Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

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

All changes noted in the ERRATA (pg xvi) have been applied to the etext.

Sometimes the currency symbol l (for libra, pounds) was used instead of £. This has been changed to _l_ for clarity. For example, 50l is represented as 50_l_.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

AN

Historical Review

OF THE

_ROYAL MARINE CORPS._

PRICE ONE GUINEA IN BOARDS.

AN

HISTORICAL REVIEW

OF THE

_ROYAL MARINE CORPS_,

FROM ITS

ORIGINAL INSTITUTION DOWN TO THE PRESENT ERA,

1803.

DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION,

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE.

BY ALEXANDER GILLESPIE,

FIRST LIEUTENANT AND UPWARDS OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AN OFFICER IN IT.

BIRMINGHAM:

PRINTED AND SOLD BY M. SWINNEY, No. 75, HIGH-STREET;

SOLD ALSO BY T. EGERTON, MILITARY-LIBRARY, WHITEHALL; MESSRS. RICHARDSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE; MESSRS. LONGMAN AND REES, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND T. OSTELL, AVE-MARIA-LANE, LONDON.

1803.

_Most Gracious Prince_,

With mixed sentiments of Loyalty and Gratitude, I now lay the following Work under your Royal Shelter.

In having deigned to become its Patron your Royal Highness has placed me under a double tie, as it is a precious mark of condescension bestowed upon myself, enhanced in value from its being a sure earnest of predilection for my Corps.

To cherish Patriotism, Subordination and Allegiance, is the bounden duty of every subject; but more peculiarly so, during times of public danger, and of general convulsion. This has been my leading aim, not by the displays of Theory, but of Facts.

Conscious that such were my predominant motives, and anxious to maintain consistency throughout, I looked around for a Protector who united within himself all those exalted endowments which I have laboured to establish. My eyes turned towards your Royal Highness, and my pen did not solicit in vain.

With talents filled for an honorable discharge of the most important trusts; early trained in the hardy employs of a profession which has long been the prop of the British Empire; and a Prince of the greatest Realm on earth, your Royal Highness has nobly foregone all those pre-eminent claims, and with a manly humility, you have associated yourself, in arms, with the Volunteers of your Country.

Although the field of glory may not be so wide as on that element for which your Royal Highness was destined from your youth, and where you are so well qualified to shine, still you have exhibited the brightest example to Englishmen, and by it alone, you have already rendered the most signal services.

The deed, august Prince, will be reviewed by Posterity with all the generous feelings of Britons; and it must convince the collected hosts of a rapacious enemy, now arrayed for the avowed purpose of overturning our Religion, our Liberties, and our Laws, of the many serious dangers which they must encounter, ere they can subdue those Isles, where but one spirit pervades, and animates every rank, from the Palace to the Cottage.

Were I allowed to penetrate into futurity, and were your energies to be ever called forth, I should then behold your Royal Highness emulating the recognized valour of your illustrious Ancestors, by deeds of heroic gallantry against the foes of your revered Father, and of his Throne; but I will forbear to dwell upon the issues of an after day.

Whether it shall be your lot to wave your banner or your flag in combat against the enemies of our land, may victory and success ever follow in your train, and may your Royal Highness enjoy the honorary recompence of a Brave Nation, annexed to its habitual respect for your public virtue, and your private worth!

Such, Most Gracious Prince, are the cordial wishes of one, who has the distinguished privilege of attesting that fidelity and devotion, with which he remains,

Your Royal Highness's,

Very attached,

And most obedient humble Servant,

ALEX. GILLESPIE,

BIRMINGHAM, 15th NOV. 1803.

INTRODUCTION.

There is no Fame so liable to decay as that which has been acquired by the subordinate Soldier. The admiration and applause too, which follow military deeds, however brilliant, are but fickle passions, as they successively transfer their affections to every new conqueror, and all are too often buried in the same grave, after the trumpet of war has ceased to sound.

To drag from the land of forgetfulness, actions, long lain in oblivion; to place the revolutions and the achievements of a corps, endeared to its Country by a train of loyalty and valour, in one connected and analysed point of view, were the leading motives which urged the Author to essay a history of its origin and progress. Whilst he laments that the undertaking has not been allotted to superior talents, at the same time he will venture to affirm that it could not have been prosecuted with a stronger zeal.

Never was military prowess more loudly called for, than at the present crisis.--Ardour should be raised in every rank. It is a plant, which, by fostering attention flourishes and grows; but if neglected, soon droops and dies. Courage is the natural birth-right of an Englishman, and it needs only a directing hand, under Providence, to give it an invincible aim.

It is policy then, as well as justice, to stamp upon record the feats of the meanest, anxiously to search for worthy examples in every walk, and to proclaim them to their brethren, and to the world, as merited tributes, and powerful incentives to achievement.

The Author regrets that his range has been so limited, and that, in many instances, the adduced anecdotes have not been more specific; but the foundation stone is laid, upon which a structure may yet be reared. He trusts, therefore, that the following request may not be unavailing, which is,--That his brother Officers will have the goodness to preserve, in written memorial, the names of those gallant fellows who may hereafter distinguish themselves, as well as a minute description of the circumstances.

As error is a bye path to knowledge, he anticipates from the members of his own household, corrections of the many defects which have unavoidably crept into a work of such miscellaneous detail.

A Soldier from his infancy, he begs that the public, and _those who controul its opinions_, may be tender with the lash! It would be a pity to bring a veteran, for his first offence, to the halberts, and that too for grammatical inaccuracies.--He has taken up the pen merely to be useful, not in the pursuit of literary fame.

The arrangement of his subject will appear classed under distinct chapters, which engross the events of each separate year, excepting such as comprehend the intervals of peace; a season that yields little interesting matter, and what is uniformly comprized in one division.

An Appendix is added, which contains the essence of every Act of Parliament now in force, so far as they affect the interests of the families, the widows, or representatives of the forlorn orphans of Seamen and Marines. A reference to it, will enable the Clergyman or private Gentleman, to become the immediate and solid friend of these meritorious and destitute objects, as the regular mode of transaction and correspondence is clearly pointed out, by which, to realize their little properties.

The Author takes this public method of tendering his warmest thanks to the many respectable characters in this loyal spot, who have befriended his labours, and to that wide circle of Royalty, Nobility, and Gentry, who, although strangers to him, have yet deigned to countenance the humble individual, from affection to his Corps.

BIRMINGHAM, 15th Nov. 1803.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

Introductory remarks--The original design of Marine Soldiers--Established in the year 1684--A detail of the first established Corps--Disbanded at the peace of Ryswick--Interesting events to the military--A digression respecting half-pay.--Page 1 to 8.

CHAP. II.--The revival of Marine Corps in the reign of Queen Anne--Expences incurred by them--Marines no longer considered as a nursery for the Navy--Rules for their future government and conduct--Under the controul of the Lord High Admiral--Independent Companies also raised and embodied.--P. 9 to 15.

CHAP. III.--The high estimation in which the Marines were held as Soldiers--Their various enterprizes in favour of King Charles III. in his views upon the Spanish monarchy.--P. 16 to 25.

CHAP. IV.--The reduction of Port Royal, now named Annapolis Royal, in honour of Queen Anne.--P. 26 to 27.

CHAP. V.--Reflections on the views of King Charles of Spain respecting the Spanish monarchy--The heroic perseverance exhibited by the Marines when besieged in the town of Alicant--Expedition against Cette, in the province of Languedoc--Taken, but afterwards recovered.--P. 28 to 30.

CHAP. VI.--An unsuccessful attempt on the town of Quebec.--P. 31.

CHAP. VII.--Death of the Emperor of Germany--King Charles called to fill the Austrian throne--Peace restored by the treaty of Utrecht--Moderate expences of this long war.--P. 32 to 33.

CHAP. VIII.--A retrospect of arrangements as to the allowances to Officers of the Army and the Marines--Reforms in the constitution of Marine regiments--George I. commenced his reign with a signal mark of royal favour to the Marine Corps--Marines disbanded. Again embodied. Considerably augmented--Admiral Vernon's encomium on the subject of Marine Soldiers--War with Spain detailed, by the taking of Porto Bello, the bombardment of Carthagena, and an attack on Chagre--A disastrous expedition against Carthagena--Heavy losses.--P. 34 to 57.

CHAP. IX.--Marine regiments augmented--Indulgencies granted them--Established regulations for them--Hardships experienced by the Officers in drawing their arrears of pay.--P. 58 to 60.

CHAP. X.--Renewal of operations against the Spaniards--The evacuation of Cuba.--P. 61 to 64.

CHAP. XI.--Unsuccessful expedition--Rattan possessed by the British--Mutiny there suppressed by the energies of the Marine Soldier--Heavy casualties of the troops in the West Indies.--P. 65 to 68.

CHAP. XII.--A spirited attack on the town of La Guira--An unsuccessful attempt on the coast of Terra Firma.--P. 69 to 71.

CHAP. XIII.--France declares war against England--Property of naval prizes granted to the captors--The Marine force considerably augmented.--P. 72 to 75.

CHAP. XIV.--The attack and fall of Cape Breton--A digression to a train of important domestic events--Effective strength of the Marine regiments in 1745.--P. 76 to 84.

CHAP. XV.--An investigation into the grievances of the land forces and Marines--Expedients suggested to redress the grievances complained of--Statement of them--Definition of terms--Meditated expeditions against the French coast--Marines incorporated with the line--Taking precedence from the 44th regiment--A short detail of each--A curious occurrence of a recruiting party in London, authenticated by Major Donkin.--P. 85 to 102.

CHAP. XVI.--Two important naval victories, gained by Admirals Warren and Hawke--Marines placed under the controul of the Board of Admiralty.--P. 103 to 105.

CHAP. XVII.--The conquest of Pondicherry meditated--Anecdote of Hannah Snell, a female Marine Soldier--The expedition to Pondicherry abandoned--The attack against St. Jago frustrated and diverted against Port Lewis--A serious mutiny on board the Chesterfield--A striking anecdote in consequence of it--Peace proclaimed.--P. 106 to 115.

CHAP. XVIII.--Grants of land, and the cultivation of Nova Scotia--50 companies of Marines levied--Detail of appointments to them, and an act passed for their regulation on shore when they were formed into three divisions--Preparations for war.--P. 116 to 120.

CHAP. XIX.--Marine Corps further augmented--War declared against France--A Marine detachment shares in the gallant defence of Minorca--A new ministry formed.--P. 121 to 123.

CHAP. XX.--20 companies added to complete the corps of Marines--A coalition of parties.--P. 124.

CHAP. XXI.--Further augmentation of the Marine Corps--The Militia established--A memorable action at sea--The works on the Isle of Aix destroyed by a party of Marines--The capitulation of Fort Lewis, Cape Breton, and St. John's--The surrender of Goree, in all of which the Marine corps bore a part--A bill framed to enable Seamen to assist their suffering families.--P. 125 to 130.

CHAP. XXII.--A gallant action recorded, in which Captain Troy and his detachment were distinguished--Various expeditions in the West Indies--A ludicrous anecdote of some Seamen near Quebec--A naval victory in the Mediterranean--Havre de Grace bombarded--The spirited zeal of Captain Harvey on repeated occasions--Defeat of Conflans by Admiral Hawke--New establishment in the Marine Corps--Remarks upon it.--P. 131 to 144.

CHAP. XXIII.--The Marine forces augmented--Important services effected at home and in the East--The death of George II.--His present Majesty proclaimed King--Magnanimous instances of liberality shewn to distressed French prisoners in England.--P. 145 to 151.

CHAP. XXIV.--An expedition against Belleisle--Disasters at its outset--The town and citadel of Palais reduced--Examples of Marine gallantry--The island of Dominica reduced--Gallant single actions at sea recorded--The union between the King and Queen--Mr. Pitt's resignation--Field Officers upon the Marine list at the close of 1761.--P. 152 to 163.

CHAP. XXV.--War declared against Spain--The reduction of Martinico, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada--A plan of operations meditated against the Spanish colonies--Havannah surrenders--An attempt against Newfoundland frustrated--An expedition against the Spanish Philippine Islands--Distinguished operations there--Rich captures at sea--Wretched state of the enemy--Preliminaries of peace ratified.--P. 164 to 179.

CHAP. XXVI.--A heavy reduction in the Marine forces--A proposal for increasing the number of Marine Field Officers--Partial grants of land to his Majesty's servants in the Province of Canada.--P. 180 to 182.

CHAP. XXVII.--The hostile disposition of the American Provinces towards their mother Country appears early--Considerate reforms in the Corps adopted by Earl Sandwich.--P. 183 to 184.

CHAP. XXVIII.--The American war commences in New England--Affair at Lexington--Judicious measures of Lord Percy in effecting a masterly retreat to Boston--A Marine battalion reaches America--Formed into two battalions--Detail of the Officers--Battle of Bunker's Hill--Farther particulars in Canada and Virginia.--P. 185 to 208.

CHAP. XXIX.--Sufferings of the troops in Boston--That town evacuated, after which the Army proceeds for Halifax--Various transactions in North America.--P. 209 to 214.

CHAP. XXX.--The Grenadier Marine Companies accompany Sir William Howe--Detail of military operations throughout the American continent.--P. 215 to 220.

CHAP. XXXI.--Treaty between France and America--Rapid and gallant successes of Colonel Maitland--Hostilities with France--Single encounters at sea--Warlike events in America and the West Indies.--P. 221 to 225.

CHAP. XXXII.--A retrospective view of the uniform good conduct and discipline of the Marine battalion at Halifax--Honours rendered to all in consequence.--P. 226 to 238.

CHAP. XXXIII.--Pondicherry taken--D'Estaing's success in the West Indies--Drawn battle at sea--His attempt upon Savannah--Is repulsed with loss--Marine gallantry there--Colonel Maitland dies--Spanish war--Omoa taken--Anecdote there--Subordinate details at sea.--P. 239 to 247.

CHAP. XXXIV.--Admiral Rodney's successes--Political digressions--Operations in America--Admiral Rodney's battles in the West Indies--Undaunted conduct of Commodore Cornwallis--Single actions between ships.--P. 248 to 255.

CHAP. XXXV.--War with Holland--Dutch losses in the West Indies--Unequal contest off Martinique--French successes in that quarter--Reduction of West Florida by the Spaniards--Naval engagements--Transactions in India, in which the Marines were peculiarly active--Disasters in America--Single actions during 1801--Admiral Kempenfelt's bold attack on a French convoy.--P. 256 to 271.

CHAP. XXXVI.--Admiral Hood's brave conduct at St. Kitt's--Victory of the 12th of April--Anecdote of Lieutenant Mounier--Engagement in the East Indies--Signal repulse of the combined forces from Gibraltar--Subordinate actions at sea--Peace negociated.--P. 272 to 276.

CHAP. XXXVII.--A general peace--Instances of mutiny--Conduct of the Marines--A heavy reduction in that establishment--Striking anecdote respecting the Duke of Clarence--Detachments to New South Wales.--P. 277 to 280.

CHAP. XXXVIII.--War with France--Inadequate augmentation--Remarks upon it--Noble patriotism of the town of Manchester--Successful operations--The surrender of Toulon to Lord Hood--A detail of events there--Military anecdotes of Lieutenants Nailor and Burdwood of Marines--Zeal of Sir Sidney Smith--Evacuation of Toulon--Judicious conduct of Capt. Robinson, of Marines, while commanding the garrison of Cape Nicola Mole at St. Domingo--Single actions at sea.--P. 281 to 294.

CHAP. XXXIX.--Additional Companies raised--St. Fiorenzo and Bastia surrender to Lord Hood--Rapid conquests in the West Indies by the Fleet and Army under Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey--Lord Howe's memorable victory--Action at sea--Lieutenant Craigie killed.--P. 295 to 300.

CHAP. XL.--A treaty between France and Holland--Reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, and of the Dutch territories in Hindostan--Defeat of the French fleet by Admiral Hotham--Single actions--Lieutenant Crebbin distinguished--Admiral Cornwallis's masterly retreat from a very superior force--Lord Bridport takes three sail of the line--Lieutenant Jephcote slain--Bravery of Lieutenant Richardson and Serjeant Dice on board La Blanche.--P. 301 to 307.

CHAP. XLI.--St. Lucia conquered--Various military incidents in which Lieutenant Carter was mortally wounded, and Captain Strangeways, after feats of valour, died from a severe wound--Lieutenants Williams and Hart also noticed for spirit--The French foiled in their aim to invade Ireland.--P. 308 to 312.

CHAP. XLII.--Hostilities against Spain--Trinidad and ships of war surrender or are burnt--Brilliant victory of Sir John Jarvis over a superior Spanish fleet--Digression upon the subject of achievement--Lieutenant Bulkeley's good conduct--Unsuccessful attack on Teneriffe--Lieutenants Robinson and Basham slain--A mutiny on board the Hermione--Reflections--Mutiny in our fleets--Remarks on it--Lieutenants Wilson, O'Connor, Carruthers, Campbell, and Stewart, Serjeant Sweet, and Private Cubit, signalized by courage and fidelity--Admiral Duncan's victory--Royal procession to St. Paul's.--P. 313 to 324.

CHAP. XLIII.--Political reflections--French expedition to Egypt--The fall of Malta, Alexandria, and Cairo--Glorious battle of the Nile--Captain Faddy killed--The gallantry of Lieutenant Perry stated, and Serjeant Dair's valour and death on board the Leander--James Harding's intrepidity--Operations in the Mediterranean--Marine courage displayed on board the Mars, and in the defence of St. Marcou--Lieutenants Maughan, Ensor, Symes, Macdonald, Hole, Gerrard, Bell, Derring, and Sinclair distinguished through the year 1798.--P. 325 to 334.

CHAP. XLIV.--The noble defence of St. Jean d'Acre, by the Seamen and Marines under Sir Sidney Smith and Colonel Douglas--Lieutenant Burton noticed--Bold sortie--Major Oldfield's fall--Eulogiums to his memory--Lieutenant Beattie wounded--Repulse of Buonaparte--Farther services of Sir Sidney and Colonel Douglas--Short and brilliant campaign in the Neapolitan territory--Momentous results and prompt conduct of Captain Trowbridge, as well as discipline evinced by the Marines under Colonel Strickland--Lieutenants Vivion, Davison, Private Needham, Lieutenants M'Gee, Wybourn, Howell, Higginson, and Gardner, honorably mentioned amongst the mixed transactions of 1799.--P. 335 to 355.

CHAP. XLV.--Malta surrenders--Marine Officers there--Captures--Lieutenants Campbell, Jewell, Captain M'Leverty, Mr. Macdonald, Lieutenants Owen, Gerrard, Thompson, Ballingham, Hutton, M'Cullen, Alexander, Montgomerie, Mitchell, and Jordan appear most respectably on the records of 1800.--P. 356 to 362.

CHAP. XLVI.--Northern confederacy--Unexampled increase to the Marine Corps--Victory at Copenhagen--Subsequent details upon it--Lieutenants Tate, Sinclair, Rose, Gerrard, distinguished--Bombardment of Boulogne--Mutiny in Bantry Bay--Honorable testimonies of Marine loyalty--Egyptian campaign--Encomiums bestowed upon the Corps, for their gallantry and discipline--Bright achievements of Sir James Saumarez--Individual Officers named during the military operations of 1801--Lieutenant Smith's decisive conduct, and a heroic instance of zeal in a Private Marine in quelling a mutiny on board the Castor--Testimonials in consequence--Lieutenant Vyvion's fall.--P. 363 to 390.

CHAP. XLVII.--A general peace--Marine Corps honoured with the title of _Royal_--Terms in which the boon was bestowed--Other marks of recompence--The distinguished perseverance evinced by a Marine detachment in quelling a mutiny at Dominique--Particulars of it--High encomiums rendered to the Marine parties on board the Gibraltar and Excellent.--P. 391 to 399.

CHAP. XLVIII.--Earl St. Vincent's reforms--War with France--His Lordship's attention to the Corps of Royal Marines--Subordinate exploits.----P. 400 to 402.

INDEX TO APPENDIX.

Privileges of the Marine Soldier and the progressive indulgencies granted to him stated and discussed--Useful instructions for recovering wages and prize-money due to the heirs of deceased Marines--Forms of procedure, the prescribed fees attending every claim, and some hints as to the execution of wills and letters of attorney, with sundry other particulars, of general benefit to the relatives of Seamen as well as Marines.

ERRATA.

Page 52, for _duies_ read _duties_.--60, for _sytem_ read _system_.--74, for a force of 11,556 _were_ read _was_.--82, for _strived_ to subvert read _striven_.--95, for _The_ afterwards destined against L'Orient read _They_; and same page, for _exquinox_ read _equinox_.--121, for _compleat_ read _complete_.--125, for _Selfs_ read _Self_.--129, for _Maines_ read _Marines_.--190, for _dare_ not, read _durst_ not.--210, for _resolved_ upon dislodging read _He_ resolved, &c.--222, for But _their_ leader read _its_ leader.--230, for _after_ formed into one Battalion read _each Company to consist of_, &c.--233, for top detail of _Light Infantry_ and _Grenadiers_ read downwards 2d, 3d, and 4th Companies.--250, for _friendly_ passion read _fiendly_.--326, instead of revived under the republic _who_ read _which_; and for _their_ faithless purposes read _such_.--357, for He _with_ Mr. Beaufort read He _and_ Mr. Beaufort.--373, for _the following was the order of battle_ read _and by the order of battle_ given out, the Marines were attached, &c.--378, for _tenable_ in the field read _terrible_, &c. &c. &c.

A

HISTORICAL REVIEW

OF THE

_ROYAL MARINE CORPS_,

_&c. &c._

FROM ITS ORIGINAL FORMATION TO 1803.

CHAP. I.