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 and forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, and 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. 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 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.”
THE SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT
BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR AND APPOINTMENTS
THE WORD “MANGALORE,”
IN COMMEMORATION OF THE GALLANT DEFENCE OF THAT FORTRESS IN 1783;
ALSO,
THE WORD “SERINGAPATAM,”
FOR THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF THAT PLACE IN 1799;
AND,
THE WORD “WATERLOO,”
IN TESTIMONY OF THE GALLANTRY OF THE SECOND BATTALION AT THAT BATTLE ON THE 18th OF JUNE, 1815.
THE
SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD.
Year Page
INTRODUCTION 1
1780 Formation of the second battalion of the forty-second, afterwards the SEVENTY-THIRD regiment 5
1781 Embarked for India 6
1782 Campaign against Hyder Ali, and Tippoo Saib --
---- Operations before _Paniané_ 7
---- Defeat of Tippoo’s army 8
---- Decease of Hyder Ali, and succession of Tippoo to the throne of Mysore --
1783 Siege and capture of _Onore_ 9
---- Action at the Hussanghurry Ghaut --
---- Occupation of _Mangalore_ by the British --
---- _Mangalore_ invested by Tippoo Sultan --
---- Defence of _Mangalore_ 10
---- The Royal authority granted for bearing the word “_Mangalore_” on the regimental colour and appointments --
---- Armistice between the British and Tippoo --
---- Renewal of hostilities --
---- Second siege of Mangalore 10
---- Termination of hostilities --
---- Embarkation of the battalion for Calcutta --
---- Employed on service in the Upper Provinces --
1786 The second battalion of the forty-second numbered the SEVENTY-THIRD regiment 11
---- Major-General Sir George Osborn, Bart. appointed colonel of the regiment --
---- Alteration of the facings from _blue_ to _dark green_ --
---- Establishment of the regiment --
---- Major-General Medows appointed colonel of the regiment --
1789 Hostilities renewed by Tippoo --
1790 The SEVENTY-THIRD regiment removed to the seat of war 12
---- And ordered to compose part of the force under Major-General Abercromby --
1791 Action with the Sultan, and the siege of _Seringapatam_ deferred by the British --
1792 Operations of the troops under Major-General Abercromby --
---- Preparations for the siege of _Seringapatam_ 13
---- Cessation of hostilities --
---- Effects of the French revolution on the affairs of India --
1793 Expedition against the French settlement of _Pondicherry_ --
1795 Capture of the Dutch settlements in _Ceylon_ 15
1796 The regiment stationed in that island, and employed in completing its conquest --
---- Major-General Lake appointed colonel of the regiment --
1797 The regiment embarked for Madras --
1798 Removed to Poonamallee --
1798 Alliances formed by Tippoo for renewing hostilities 15
1799 The regiment ordered to take the field 16
---- Action at _Mallavelly_ --
---- Siege and capture of Seringapatam 17
---- Death of Tippoo, and termination of the campaign 18
---- Casualties of the SEVENTY-THIRD regiment 19
---- Authorised to bear the word “SERINGAPATAM” on the regimental colour and appointments --
---- General Orders issued on the occasion of the above victory --
---- Partition of the late Sultan’s territory 20
1800 Major-General George Harris appointed colonel of the regiment --
---- The regiment employed against the Polygars 21
1801 Removed to Gooty --
1802 Proceeded to Bellary --
1803 Returned to Gooty --
---- Proceeded to Pondicherry --
1804 Removed to Madras --
1805 Embarked for England --
1806 Disembarked at Greenwich --
---- Proceeded to Scotland --
1807 New colours received by the regiment 22
1808 Formation of the second battalion 23
1809 Discontinuance of the _Highland_ dress by the SEVENTY-THIRD and five other regiments --
---- The first battalion embarked for New South Wales 24
1810 Arrival at Sydney --
1812 Augmentation of establishment 25
1814 The first battalion embarked for Ceylon --
1814 Complimentary General Order issued on the occasion 25
---- Aspect of affairs in Ceylon 27
1816 Invasion of the kingdom of Candy by the British 28
---- Deposition of the king of Candy, and annexation of his territory to the British Crown --
1817 Disbandment of the second battalion 30
---- Reduction of the refractory Candian chiefs --
1818 Casualties sustained on this service 31
---- Medals struck for acts of individual gallantry 32
1821 The regiment embarked for England --
---- Landed at Gravesend, and proceeded to Weedon --
---- Reduction of establishment --
1823 The regiment proceeded to Scotland 33
---- Removed to Ireland --
1825 Augmentation of establishment --
---- Riots in Lancashire and Yorkshire --
1826 Embarked for England --
---- Tranquillity restored, and return of the regiment to Ireland 34
1827 Formed into service and depôt companies --
---- Service companies embarked for Gibraltar --
1829 Casualties from fever at Gibraltar --
---- Major-General Sir Frederick Adam, K.C.B. appointed colonel of the regiment 35
---- Service companies proceeded to Malta, and complimentary order prior to embarkation from Gibraltar --
1830 Depôt companies removed from Ireland to Great Britain 36
---- Address from Major-General Maurice O’Connell on his promotion from the regiment --
1831 Depôt companies proceeded to Jersey 38
1834 Service companies embarked for the Ionian Islands --
1835 Depôt companies removed to Ireland 38
---- Major-General William George Lord Harris, K.C.H. appointed colonel of the regiment --
1838 Embarkation of the service companies for Nova Scotia 39
---- Service companies removed to Canada --
1839 Depôt companies proceeded to Great Britain --
1841 Return of the service companies to England --
---- Consolidation of the regiment at Gosport --
1842 Stationed at Woolwich, subsequently at Bradford, and afterwards at Newport, in Monmouthshire --
1844 Embarked for Ireland --
1845 Major-General Sir Robert Henry Dick, K.C.B., appointed colonel of the regiment --
---- Formed into service and depôt companies --
---- Embarkation of the former for the Cape of Good Hope --
---- Detained at Monte Video --
1846 Major-General Sir John Grey, K.C.B., appointed colonel of the regiment --
---- The service companies employed in the protection of Monte Video 40
---- Re-embarkation of the service companies for the Cape of Good Hope --
---- Employed against the Kaffirs --
1847 Casualties on this service --
1848 Removed to Cape Town --
1849 Major-General Richard Goddard Hare Clarges appointed colonel of the regiment --
1850 Removal of the service companies to the frontier 41
1851 Employed against the Kaffirs --
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE SECOND BATTALION
OF
THE SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
Year Page
INTRODUCTION 43
1808 Formation of the Second Battalion 44
1809 Received volunteers from the Militia --
1810 Removed from Ashborne to Derby, and subsequently to Ashford --
1811 Augmentation of establishment --
1812 Removed to Deal, and afterwards to the Tower --
1813 Augmentation of establishment --
---- Embarked for Swedish Pomerania 45
---- Joined the allied forces under Lieut.-General Count Wallmoden --
---- Action at _Gorde_ --
---- The second battalion proceeded to the north of Germany --
---- Proceeded to England, but embarked, without landing, for Holland 46
1814 Bombardment of Antwerp --
---- Action at _Merxem_ --
---- March of the British troops to Breda 47
1814 Bombardment of a detachment of the battalion in Fort Frederick by a French gun-ship 47
---- Conclusion of peace --
1815 Return of Napoleon from Elba to Paris 48
---- Renewal of hostilities --
---- Rapid advance of Napoleon --
---- The British proceeded to Charleroi 49
---- Action at _Quatre Bras_ 50
---- Casualties of the battalion --
---- Battle of WATERLOO 51
---- Casualties of the battalion 52
---- Honors conferred for the victory 53
---- Authorised to bear the word “WATERLOO” on the colour and appointments --
---- Return of Louis XVIII. to Paris --
---- Surrender of Napoleon, and his conveyance to St. Helena --
---- Embarkation of the battalion for England 54
1816 Stationed at Nottingham --
1817 The second battalion disbanded --
1851 CONCLUSION 55
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
Year Page
1786 Sir George Osborn, Bart. 57
---- Sir William Medows 58
1796 Gerard, afterward Viscount Lake 59
1800 George Lord Harris, G.C.B. 61
1829 The Right Honorable Sir Frederick Adam, G.C.B. 63
1835 William George Lord Harris, C.B. and K.C.H. 64
1845 Sir Robert Henry Dick, K.C.B. and K.C.H. 66
1846 Sir John Grey, K.C.B. 68
1849 Richard Goddard Hare Clarges, C.B. --
APPENDIX.
Memoir of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie 69
Memoir of Lieutenant-General Sir Maurice Charles O’Connell, K.C.H. 70
British and Hanoverian army at Waterloo on the 18th of June 1815 73
PLATES.
Colours of the Regiment _to face_ 1
Storming of Seringapatam, 4th May, 1799 ” 18
Costume of the Regiment ” 56
INTRODUCTION
TO THE
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
During the last century several corps, at successive periods, have been borne on the establishment of the army, and numbered the SEVENTY-THIRD; the following details are therefore prefixed to the historical record of the services of the regiment which now bears that number, in order to prevent its being connected with those corps which have been designated by the same numerical title, but whose services have been totally distinct.
* * * * *
In the spring of 1758, the second battalions of fifteen regiments of infantry, from the 3rd to the 37th, were directed to be formed into distinct regiments, and to be numbered from the 61st to the 75th successively, as follows:--
_Second Battalion_ _Constituted_ 3rd Foot the 61st regiment. 4th ” ” 62nd ” 8th ” ” 63rd ” 11th ” ” 64th ” 12th ” ” 65th ” 19th ” ” 66th ” 20th ” ” 67th ” 23rd ” the 68th regiment. 24th ” ” 69th ” 31st ” ” 70th ” 32nd ” ” 71st ” 33rd ” ” 72nd ” 34th ” ” 73rd ” 36th ” ” 74th ” 37th ” ” 75th ”
The 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th regiments, thus formed, were disbanded in 1763, after the peace of Fontainebleau.
Several other corps were likewise disbanded at this period, which occasioned a change in the numerical titles of the following regiments of Invalids.
The 81st regiment (Invalids) was numbered the 71st regiment. ” 82nd ” ” ” 72nd ” ” 116th ” ” ” 73rd ” ” 117th ” ” ” 74th ” ” 118th ” ” ” 75th ”
The 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th regiments, thus numbered, were formed into independent companies of Invalids in the year 1769, which increased the number of Invalid Companies from eight to twenty; they were appropriated to the following garrisons, namely four companies at Guernsey, four at Jersey, three at Hull, two at Chester, two at Tilbury Fort, two at Sheerness, one at Landguard Fort, one at Pendennis, and one in the Scilly Islands.
These numerical titles became thus extinct until October, 1775, when the seventy-first regiment was raised. In December, 1777, further augmentations were made to the army, and the regiments which were directed to be raised, were numbered from the seventy-second to the eighty-third regiment.
The army was subsequently increased to one hundred and five regular regiments of infantry, exclusive of eleven unnumbered regiments, and thirty-six independent companies of Invalids.
The conclusion of the general peace in 1783, occasioned the disbandment of several regiments (commencing with the seventy-first regiment), and thus changed the numerical titles of certain regiments retained on the reduced establishment of the army.
In 1786 the SEVENTY-THIRD was directed to be numbered the seventy-first regiment; the seventy-eighth to be numbered the seventy-second; and the second battalion of the forty-second to be constituted the SEVENTY-THIRD regiment. These corps had been directed to be raised in Scotland in 1777 and 1779, and were denominated Highland regiments.
The details of the services of the present SEVENTY-THIRD regiment are contained in the following pages; the histories of the seventy-first and seventy-second regiments are given in distinct numbers.
1851
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT;
ORIGINALLY RAISED AS
THE SECOND BATTALION OF THE FORTY-SECOND ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT.
[Sidenote: 1779]
[Sidenote: 1780]
The present SEVENTY-THIRD regiment was authorised, on the 30th of July 1779, to be raised as the _Second Battalion of the Forty-second Royal Highlanders_, and was embodied at Perth, on the 21st of March 1780. Its establishment consisted of one lieut.-colonel (and captain), one major (and captain), eight captains, twelve lieutenants, eight ensigns, one chaplain, one adjutant, one quarter-master, one surgeon, one mate, thirty serjeants, forty corporals, twenty drummers, two pipers, and seven hundred private men. Soon after its formation, the battalion marched to Fort George to be drilled and disciplined, and in the course of the year was ordered to proceed to England for embarkation for India, where events had occurred which occasioned reinforcements to be sent to that country.
[Sidenote: 1781]
Hyder Ali, a soldier of fortune, had risen to the chief command of the army of the Ruler of Mysore, and when the Rajah died, leaving his eldest son a minor, Hyder Ali assumed the guardianship of the youthful prince, whom he placed under restraint, and seized on the reins of government. Having a considerable territory under his control, he maintained a formidable military establishment, which he endeavoured to bring into a high state of discipline and efficiency. He soon evinced decided hostility to the British interests in India, and formed a league with the French. Hostilities had also commenced between Great Britain and Holland, and the British troops were employed in dispossessing the Dutch of their settlements in Bengal, and on the coast of Coromandel. Thus three powers were opposed to the British interests in India, and the _Second Battalion of the Forty-second Royal Highland_ regiment was ordered to proceed to that country.
About the end of the previous year the battalion had arrived at Gravesend from North Britain, and on the 21st of January 1781, embarked at Portsmouth for India, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Norman Macleod.
One division of the regiment landed at Madras on the 18th of May: but the other divisions, consisting of seven companies and a half, had a voyage of thirteen months and thirteen days; they ultimately landed at Bombay in February 1782.
[Sidenote: 1782]
These divisions, soon after landing, took the field, and the battalion was subsequently united under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Macleod, when it shared in the campaign against Hyder Ali and his son Tippoo Saib.
The situation of Colonel Thomas Frederick Mackenzie Humberston (Lieut.-Colonel Commandant of the seventy-eighth, now seventy-second regiment) who had been despatched with troops to the Malabar coast, having become very perilous, the second battalion of the _Forty-second_ regiment, with other troops, proceeded to his relief at Mungarry Cottah. In the meantime Tippoo Saib, with his usual activity, suddenly collected a body of troops, and proceeded to cut off the force at that station. Notwithstanding the secrecy of the expedition, Colonel Humberston received some vague intelligence of its arrival on the northern banks of the Coleroon, and suspecting at once the design of the enemy, destroyed the fortifications at Mungarry Cottah, and retreated to Ramgaree; where receiving certain information that Tippoo was approaching with the utmost rapidity, he withdrew to _Paniané_, fighting every step of the march. Upon arriving at the river Paniané, a deep ford, after a search of two hours, was found, and the troops passed over, up to the chin in water, with the loss of only two camp followers. He gained the Fort of _Paniané_ on the 20th of November, much to the surprise of Tippoo, who had expected an easy conquest.
Colonel Macleod, of the second battalion of the _Forty-second_ regiment, having arrived at _Paniané_ from Madras, the command of the forces devolved upon him, and the place was immediately invested by Tippoo Saib and Monsieur Lally, with an army amounting to eight thousand infantry, including some hundreds of French and Europeans; ten thousand cavalry, and above six thousand polygars. The enemy kept up a considerable but ineffectual cannonade for some days; the British commander at length endeavoured to surprise the enemy’s camp, but after forcing an outpost or two, and taking a few prisoners, the colonel found it necessary to relinquish the design.