Part 4

Meanwhile the brilliant career of General Bonaparte in Italy had produced a change of sentiment among the inhabitants of Corsica, of which island he was a native. The Corsicans, therefore, gloried in him as a man who reflected honor on their country, and they regretted that the island had been annexed to Great Britain, as this event placed them in hostility to their victorious countryman, and they began to concert measures to effect its separation. It appearing evident that the expense of the defence would exceed the advantage derived from the possession of the island, the British troops were withdrawn, and on the 6th of September the regiment embarked for Gibraltar.

The regiment mustered one major, five captains, seven lieutenants, five ensigns, three staff, thirty-seven serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and six rank and file.

The following General Order was issued upon this occasion:—

_5th September, 1796._

“The Hundredth regiment being to embark for Gibraltar, Lieut.-General De Burgh cannot suffer them to leave Corsica, without testifying his approbation and satisfaction of their general good conduct and soldier-like behaviour, since he had the honor to command them; at the same time he desires they will accept of his best wishes for their success and welfare on all occasions.”

During the voyage, the British Admiral fell in with a large fleet of Spanish men-of-war, and the first intimation he had of Spain being at war with Great Britain, was their firing upon his ships. Perceiving this, and the enemy being so superior in force, he made signal to crowd all sail. The Spaniards, however, captured the “Granby” transport, having on board two staff officers, three serjeants, and forty-eight rank and file of the regiment.

The regiment landed at Gibraltar on the 4th of October, and on the 10th of that month was inspected by the Lieut.-Governor, who was much pleased with its appearance.

In the previous year, Prussia had concluded a peace with the French Republic, and in consequence of the United Provinces of Holland having leagued with France, England had taken possession of the Cape of Good Hope and of Ceylon. The former allies of England now became converted into enemies. War was declared by Holland, which had been constituted the Batavian Republic, against Great Britain, in May, and Spain followed the example in October. In the same month, Lord Malmsbury was sent to Paris to negociate a peace on the part of the British Government; but the French insisted upon retaining, as integral parts of the Republic, the conquests lately made; these terms could not be acceded to consistently with the general interests of Europe, and the negociation was discontinued.

[Sidenote: 1797]

In April, 1797, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine arrived at Gibraltar, and assumed the command of the regiment.

In April, the preliminaries of peace were signed at Leoben, in Styria, between Austria and the French Republic, so that Great Britain was left to continue the contest single-handed with France and her allies. In July Lord Malmsbury was sent a second time to negociate a peace, but the demands of the French Directory rendered the attempt abortive. On the 17th of October the definitive treaty of peace between Austria and the French Republic was signed at Campo Formio.

[Sidenote: 1798]

The regiment embarked in transports for England on the 16th of March, 1798. The ships put into the Tagus on the 9th of April, and sailed again on the 15th. After a tedious and boisterous passage, the regiment disembarked at Portsmouth on the 15th of May, and occupied Hilsea Barracks.

The effective strength of the regiment at this period consisted of two field officers, four captains, eleven subalterns, three staff, thirty-seven serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and seven hundred and forty-two rank and file.

By a General Order, dated 26th of May, 1798, it was directed that the coats of the army should be worn buttoned over the body down to the waist.

On the 31st of May, the regiment embarked in ships of war at Southsea Beach, Portsmouth, for Ireland, and arrived at Dublin, on the 15th of June, where it went into barracks.

His Majesty King George III., appointed Colonel the Marquis of Huntly to serve as a Brigadier-General upon the Staff of the Army in Ireland, in which country a spirit of discontent had been fomented by a party of unprincipled men, who had expected aid from France to carry out their designs. On the 21st of June, Lieut.-General Lake defeated the main body of the rebels at Vinegar hill, and the troubles in Ireland would have subsided, had it not been for the expected aid to be derived from France.

On the 2nd of July, the regiment marched at a moment’s notice, in consequence of the disturbed state of the country, the urgency of the service being such that the troops were conveyed in carriages.

The regiment encamped in the vicinity of Gorey on the 7th of July, and on the 18th marched suddenly to Blessington, where it encamped. On the 29th it marched and encamped at the Glen of Emall.

On the 10th of August, Lieut.-Colonel Erskine and three hundred men were detached and encamped at Torbay.

The following letter, expressive of the good conduct of the regiment during their stay at Gorey, was addressed by the Dean of Ferns, to Colonel the Marquis of Huntly:—

“MY LORD,

“I have the honor of enclosing to you that part of the proceedings in the last vestry, held in Gorey, wherein your Lordship and your regiment are mentioned. This mark of our respect and gratitude should have been sooner expressed and conveyed to you, had not our calamitous situation delayed the calling of a vestry, which we conceived the most regular mode of expressing our sentiments collectively.

“It may be pleasing to your Lordship to hear that, in the attendance of my parish, I have heard all the poor loud in the praise of the honesty and humanity of the privates of your regiment. They not only did not rob them of the wretched pittance that was left by the rebels, but refused such trifling presents (of provisions, &c.,) as were offered them, saying their King paid them nobly, and enabled them to supply every want at their own expense.

“I have the honor to be, “With great respect, “Your Lordship’s obedient Servant, (Signed) “PETER BROWN, “_Dean of Ferns_.”

“We the loyal inhabitants of the parish and vicinity of Gorey, in vestry assembled, beg leave thus publicly to acknowledge the goodness and humanity evinced by the Marquis of Huntly, during his short stay amongst us. We are proud to add, that during that short stay, rapine ceased to be a system, and the confidence of the people in the honor of government began to revive. We should be wanting in gratitude if we omitted our testimony, that the humanity of the colonel was emulated by the soldiers, and we request the Hundredth regiment to accept our thanks for the moderation and honor which marked the conduct of every individual officer and private who composed it.

(Signed) “PETER BROWN, _Rector_. “J. JERMAN, _Churchwarden_.”

The French, to the number of about nine hundred men, commanded by General Humbert, landed at Killala, and being joined by a few malcontents marched to Castlebar.

On the 24th of August the regiment marched to Blessington; on the 26th encamped at Kilbeggan; on the 28th at Athlone; on the 29th at Ballymore, in a position in front of the town; on the 1st of September it encamped at Crophill, and moved every day until the 16th, when it encamped near Moat.

Meanwhile the united French and rebel force had been attacked by Lieut.-General Lake, at Ballinamuck, on the 8th of September, and the French troops were compelled to surrender at discretion.

Major-General John Moore, in brigade orders, dated 25th of September, 1798, after detailing some irregularity on the part of the troops, added—

“The Major-General must, in justice to the Hundredth regiment, state, that hitherto he has had no complaint of any one of them, nor has he ever met them in town after the retreat beating.”

The thanks of both Houses of Parliament were, on the 15th of October, conveyed to the troops, “for their meritorious exertions on the present important crisis.”

While the regiment was encamped near Moat, the following order was received, by which the corps was numbered the NINETY-SECOND regiment.[6]

_Adjutant-General’s Office, Dublin, 16th October, 1798._

“It is His Majesty’s pleasure, that the Hundredth regiment shall in future be numbered the NINETY-SECOND, and that it be placed on the same establishment with regard to field officers as other regiments of the line.

(Signed) “G. HEWITT, _Adjutant-General_.”

On the 30th of October, 1798, the regiment broke up from camp, and went into quarters at Athlone.

Napoleon Bonaparte, against whose legions in Egypt and the Peninsula, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, in subsequent years, acquired great renown, was now rising, step by step, to that imperial sway which he afterwards attained. The National Convention had been succeeded in October, 1795, by the French Directory, and the latter, jealous of Bonaparte’s popularity, sent him, in May, 1798, on the expedition to Egypt. Napoleon took Alexandria by storm, and soon established himself at Cairo. The Sublime Porte, incensed by the invasion of Egypt, declared war against France, and formed an alliance with Russia. The fleet which had conveyed the expedition to Egypt, was almost destroyed by Admiral Nelson in Aboukir Bay, on the 1st of August. So large a portion of the French army, being thus secluded in a distant land, gave fresh impulse to the allies, and in November the island of Minorca surrendered to the British arms. In December, 1798, the co-operation of Russia against France was secured by Great Britain.

[Sidenote: 1799]

War was declared by the French Directory against Austria, in March, 1799, and the combined Austrian and Russian armies recovered the greater portion of Italy.

Great Britain now determined to make a corresponding attempt, in conjunction with Russia, to recover Holland from the dominion of France, and a numerous army was selected to proceed to that country under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, previous to whose arrival, the troops were to be commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

A plan of co-operation was concerted between Great Britain and Russia, in the expectation that the Dutch would rise in arms against the French, in favour of the Prince of Orange, and, aided by the Anglo-Russian force, would exert themselves to effect their emancipation.

On the 15th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment, which had been selected to embark on the expedition to Holland, commenced its march by divisions for Cork, on which day the following address was received by the commanding officer:—

“At a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Athlone and its vicinity on the 15th June, 1799, Thomas Mitchell, Esq., in the chair: the following Address to Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, commanding His Majesty’s NINETY-SECOND regiment in this garrison, was unanimously agreed to:—

“SIR,

“We heard with concern, that His Majesty’s NINETY-SECOND regiment, which you have commanded in this garrison, has been ordered to march for the purpose of joining those troops intended for a foreign expedition: but however we may regret your departure, we are not surprised that a regiment, so eminently conspicuous for its steadiness and discipline, should be selected for an arduous enterprise.

“We have during your continuance amongst us, experienced a polite attention from the officers of your regiment, and the uninterrupted peace and tranquillity, which have prevailed in this town and neighbourhood, evince the attention of the soldiers under your command.

“Permit us, therefore, to return you our thanks, and to request that you will convey the same to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of your regiment.

“By order of the meeting, (Signed) “THOMAS MITCHELL.”

The regiment arrived at Cork on the 24th and 25th of June, and encamped at Monkstown, until orders for its embarkation should arrive. On the 19th of July, the regiment embarked at Cove, and arrived at Dover on the 30th, when it encamped on Barham Downs, where the troops were assembling for the expedition to Holland under the orders of Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment was placed in the fourth brigade, commanded by Major-General, afterwards Sir John Moore, which consisted of the Royals (second battalion), twenty-fifth, forty-ninth, seventy-ninth, and NINETY-SECOND regiments.

The regiment marched for Ramsgate on the 7th of August, and on the following day embarked in transports, which sailed on the 11th for the coast of Holland. Its effective strength consisted of one colonel, one lieut.-colonel, two majors, six captains, twelve lieutenants, seven ensigns, five staff, forty serjeants, twenty-one drummers, and seven hundred and thirty rank and file.

The British troops landed on the Dutch coast, near the _Helder_, on the 27th of August. A considerable body of French and Dutch troops assembled near the point of debarkation; some sharp fighting occurred, and in the evening the enemy retreated to a position six miles in his rear. Although one of the first to get a footing on the Dutch shores, it did not fall to the lot of the NINETY-SECOND to be materially engaged this day in the affairs on the sand-hills. The regiment had one serjeant and fourteen rank and file drowned in the landing on the Dutch coast. The enemy having abandoned his fortifications, and evacuated the town during the night, the regiment moved into Helder on the 28th of August. A numerous train of heavy and field artillery was found in this important post; two days afterwards the Dutch fleet surrendered without striking a blow, and hoisted the colours of the Prince of Orange.

On the 1st of September, the regiment marched out of Helder, and on the 2nd advanced to Oude Sluys, on the Zuyder Zee, where the army took up a position, along which the troops were placed in cantonments, the NINETY-SECOND being in advance of the right.

The Dutch did not manifest a disposition to rise against the French. At daylight, in the morning of the 10th of September, the united French and Dutch forces, under General Brune, attacked the piquets; the troops repaired to their alarm-posts, and the action soon became general: the British troops repulsed the attack, and the orders of that day directed the regiment to its cantonments at Oude Sluys, and conveyed the thanks of General Sir Ralph Abercromby[7] for its “noble and steady conduct during the day.”

Captain the Honorable John Ramsay was wounded in this action, which was fought near the villages of _Crabbendam_ and _Schagen_.

Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Duke of York arrived at the Helder on the 14th of September, and, having been reinforced by a corps of twelve thousand Russians, under Lieut.-General Hermann, resolved on attacking the French position in advance of _Alkmaar_, reaching from Zuyder Zee, on the right, to Camperdown on the left, and embracing the town of Bergen. The attack was made on the 19th of September, in four columns, but the Russians having failed in holding Bergen, after having entered it in gallant style, the places, which had been acquired by the other columns, were abandoned, and His Royal Highness withdrew his army to its former position on the Zuype.

From the 20th of September until the 1st of October both armies remained within their entrenchments, strengthening their lines of defence: the French had received reinforcements, and had inundated a large tract of country on their right by cutting the sluices, thus contracting the ground of operations to six or seven miles.

The Duke of York, on the 2nd of October, made another attempt on the French position, between Bergen and _Egmont-op-Zee_. The combined attacks were made in four columns: the division under General Sir Ralph Abercromby being on the right, marched along the beach. The left of the French army was posted and concentrated about Bergen, a large village surrounded by extensive woods, through which passed the great road leading to Haarlem; between which and the sea was an extensive region of high sand-hills, impassable for artillery. Behind the sand-hills, and to the enemy’s right, through the whole extent of North Holland, lies a wet and low country, intersected with dykes, canals, and ditches.

The army advanced before daylight to attack the enemy. The NINETY-SECOND regiment was ordered to escort twenty pieces of artillery to the front, along the sea-shore. In the performance of this duty it was attacked by a column of nearly six thousand men at _Egmont-op-Zee_, where a most sanguinary conflict ensued, immediately under the eye of General Sir Ralph Abercromby.

Trusting to their superior numbers the French advanced with resolution, and fairly met the bayonets of the regiment, now commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, Colonel the Marquis of Huntly having been wounded in the charge, which completely overthrew the enemy, and preserved the guns.[8]

The French centre was supported by the town of _Alkmaar_, and General Sir Ralph Abercromby had passed Bergen in order to turn the French position at Alkmaar, to which place the NINETY-SECOND, immediately after the brilliant affair, before recorded, advanced. As the men fought hand-to-hand, the conflict was signalized by many feats of individual bravery and devoted courage.

The action was maintained with great obstinacy on both sides until night, when the enemy retired, leaving the British masters of the field of battle.

In the despatch of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, dated Zuyper Sluys, 4th of October, it was stated that, “the points where this well-fought battle were principally contested, were from the sea-shore in front of Egmont, extending along the sandy desert, or hills, to the heights above Bergen, and it was sustained by the British columns, under those highly distinguished officers, General Sir Ralph Abercromby, and Lieut.-General Dundas, whose exertions, as well as the gallantry of the brave troops they led, cannot have been surpassed by any former instance of British valour.”

The NINETY-SECOND had Captain William McIntosh, Lieutenants George Fraser, Gordon McCardy, and sixty-five rank and file killed; Colonel the Marquis of Huntly, Captains John Cameron, Alexander Gordon, John McLean, and Peter Grant, Lieutenants Norman McLeod, Charles Chad, Donald McDonald, Charles Cameron, and John McPherson, Ensigns George William Holmes, James Bent, and two hundred and eight rank and file wounded.

The gallant conduct evinced by the NINETY-SECOND on this occasion was afterwards rewarded with the Royal authority to bear the word _Egmont-op-Zee_ on the regimental colour and appointments.

His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, in the General Order of the 5th of October, at Alkmaar, expressed “his warmest thanks for the steady persevering gallantry of their conduct in the general action of the 2nd instant, and to which he ascribes the complete victory gained over the enemy;” and, with the rest of the army, the regiment received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament.

The regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, subsequently shared in the general operations of the army, but was not engaged in any very serious affair.

The gallant exertions made on behalf of the Dutch were not seconded by them; and in the meantime the French army had been reinforced. Instead, therefore, of fighting for a people who were not resolved to be free, it was decided that the British troops should be withdrawn from Holland. A convention was ultimately concluded with General Brune at Alkmaar on the 18th of October, and on the following day a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed.

The regiment marched on the 28th of October to Colenzugby, near the Helder, embarked the same day on board of His Majesty’s ships “Kent” and “Monarch,” and landed at Yarmouth on the day following. Its effective strength consisted of twenty-four serjeants, twenty drummers, and four hundred and forty-six rank and file.

During the campaign from the 27th of August to the 28th of October, the regiment sustained a loss of three officers and ninety-three rank and file, several of the wounded soldiers having died.

On the 4th of November the regiment marched _en route_ to Chelmsford, where it arrived on the 10th, and was placed in the eighth brigade, the command of which Major-General Moore assumed on the 25th of December 1799.

Here the regiment received canvas knapsacks, painted yellow, having a circle of red in the centre, in which the Crown and Thistle, with the words “_Gordon Highlanders_,” were inserted.

[Sidenote: 1800]

Napoleon Bonaparte having returned from Egypt to Paris in the previous year, had been appointed First Consul of France, and made overtures for peace; but the British Ministry, considering that the French government had not acquired sufficient stability, showed no desire to accede to the proposal.

On the 10th of April, 1800, orders were issued for the regiment to hold itself in readiness to march at the shortest notice; the first division marched on the 12th, and was followed by the others on the 14th and 15th, for the Isle of Wight, where it arrived on the 23rd of April.

The regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Erskine, marched for Cowes on the 27th of May, and embarked on the same day in vessels of war. The head-quarters, and five companies in His Majesty’s ship “Diadem,” sailed on the 30th. The officers and men present with the regiment consisted of one lieut.-colonel, two majors, seven captains, sixteen lieutenants, six ensigns, six staff, thirty-six serjeants, twenty-two drummers, and six hundred rank and file.

The regiment disembarked at the Isle de Houat, on the coast of France, on the 7th of June, where it encamped, under the command of Brigadier-General the Honorable Thomas Maitland.

On the 18th of June, the NINETY-SECOND regiment embarked on board His Majesty’s ship “Terrible,” destined with others to make an attack on Belle-Isle, but which was abandoned; on the 20th the regiment disembarked, and occupied its former encampment on the Isle de Houat.

The NINETY-SECOND embarked on the 23rd of June, with other regiments for the Mediterranean, under the command of Colonel the Earl of Dalhousie, of the Second, or the Queen’s Royals, in His Majesty’s ship “Diadem,” and arrived at Port Mahon, in the Island of Minorca, on the 20th of July.

General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., arrived at Minorca on the 4th of August, and took the command of the troops there assembled. The regiment disembarked on the 7th, and was inspected, on the 11th of August, by Sir Ralph Abercromby.

The NINETY-SECOND regiment embarked at George’s Town on the 30th of August, and sailed on the following day. After touching at Gibraltar, it proceeded to _Cadiz_, arrived in the bay on the 3rd of October,—and made preparations to land. The enemy, however, sent a flag of truce, but a disease was ravaging the city at the time, and the fleet quitted the coast in order to avoid infection, proceeding afterwards to Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 29th of October.

The regiment arrived at Minorca on the 6th of November, sailed again on the 21st, and anchored at Malta on the 1st of December. This island, after a blockade of two years, had been compelled by famine, to surrender in September, 1800, to Great Britain.