Part 2

[5] “Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, end military system, which has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.”—_General Orders in 1801._

In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January, 1809, it is stated:—“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. There have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves: and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position or numbers he may possess, 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.”

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF

THE NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT,

ORIGINALLY TERMED

“THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS”

AND NUMBERED

THE HUNDREDTH REGIMENT;

CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1794

AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES TO 1850.

COMPILED BY

RICHARD CANNON, ESQ. ADJUTANT-GENERAL’S OFFICE, HORSE GUARDS.

ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.

LONDON:

PARKER, FURNIVALL, & PARKER, 30, CHARING CROSS.

M DCCC LI.

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

THE NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT (HIGHLANDERS),

BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR AND APPOINTMENTS THE WORD “EGMONT-OP-ZEE,” IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS GALLANT CONDUCT IN ACTION ON THE 2ND OCTOBER, 1799;

THE WORD “MANDORA,” IN CONSIDERATION OF ITS GALLANTRY AND GOOD CONDUCT ON THE HEIGHTS OF MANDORA, NEAR ALEXANDRIA ON THE 13TH OF MARCH, 1801;

AND THE SPHINX, WITH THE WORD “EGYPT,” IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS SERVICES DURING THE CAMPAIGN IN EGYPT IN THE YEAR 1801;

ALSO THE WORDS, “CORUNNA,”—“FUENTES D’ONOR,”—“ALMARAZ,”— “VITTORIA,”—“PYRENEES,”—“NIVE,”— “ORTHES,”—AND “PENINSULA,”— IN TESTIMONY OF ITS SERVICES IN SPAIN AND SOUTH OF FRANCE, FROM 1808 TO 1814;

AND THE WORD “WATERLOO,” IN HONOR OF ITS DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT ON THE 18TH OF JUNE 1815.

THE

NINETY-SECOND REGIMENT

(HIGHLANDERS).

CONTENTS

OF THE

HISTORICAL RECORD.

Year Page

1793 INTRODUCTION 1

1794 Letter of Service to the Duke of Gordon, authorizing His Grace to raise a regiment in Scotland —

—— Appointment of the Marquis of Huntly to be lieut.-colonel commandant —

—— Establishment of the regiment 2

—— Embodied at Aberdeen, and called _The Gordon Highlanders_ —

—— Embarked from Scotland for Southampton —

—— Uniform of the regiment 3

—— Embarked for Gibraltar —

—— Received its colours at Gibraltar 4

1795 Embarked for Corsica —

—— Inspected by Lieut.-General Thomas Trigge —

1796 Reviewed by Lieut.-General Sir Gilbert Eliott 5

—— Proceeded to Corte to suppress a rebellion —

—— Received the thanks of Lieut.-General the Honorable J. T. De Burgh, commanding in Corsica —

1796 Lieut.-Colonel Commandant the Marquis of Huntly promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment; Major Charles Erskine to be lieut.-colonel; and Captain Alexander Napier to be major 5

—— Expedition against _Porto Ferrajo_ in the Isle of Elba 6

—— The British troops withdrawn from Corsica, and returned to Gibraltar —

—— Received the thanks of the Lieut.-General commanding, on leaving Corsica 7

—— Landed at Gibraltar, and inspected by the Lieut.-Governor —

—— Holland having leagued with France, declared war against Great Britain —

—— Spain also joined France, and declared war —

1797 Attempts were made to negociate a pence with France, but did not succeed 8

1798 Regiment embarked for England, and arrived at Portsmouth —

—— Embarked for Ireland, and arrived at Dublin —

—— Serious disturbances took place in Ireland 9

—— Regiment conveyed in carriages to certain disturbed places —

—— Encamped in the vicinity of Gorey —

—— Received the thanks of the inhabitants, through the Dean of Ferns, for its conduct 10

—— Landing of a detachment of French under Gen. Humbert at Bantry Bay 11

—— Surrender of the French and rebel forces to Lieut.-General Lake —

—— Thanks of Parliament communicated to the troops employed —

—— The numerical title changed from 100th, to NINETY-SECOND regiment 12

1798 Proceeded into quarters at Athlone 12

—— Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt —

—— Admiral Nelson’s victory over the French fleet in Aboukir Bay —

—— War declared by the Sublime Porte against France in consequence of the invasion of Egypt —

—— Co-operation of Russia against France —

1799 Conjoined expedition of British and Russian forces against the French in Holland 13

—— Regiment marched to Cork for embarkation —

—— Expression of thanks, and complimentary address from the inhabitants of Athlone on the regiment quitting that garrison —

—— Embarked at Ramsgate for Holland 14

—— Arrived on the Dutch coast, and advanced to Oude Sluys 15

—— Engaged the French and Dutch forces under General Brune on the 10th September —

—— H. R. H. the Duke of York joined and assumed the command of the British and Russian forces on the 14th of September 16

—— Attacked the French at _Alkmaar_ —

—— Retired to former position on the Zuype —

—— Again engaged the French at _Egmont-op-Zee_ on the 2nd of October —

—— Convention concluded for withdrawing the British and Russian troops from Holland 19

—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Egmont-op-Zee_,” on the regimental colour and appointments —

—— Regiment returned to England 20

—— Proceeded to Chelmsford, and formed in brigade under Major-General Moore —

1800 Marched to the Isle of Wight, and embarked for the _Isle of Houat_ on the coast of France 21

—— Proceeded against _Belle-Isle_ —

—— Returned to the Isle of Houat —

—— Embarked for Minorca —

—— Assembled with other corps under the command of General Sir Ralph Abercromby —

—— Embarked and proceeded to _Cadiz_, but abandoned the enterprise on account of a disease prevailing in that city —

—— Proceeded to Gibraltar and Minorca, and thence to _Malta_, which had surrendered to Great Britain 22

—— Sailed from Malta to _Egypt_ with the expedition under General Sir Ralph Abercromby —

—— Arrived in Marmorice Bay —

1801 Proceeded to the Bay of Aboukir —

—— Landing of the British troops on the 8th of March —

—— Engagement with the French troops on the heights of _Mandora_, near Alexandria, on the 13th of March 23

—— Lieut.-Colonel Erskine was killed; two captains, six lieutenants (three of them mortally), and two ensigns were wounded; 22 rank and file were killed, and 77 were wounded 24

—— Received the Royal permission to bear the word “_Mandora_,” on the regimental colour and appointments —

—— Received the thanks of General Sir Ralph Abercromby, for its conduct in the action of Mandora 25

—— Furnished the guard at the head-quarters of the Commander-in-Chief —

1801 _Battle of Alexandria_ on the 21st of March 26

—— Death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby on 28th of March —

—— Marched to Aboukir, thence to _Rosetta_, and arrived before _Grand-Cairo_ —

—— Convention concluded at Cairo by which the place was surrendered, and the French troops were to be conveyed to France —

—— The thanks of His Majesty, and of both Houses of Parliament, communicated to the army for the bravery evinced at the landing at Aboukir, and in the actions on the 13th and 21st of March 27

—— Promotion of Major Alexander Napier to be lieut.-colonel, in succession to Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, killed in action on the 13th of March —

—— Letter from H. R. H. the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, announcing His Majesty’s approval of the promotions taking place in the regiment in filling up the vacancies occasioned by the loss of Lieut.-Colonel Erskine —

—— Regiment proceeded to Aboukir, and encamped before Alexandria 28

—— Alexandria surrendered by capitulation, and the campaign in Egypt terminated —

—— The thanks of His Majesty, King George III., and of the two Houses of Parliament, communicated to the army employed in Egypt, and the Royal authority given for the _Sphinx_ with the word “_Egypt_,” to be borne on the regimental colours and appointments —

—— The Grand Seignior conferred the order of Knighthood of the Crescent on the General Officers, and presented gold medals to the officers employed with the army in Egypt: he also erected a palace at Constantinople for the future residence of the British Ambassadors 29

1801 List of the names of the officers of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, who received gold medals for service in Egypt —

—— Regiment marched for Aboukir and embarked for Malta, from whence it proceeded to Ireland 30

1802 The Peace of Amiens concluded —

—— Regiment embarked from Ireland, and proceeded to Glasgow 31

1803 War declared against France —

—— A second battalion added to the regiment formed from men raised under the _Army of Reserve Act_ —

—— Regiment removed from Glasgow to Weeley, where the second battalion was formed —

—— Great preparations made in France for the invasion of England 32

1804 Napoleon Bonaparte created _Emperor of the French_, and _King of Italy_ —

—— The _Additional Force Act_ passed as a further measure of defense —

—— The two battalions marched to Colchester, and encamped on Lexden Heath, from whence they returned to Weeley 33

—— Second battalion proceeded to Ireland —

1805 First battalion brigaded with 42nd, 91st, and 95th (Rifle) regiments at Weeley —

—— Reviewed at Colchester by H. R. H. the Duke of York, the commander-in-chief —

—— Marched from Weeley to Ospringe and thence to Canterbury 34

1806 Marched to London and attended the public funeral of Admiral Viscount Nelson at St. Paul’s Cathedral 34

—— Major-General Honorable John Hope (afterwards Earl of Hopetoun) appointed to be colonel in succession to the Marquis of Huntly, removed to the 42nd regiment —

1807 Embarked at Harwich on an expedition for Elsineur, under Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart, to take possession of the navy of Denmark 35

—— Advanced to attack the Danes at Kioge with the troops under Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley 36

—— Bombardment of Copenhagen, and surrender of the Danish fleet and stores to the British Government 37

—— General Orders expressing the approbation of His Majesty King George III., and of the Commander of the Forces, to the General and Staff Officers, and troops employed 38

—— Re-embarked for England and marched to Colchester 39

1808 Embarked at Harwich with an armament under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore and proceeded to Sweden 40

—— Returned to England and rendezvoused at Yarmouth, from whence the fleet proceeded to Spithead —

—— Embarked for Portugal and joined the British army in that country —

—— Proceeded with the force employed in Spain under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore 41

1809 Placed in position and bivouacked in front of Lugo 42

1809 Arrived at Corunna, and engaged in action with the French army 43

—— Lieut.-General Sir John Moore killed —

—— Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Napier killed at the head of the NINETY-SECOND regiment, and Lieut.-Colonel John Lamont succeeded to the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment —

—— Received the thanks of the two Houses of Parliament, and the Royal permission to bear the word “_Corunna_” on the regimental colour and appointments 44

—— Embarked at Corunna and disembarked at Portsmouth, from whence it marched to Weeley Barracks —

—— Received orders to prepare again for foreign service 45

—— Embarked with the expedition under Lieut.-General the Earl of Chatham, for the Scheldt —

—— The object of the expedition being thwarted, and much disease occurring among the troops, they re-embarked for England; the NINETY-SECOND regiment proceeded to Woodbridge 46

1810 Embarked a second time for the Peninsula, and joined the army under Lieut.-General the Viscount Wellington 47

1811 Marched from Lisbon and joined the army under Viscount Wellington in the lines of Torres Vedras 48

—— Brigaded with the 50th and 71st regiments 49

—— Marshal Massena retreated from his position near Santarem, and pursued by the troops under Viscount Wellington —

—— The siege of Badajoz commenced 50

1811 Regiment engaged at the Battle of _Fuentes d’Onor_ 50

—— Received the Royal authority to bear the words “_Fuentes d’Onor_” on the regimental colour and appointments 51

—— The French retreated towards Ciudad Rodrigo, crossed the Agueda, and evacuated Almeida —

—— The siege of Badajoz raised 52

—— _The battle of Albuhera_ —

—— The siege of Badajoz again commenced —

—— The siege of Badajoz again relinquished —

—— The British army recrossed the Guadiana —

—— Marched to Elvas, and thence to Portalegre —

—— Investment of Ciudad Rodrigo —

—— Engagement at El Bodon —

—— Withdrew to Portalegre —

—— Advanced towards Arroyo del Molinos —

—— Attack and defeat of General Girard’s division at Arroyo del Molinos 54

—— The thanks of Lieut.-General Hill to the troops for their conduct in the action of Arroyo del Molinos 55

—— The approbation of H. R. H. the Prince Regent, and of H. R. H. the Commander-in-Chief, conveyed to the troops for their services in this action —

—— Preparations made by Viscount Wellington for the recapture of _Ciudad Rodrigo_ 56

—— The British troops entered Merida —

1812 _Storm and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo_ 57

—— Regiment marched to Albuquerque —

—— Preparations made for the siege of Badajoz the _third_ time —

—— _Capture of Badajoz by assault_ 58

1812 Marched to the attack of Almaraz 59

—— Destruction of the works and bridge at Almaraz 60

—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Almaraz_” on the regimental colour and appointments —

—— Marched to various stations preparatory to an attack on the forts of Salamanca 61

—— _The Battle of Salamanca_ 62

—— The Marquis of Wellington entered Madrid 63

—— Regiment moved to Aranjuez —

—— Siege of the castle of Burgos, which was afterwards raised 64

—— Defence of the town of Alba de Tormes 65

—— Marched into quarters at Coria 66

1813 The French blew up the _Castle of Burgos_, and retreated 67

—— The French army took up a position in the neighbourhood of Vittoria 68

—— _The Battle of Vittoria_ —

—— The Royal authority was granted for the regiment to bear the word “_Vittoria_” on the regimental colour and appointments 69

—— Skirmish at Almandoz 70

—— Siege of St. Sebastian —

—— Investment of Pampeluna by the Spaniards —

—— Marshal Soult appointed to the command of the French army, with the title of _Lieutenant of the Emperor_ 71

—— Regiment engaged at the Pass of Maya —

—— Lieut.-Colonel Cameron permitted by His Majesty to bear the word _Maya_ on his shield 72

—— Number of officers and men killed and wounded in the action at Maya Pass 73

—— Engaged at a village between Lizasso and Eguaros 74

1814 Again engaged on a height at Dona Maria 74

—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Pyrenees_” on the regimental colour and appointments 75

—— Marched from Maya, and encamped near Roncesvalles —

—— St. Sebastian and Pampeluna being taken, the British commander resolved to carry the war into France —

—— Attack of the position on the _Nivelle_ 76

—— Went into quarters at Cambo —

—— Crossed the river _Nive_ 77

—— Engaged in action at _St. Pierre_ —

—— Received the Royal authority to bear the word “_Nive_” on the regimental colour and appointments 78

—— Marched to St. Jean de Luz, and returned to Urt 79

—— Attacked and defeated the enemy at _Hellette_ —