Historical record of the Ninety-second Regiment, originally termed "The Gordon Highlanders" and numbered the Hundredth Regiment

Part 14

Chapter 142,466 wordsPublic domain

KING’S GERMAN LEGION. Officers. Men. 1st Light Dragoons 36 610 2nd ” 41 620 3rd ” 40 621 Royal Artillery 34 675 1st Battalion of the Line 39 824 2nd ” 38 837 3rd ” 41 815 4th ” 41 813 5th ” 41 802 6th ” 42 835 7th ” 39 830 8th ” 41 726 1st Battalion Light Infantry 40 825 2nd ” 24 532 Depôt Company 3 130 Garrison Company 2 60 --- ------ Total King’s German Legion 542 10,555 --- ------ General Total 1,242 27,000 ===== ======

“_His Majesty’s Ship, ‘Audacious,’_ “_18th January, 1809._

“GENERAL ORDERS.

“The irreparable loss that has been sustained by the fall of the Commander of the Forces (Lieut.-General Sir John Moore), and the severe wound which has removed Lieut.-General Sir David Baird from his station, render it the duty of Lieut.-General Hope to congratulate the army upon the successful result of the action of the 16th instant.

“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered.

“These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position, or of numbers he may employ, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers, a bravery that knows not how to yield, that no circumstances can appal, and that will ensure victory when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.

“The Lieut.-General has the greatest satisfaction in distinguishing such meritorious services, as came within his observation, or have been brought to his knowledge.

“His acknowledgments are, in a peculiar manner, due to Lieut.-General Lord William Bentinck, and the brigade under his command, consisting of the fourth, forty-second, and fiftieth regiments, and which sustained the weight of the attack.

“Major-General Manningham, with his brigade, consisting of the Royals, the twenty-sixth and eighty-first regiments, and Major-General Warde, with the brigade of Guards, will also be pleased to accept his best thanks for their steady and gallant conduct during the action.

“To Major-General Paget, who, by a judicious movement of the reserve, effectually contributed to check the progress of the enemy on the right; and to the first battalion of the fifty-second and ninety-fifth regiments, which were thereby engaged, the greatest praise is justly due.

“That part of Major-General Leith’s brigade which was engaged, consisting of the fifty-ninth regiment, under the conduct of the Major-General, also claims marked approbation.

“The enemy not having rendered the attack on the left a serious one, did not afford to the troops stationed in that quarter an opportunity of displaying that gallantry which must have made him repent the attempt.

“The piquets and advanced posts, however, of the brigades under the command of _Major-Generals Hill and Leith_, and _Colonel Catlin Craufurd_, conducted themselves with determined resolution; and were ably supported by the officers commanding these brigades, and by the troops of which they were composed.

“It is peculiarly incumbent upon the Lieut.-General to notice the vigorous attack made by the second battalion of the _fourteenth_ regiment under _Lieut.-Colonel Nicolls_, which drove the enemy out of the village, of the left of which he had possessed himself.

“The exertions of _Lieut.-Colonel Murray_, Quarter-Master General, and of the other officers of the General Staff, during the action, were unremitted, and deserve every degree of approbation.

“The illness of _Brigadier-General Clinton_, Adjutant-General, unfortunately deprived the army of the benefit of his services.

“The Lieut.-General hopes the loss in point of numbers is not so considerable as might have been expected; he laments, however, the fall of the gallant soldiers and valuable officers who have suffered.

“The Lieut.-General knows that it is impossible, in any language he can use, to enhance the esteem, or diminish the regret, that the army feels with him for its late Commander. His career has been unfortunately too limited for his country, but has been sufficient for his own fame. Beloved by the army, honored by his Sovereign, and respected by his country, he has terminated a life devoted to her service, by a glorious death,—leaving his name as a memorial, an example, and an incitement, to those who shall follow him in the path of honor, and it is from his country alone that his memory can receive the tribute which is its due.

(Signed) “JOHN HOPE, _Lieut.-General_.”

“_Horse Guards_, “_1st February, 1809._

“GENERAL ORDERS.

“The benefits derived to an army from the example of a distinguished Commander, do not terminate at his death; his virtues live in the recollection of his associates, and his fame remains the strongest incentive to great and glorious actions.

“In this view, the Commander-in-Chief, amidst the deep and universal regret which the death of Lieut.-General Sir JOHN MOORE has occasioned, recalls to the troops the military career of that illustrious officer for their instruction and imitation.

“Sir JOHN MOORE from his youth embraced the profession with the feelings and sentiments of a soldier; he felt that a perfect knowledge, and an exact performance of the humble, but important duties of a subaltern officer, are the best foundations for subsequent military fame; and his ardent mind, while it looked forward to those brilliant achievements for which it was formed, applied itself, with energy and exemplary assiduity, to the duties of that station.

“In the school of regimental duty, he obtained that correct knowledge of his profession so essential to the proper direction of the gallant spirit of the soldier; and he was enabled to establish a characteristic order and regularity of conduct, because the troops found in their leader a striking example of the discipline which he enforced on others.

“Having risen to command, he signalized his name in the West Indies, in Holland, and in Egypt. The unremitting attention with which he devoted himself to the duties of every branch of his profession, obtained him the confidence of Sir Ralph Abercromby, and he became the companion in arms of that illustrious officer, who fell at the head of his victorious troops, in an action which maintained our national superiority over the arms of France.

“Thus Sir JOHN MOORE at an early period obtained, with general approbation, that conspicuous station, in which he gloriously terminated his useful and honorable life.

“In a military character obtained amidst the dangers of climate, the privations incident to service, and the sufferings of repeated wounds, it is difficult to select any one point as a preferable subject for praise; it exhibits, however, one feature so particularly characteristic of the man, and so important to the best interests of the service, that the Commander-in-Chief is pleased to mark it with his peculiar approbation—

“THE LIFE OF SIR JOHN MOORE WAS SPENT AMONG THE TROOPS.

“During the season of repose, his time was devoted to the care and instruction of the officer and soldier; in war he courted service in every quarter of the globe. Regardless of personal considerations, he esteemed that to which his country called him, _the post of honor_, and by his undaunted spirit and unconquerable perseverance, he pointed the way to victory.

“His country, the object of his latest solicitude, will rear a monument to his lamented memory, and the Commander-in-Chief feels he is paying the best tribute to his fame by thus holding him forth as an EXAMPLE to the ARMY.

“By order of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, “HARRY CALVERT, _Adjutant-General_.”

The following Regiments composed the Army under Lieut.-General Sir JOHN MOORE, at CORUNNA, on the 16th January, 1809.

_Corps._ _Commanding Officers._ 7th Light Dragoons Lieut.-Colonel Vivian. 10th ” ” Leigh. 15th ” ” Grant. 18th ” ” Jones. 3rd ” (King’s Germ. Leg.) Major Burgwesel. Artillery Colonel Harding. Engineers Major Fletcher. Waggon Train Detachment Lieut.-Colonel Langley. 1st Foot Guards, 1st Battalion ” Cocks. ” 3rd ” ” Wheatley. 1st Foot 3rd ” Major Muller. 2nd ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Iremonger. 4th ” 1st ” ” Wynch. 5th ” 1st ” ” Mackenzie. 6th ” 1st ” Major Gordon. 9th ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Cameron. 14th ” 2nd ” ” Nicolls. 20th ” ” Ross. 23rd ” 2nd ” ” Wyatt. 26th ” 1st ” ” Maxwell. 28th ” 1st ” ” Belson. 32nd ” 1st ” ” Hinde. 36th ” 1st ” ” Burn. 38th ” 1st ” ” Hon. Chas. Greville. 42nd ” 1st ” ” Stirling. 43rd ” 1st ” ” Gifford. 43rd ” 2nd ” ” Hull. 50th ” 1st ” Major Charles Napier. 51st ” Lieut.-Colonel Darling. 52nd ” 1st ” ” Barclay. 52nd ” 2nd ” ” John Ross. 59th ” 2nd ” ” Fane. 60th ” 2nd ” ” Codd. 60th ” 5th ” Major Davy. 71st ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Pack. 76th ” 1st ” ” Symes. 79th ” 1st ” ” Cameron. 81st ” 2nd ” Major Williams. 82nd ” ” M‘Donald. 91st ” 1st ” ” Douglas. 92nd ” 1st ” Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Napier. 95th (Rifle Reg.) 1st ” ” Beckwith. ” ” 2nd ” ” Wade. Staff Corps Detachment ” Nicolay. 1st Light Batt. King’s German ” Leonhart. Legion 2nd ” ” ” Halkett.

BRITISH AND HANOVERIAN ARMY AT WATERLOO _as formed in Divisions and Brigades on the 18th of June, 1815._

CAVALRY.

Commanded by Lieut.-General the EARL OF UXBRIDGE G.C.B.

_1st Brigade._—Commanded by Major-General LORD EDWARD SOMERSET, K.C.B.

1st Life Guards | Lieut.-Colonel Ferrior. 2nd ” | ” the Hon. E. P. Lygon. Royal Horse Guards, Blue | ” Sir Robert Hill. 1st Dragoon Guards | ” Fuller (Colonel).

_2nd Brigade._—Major-General SIR WILLIAM PONSONBY, K.C.B.

1st or Royal Dragoons. | Lieut.-Colonel, A. B. Clifton. 2nd or Royal North British | ” J. J. Hamilton. Dragoons | 6th or Inniskilling Dragoons | ” J. Muter (Colonel).

_3rd Brigade._—Major-General W. B. DOMBERG.

_4th Brigade._—Major-General SIR JOHN O. VANDELEUR, K.C.B.

11th Light Dragoons | Lieut.-Colonel J. W. Sleigh. 12th ” | ” the Honorable F. C. | Ponsonby (Colonel). 16th ” | ” J. Hay.

_5th Brigade._—Major-General SIR COLQUHOUN GRANT, K.C.B.

7th Hussars | Colonel Sir Edward Kerrison. 15th ” | Lieut.-Colonel L. C. Dalrymple. 2nd ” King’s German Legion. | ” Linsingen.

_6th Brigade._—Major-General SIR HUSSEY VIVIAN, K.C.B.

10th Royal Hussars. | Lieut.-Colonel Quentin (Colonel). 18th Hussars. | ” _Hon._ H. Murray. 1st ” King’s German Legion. | ” A. Wissell.

_7th Brigade._—Colonel SIR FREDERICK ARENSCHILDT, K.C.B.

13th Light Dragoons. | Lieut.-Colonel Doherty. 3rd Hussars King’s German | ” Meyer. Legion. |

Colonel ESTORFF.

Prince Regent’s Hussars. | Lieut.-Colonel Kielmansegge. Bremen and Verden Hussars | Colonel Busche.

INFANTRY.

FIRST DIVISION.—Major-General G. COOKE.

_1st Brigade._—Major-General P. MAITLAND.

1st Foot Guards, 2nd Battalion. | Major H. Askew (Colonel). ” 3rd ” | ” the Honorable W. Stewart | (Colonel).

_2nd Brigade._—Major-General J. BYNG.

Coldstream Guards, 2nd Battalion. | Major A. G. Woodford (Colonel). 3rd Foot Guards, ” | ” F. Hepburn (Colonel).

SECOND DIVISION.—Lieut.-General SIR H. CLINTON, G.C.B.

_3rd Brigade._—Major-General F. ADAM.

52nd Foot, 1st Battalion. | Lieut.-Colonel Sir John Colborne, | K.C.B. (Colonel). 71st ” ” | ” T. Reynell (Col.) 95th ” 2nd ” } Rifles. | Major J. Ross (Lieut.-Colonel). 95th ” 3rd ” } | Major A. G. Norcott (Lieut.-Col).

_1st Brigade, King’s German Legion._—Colonel DU PLAT.

_3rd Hanoverian Brigade._—Colonel HALKETT.

Militia Battalion Bremervorde. | Lieut.-Colonel Schulenberg. Duke of York’s 2nd Battalion. | Major Count Munster. ” 3rd ” | ” Baron Hunefeld. Militia Battalion Salzgitter. | ” Hammerstein.

THIRD DIVISION.—Lieut.-General Baron ALTEN.

_5th Brigade._—Major-General SIR COLIN HALKETT, K.C.B.

_2nd Brigade.—King’s German Legion._—Colonel BARON OMPTEDA.

1st Light Battalion, K.G.L. | Lieut.-Colonel L. Bussche. 2nd ” ” | Major G. Baring. 5th Line ” ” | Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Linsingen. 8th ” ” ” | Major Schroeder (Lieut.-Colonel).

_1st Hanoverian Brigade._—Major-General COUNT KIELMANSEGGE.

FOURTH DIVISION.—Lieut.-General SIR CHARLES COLVILLE, K.C.B.

_4th Brigade._—Colonel MITCHELL.

14th Foot, 3rd Battalion. | Major F. S. Tidy (Lieut.-Col.) 23rd ” 1st ” | Lieut.-Colonel Sir Henry W. | Ellis, K.C.B. 51st ” ” | ” H. Mitchell (Colonel).

_6th Brigade._—Major-General JOHNSTONE.

_6th Hanoverian Brigade._—Major-General LYON.

FIFTH DIVISION.—Lieut.-General SIR THOMAS PICTON, K.C.B.

_5th Brigade._—Major-General SIR JAMES KEMPT, K.C.B.

_9th Brigade._—Major-General SIR DENIS PACK, K.C.B.

_5th Hanoverian Brigade._—Colonel VINCKE.

Militia Battalion, Hameln. | Lieut.-Colonel Kleucke. ” Hildesheim. | Major Rheden. ” Peina. | Major Westphalen. ” Giffhorn. | Major Hammerstein.

SIXTH DIVISION.

_10th Brigade._—Major-General J. LAMBERT.

4th Foot, 1st Battalion. | Lieut.-Colonel F. Brooke. 27th ” ” | Captain Sir J. Reade (Major). 40th ” ” | Major F. Browne. 81st ” 2nd ” | ” P. Waterhouse.

_4th Hanoverian Brigade._—Colonel BEST.

Militia Battalion, Luneburg. | Lieut.-Colonel De Ramdohr. ” Verden. | Major Decken. ” Osterode. | ” Baron Reden. ” Minden. | ” De Schmidt.

_7th Brigade._—Major-General M‘KENZIE.

25th Foot, 2nd Battalion. | Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Light. 37th ” ” | ” S. Hart. 78th ” ” | ” M. Lindsay.

Cavalry 8,883 Infantry 29,622 Artillery 5,434 ------ Total 43,939 ======

LONDON: Printed by W. CLOWES and Sons, Stamford Street. For Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

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

Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added, when a predominant preference was found in the original book.

Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

Pg xxviii: ‘France 2’ replaced by ‘France 21’. Pg xxix: ‘of Knightood’ replaced by ‘of Knighthood’. Pg xxxiii: ‘of General Gerard’ replaced by ‘of General Girard’. Pg xxxvi: ‘Fermoy’ replaced by ‘Fermoy —’. Pg xxxvi: ‘economy’ replaced by ‘economy —’. Pg xxxvii: ‘Quartre-Bas’ replaced by ‘Quatre Bras’. Pg xxxviii: ‘commumunicated’ replaced by ‘communicated’. Pg 9: ‘three hunded’ replaced by ‘three hundred’. Pg 45: ‘equip the the regiment’ replaced by ‘equip the regiment’. Pg 54: ‘there march to’ replaced by ‘their march to’. Pg 97: ‘at Quartre Bras’ replaced by ‘at Quatre Bras’. Pg 101: Sidenote ‘1819’ moved down to its relevant paragraph. Pg 108: Sidenote ‘1825’ moved down to its relevant paragraph. Pg 112: Paragraph break inserted after ‘to make known’. Pg 114: ‘inhatant of this’ replaced by ‘inhabitant of this’. Pg 139: Three Notes specific to this table have anchors * † and ‡. Pg 142: ‘to congratulute the’ replaced by ‘to congratulate the’. Pg 142: ‘of British troop’ replaced by ‘of British troops’.

Footnote [9]: ‘page 133’ replaced by ‘page 139’. Footnote [10]: ‘pages 131’ replaced by ‘pages 137’. Footnote [12]: ‘page 135’ replaced by ‘page 141’. Footnote [13]: ‘pages 136’ replaced by ‘pages 142’. Footnote [20]: ‘pages 136 and 137’ replaced by ‘pages 142 and 143’.