment advanced, but the fort was found too formidable to be attacked without artillery, and some delay occurred. Brigadier-General Ingoldsby did not clearly understand his orders, and the regiment was detained a long time in a state of inactivity exposed to a heavy cannonade; during which time the British infantry had forced the enemy's centre, but were obliged to retire in consequence of the Dutch having failed on Fontenoy, and Brigadier-General Ingoldsby having lost the opportunity of attacking the batteries in the wood of Barri. A second attack was, however, determined on, in the hope that the Dutch would make a more determined effort, and the TWELFTH were brought into action; Brigadier-General Ingoldsby was wounded at the head of the regiment, and removed to the rear. Impatient of the state of inactivity in which they had been detained, the soldiers of the TWELFTH rushed into action with distinguished ardour, and were conspicuous for their gallant bearing throughout the remainder of the contest. They were exposed to a heavy fire, and had to contend against very superior numbers. Their commanding officer, Colonel Duroure, fell mortally wounded; Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore was killed; Major Cosseley was wounded, and the command devolved on Captain Rainsford, who was also wounded: but the regiment preserved its firm array, and when more than half the non-commissioned officers and soldiers had fallen, the survivors continued the fight, advancing over the killed and wounded of both armies. The Dutch, however, failed a second time; the British who had penetrated the enemy's line became insulated, and constantly exposed to the attack of fresh troops, and a retreat was ordered; the army withdrawing from the field of battle to Aeth.

The conduct of the TWELFTH regiment was commended in the Duke of Cumberland's public despatch; its loss was greater than any other corps in the army, and amounted to _three hundred and twenty-one_ officers and soldiers: viz., Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore, Captain Campbell, Lieutenants Bockland and Lane, Ensigns Cannon and Clifton, five serjeants, and one hundred and forty-eight rank and file killed; Colonel Duroure, Major Cosseley, Captains Rainsford and Robinson, Lieutenants Murray, Townshend, Millington, and Delgaire, Ensigns Dagers and Pearce, seven serjeants, and one hundred and forty-two private soldiers wounded; Captain de Cosne, Captain-Lieut. Goulston, and Lieut. Salt, missing.

Colonel Duroure died of his wounds, and was succeeded by Brigadier-General Henry Skelton, from the thirty-second regiment of foot. Major Cosseley recovered of his wounds, and was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy, and Captain Rainsford was appointed Major.

The regiment was encamped with the army on the plain of Lessines, and afterwards near Brussels; and the French, by their superior numbers, were enabled to capture several fortified towns.

In the meantime a rebellion had broken out in Scotland, headed by Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender. This adventurer, being guided by desperate and designing men,--urged on by the wily politics of France,--personally sanguine in his disposition, and disposed to listen to every representation that flattered his views, embarked on his expedition in a style little adequate to the extent of his designs, which were to dethrone the reigning monarch, and to overturn the constitution of a brave and free people. Arriving in Scotland, he was joined by several of the Highland clans, and the King's troops being in Flanders, success attended his efforts for a short period.

The TWELFTH regiment was one of the corps ordered to return to England on this occasion: it arrived at Gravesend on the 4th of November, afterwards formed part of the army assembled under the Duke of Cumberland, when the clans penetrated England as far as Derby.

Being little accustomed to hear the sound of war at their own gates, the British were at first alarmed at the novelty; but soon recovering, they evinced loyalty and union in sustaining the fixed rights of their sovereign, and in defending their own liberties. Addresses, backed by associations, were daily made to the King; the army arrived from Flanders, and the Pretender made a precipitate retreat back to Scotland.

The TWELFTH regiment pursued the Highlanders as far as _Carlisle_, and was before that town when the rebel garrison surrendered.

[Sidenote: 1746]

In the early part of 1746 the regiment was withdrawn from the north of England; but after the loss of the battle of Falkirk by the troops under Lieut.-General Hawley, it was ordered to proceed to Scotland. Various circumstances occurred to prevent its proceeding thither immediately; but it embarked from Plymouth towards the end of March, and sailed for Scotland in the early part of April.

Before the regiment joined the army under the Duke of Cumberland, the battle of Culloden had decided the fate of the young Pretender, who was transformed, by the events of that day, from an imaginary monarch to an humble fugitive, and after concealing himself some time in the Highlands and Hebrides, he escaped to the continent. The regiment was stationed several months at Perth.

[Sidenote: 1747]

During the summer of 1747 the TWELFTH were encamped in a rugged valley, surrounded by gloomy precipices, near Fort Augustus, in the Highlands of Scotland; in the autumn the regiment was withdrawn from North Britain and stationed in England.

[Sidenote: 1748]

In the meantime, the war on the Continent had been continued, and in the beginning of the year 1748, the regiment embarked at Shields for Holland, to join the allied army in that country.