Part 7

The head-quarters of the SIXTH were at Aberdeen; two companies were at Inverness, which has been termed the capital of the Highlands, being the only town of importance north of Aberdeen; three companies were at Fort Augustus, situated on a plain at the head of Loch Ness, between the rivers Tarff and Oich, and built at the spot where they discharge themselves into the lake; a strong party, commanded by Captain Millar, occupied Fort William, which was built in the reign of King William III., in a plain on a navigable arm of the sea, called Loch Eil, near the influx of the Lochy and Nevis, in the county of Inverness; a serjeant's party occupied a redoubt at Ruthven; and a working party was employed on the newly-constructed roads in the Highlands. While in these quarters information was received of the arrival of the Pretender's eldest son with a few Scottish and Irish adventurers on the coast of Lochabar, and of their being joined by a number of Highlanders, under their respective chiefs. The news of this bold and hazardous undertaking was at first disbelieved, but Captain SWEETMAN of the regiment, walking out from Fort Augustus to gain information, entered an inn in the Highlands, where he was surrounded by eight rebels and conveyed a prisoner to the young Pretender's camp. There he was civilly treated, and suffered to go away on his parole; one of the Pretender's manifestos was given him, with a passport directed to all sheriffs, sheriff-deputies, and constables in Scotland, and signed _Charles Pr. Custos Reg._ After his release Captain Sweetman proceeded by post to London, where he was examined by the Privy Council, and the tidings of the rebellion were no longer doubted. The working parties of the SIXTH and other corps were then ordered to rejoin their regiments.

The young adventurer having assembled about fifteen hundred men, encamped in the neighbourhood of Fort William: two newly-raised companies, of the regiments of St. Clair and Murray, proceeding to Fort William, were attacked by a body of mountaineers, and after a resolute resistance, the soldiers, having expended all their ammunition, were forced to surrender. Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, the commander-in-chief in Scotland, assembled the disposable force under his orders at Stirling, and advanced towards the road leading through the Highlands to Inverlochy, taking with him a thousand arms, in the expectation of being joined at Crieff by a body of well-affected Highlanders. A detachment of the SIXTH accompanied Sir John Cope in this advance through a wild country, where the soldiers were obliged to take their provision with them, and being disappointed of the Highlanders, the spare arms were sent back for want of carriage. On arriving at Dalwhinnie,--the place where the Fort Augustus and Inverness roads meet, information was received that the rebels were in force in a position in the winding of the road up the mountain, of such difficult approach and natural strength, that it was thought impossible to force it, and the soldiers, having only two days' provision with them, retired by Ruthven to Inverness.

A veteran serjeant of the regiment, named MOLLOY, and twelve men were left in charge of the little fort at _Ruthven_, which they defended against the rebel host with such distinguished bravery, that the following letter from this brave man to Sir John Cope deserves a place in this memoir.

"_Ruthven Redoubt, 30th August, 1745._

"HON. GENERAL,

"This goes to acquaint you, that yesterday there appeared in the little town of Ruthven about three hundred of the enemy, and sent proposals to me to surrender this redoubt upon condition that I should have liberty to carry off bag and baggage. My answer was, '_I was too old a soldier to surrender a garrison of such strength without bloody noses_.' They threatened hanging me and my men for refusal. I told them I would take my chance. This morning they attacked me about twelve o'clock (by my information) with about a hundred and fifty men: they attacked fore-gate and sally-port; and attempted to set sally-port on fire with some old barrels and other combustibles, which took place immediately, but the attempter lost his life by it. They drew off about half an hour after three. About two hours after they sent word to me that two of their chiefs wanted to talk to me; I admitted and spoke to them from the parapet: they offered conditions; I refused; they desired liberty to carry off their dead men; I granted. There are two men since dead of their wounds in the town, and three more they took with them, as I am informed. They went off westward about eight o'clock this morning; they did the like march yesterday in the afternoon, but came back at night-fall. They took all the provisions the poor inhabitants had in the town, and Mrs. M'Pherson, the barrack-wife, and a merchant of the town, who spoke to me this moment, and who advised me to write to your honour, and told me there were above three thousand men, all lodged in the corn-fields west of the town, last night, and their grand camp is at Dalwhinnie. They have Cluny M'Pherson with them prisoner, as I have it by the same information. I lost one man, shot through the head by foolishly holding his head too high over the parapet. I expect another visit this night, I am informed, with their pateraroes; but I shall give them the warmest reception my weak party can afford. I shall hold out as long as possible. I conclude, honourable general, with great respect,

"Your most humble servant,

"J. MOLLOY, SERJT. 6TH.[33]"

From Inverness Lieut.-General Sir John Cope marched to Aberdeen, where he embarked the troops in transports, in order to proceed by sea to Leith, to oppose the progress of the rebels southwards; and two companies of the SIXTH, commanded by Captains Pointz and Holwell, were employed in this service. Arriving at Dunbar, on the 16th of September, they landed on the south side of the Firth, and, to their great mortification and disappointment, learnt that the rebel highlanders and their adventurous chief had gained possession of Edinburgh, towards which city Sir John Cope commenced his march on the 19th of September.

Information having been received of the approach of a rebel force of very superior numbers, the King's troops took up a position a short distance to the east of the village of _Preston-pans_, near the sea, and seven miles from Edinburgh. Several changes of ground were made as the rebels menaced various parts of the line; but the attack was delayed, and the soldiers passed the night under arms: the two companies of the SIXTH, and eight companies of Lascelles' (forty-seventh) regiment, formed one battalion, and were posted in the right centre of the front line[34].

About three o'clock on the morning of the 21st of September, large bodies of rebel Highlanders were seen in motion, and before day-break a chosen band of these hardy mountaineers was discovered through the thick atmosphere, moving like a dusky phantom swiftly along the undulating grounds to attack the right. As they drew near they raised a dismal yell, fired a volley, threw down their muskets, and rushed sword in hand upon the troops which guarded the artillery. The sudden advance of the Highlanders in the dark, their superior numbers, and peculiar mode of fighting, struck with dismay the two hundred soldiers appointed to guard the artillery on the right, who saw themselves assaulted by more than three times their own numbers, and as they caught the gleam of steel flashing in their faces, they gave way and fled. The two hundred and fifty dragoons on the right, seeing the artillery lost, became disheartened; they advanced to charge a large mass of Highlanders; but observing the disparity of numbers, they were seized with a panic and galloped out of the field. Their conduct damped the courage of the infantry, and the panic spread from rank to rank; but several companies made resistance, and feats of valour were nobly displayed by individuals and small parties; all semblance of order was, however, soon lost, and a confused rout ensued. The two companies[35] of the SIXTH were among the troops who resisted the Highlanders; Captain Hollwell was killed; Captain Pointz was surrounded, dangerously wounded, and taken prisoner; Lieutenants Cumming and Paton, and Ensigns Wakeman and Irwine, were also made prisoners; and the two companies had nearly every man either killed, wounded, or taken prisoner: such were the disastrous results of this battle, that of the King's forces, not more than one-half escaped from the field. The prisoners were removed to Edinburgh, and afterwards to the Highlands.

[Sidenote: 1746]

With the advance of the rebels into Derbyshire, their precipitate retreat back to Scotland, and the battle of Falkirk, the services of the SIXTH are not immediately connected; but in the early part of 1746, after the Duke of Cumberland had forced the young Pretender to raise the siege of Stirling castle, and to retreat to the Highlands, the three companies of the regiment stationed in _Fort Augustus_ were besieged by the rebel army. As the young Pretender had obtained a train of artillery, and the services of a few French officers and engineers, the reduction of the fort was not a difficult operation, and the three companies were made prisoners: the works were afterwards blown up and abandoned by the enemy.

[Sidenote: 1747]

A lieutenant and about fifty men of the regiment had, in the mean time, assembled at Edinburgh: some of these men had escaped from captivity, others were the remains of the two companies which had fought at Preston-pans, and they were directed to proceed, by forced marches, to Inverlochy, and throw themselves into _Fort William_: a drummer and three men of the regiment, who were made prisoners at Fort Augustus, also escaped from custody and took refuge in Fort William. In March, 1746, the enemy besieged the fort, and the garrison made a most resolute defence. By a well-directed fire from the works, by sallies and other devices, with the co-operation of a small naval force, the enemy was forced to raise the siege and retire. This success was followed by the overthrow of the rebel army at Culloden, which extinguished the hopes of the Pretender, and the insurrection was thus finally suppressed. The officers and men of the SIXTH were liberated from captivity, the companies in garrison were relieved, and the regiment proceeded to England to recruit its numbers, where it remained for six years.

[Sidenote: 1751]

In the warrant of King George II., bearing date the 1st of July, 1751, for regulating the uniform, colours, and distinctions of regiments, the facing of the SIXTH was directed to be of DEEP YELLOW. "The first colour to be the great Union; and the second to be of deep yellow, with the union in the upper canton; in the centre of the colours the ANTELOPE, being the ancient badge of the regiment, and in the three corners of the second colour the _rose and crown_. The front of the grenadier caps to be of deep yellow, with the antelope, as in the colours; the little flap to be red, with the white horse, and motto, _Nec aspera terrent_, over it; the back part of the cap to be red, and the turn-up deep yellow. The same badge of the antelope to be painted on the drums and bells of arms, with the rank of the regiment underneath."

[Sidenote: 1753]

[Sidenote: 1755]

[Sidenote: 1756]

The SIXTH were employed on home duty until the winter of 1753, when they embarked for Gibraltar to relieve the thirty-second regiment; and they were employed on garrison duty at that important fortress during the whole of the Seven years' war. Hostilities commenced in America in 1755, and in 1756 a French armament, commanded by Marshal Duke of Richelieu, invaded the island of Minorca, in the capture of which the SIXTH took so distinguished a part in 1708; and a detachment of the regiment was held in readiness to proceed to Port Mahon to reinforce the garrison. This service was, however, delayed; and Lieut.-General Fowke, who commanded the forces at Gibraltar, was dismissed the service for neglecting to strengthen the troops in Minorca by a battalion from his garrison.

[Sidenote: 1763]

After the peace of Fontainebleau the SIXTH were relieved from duty at Gibraltar, and returned to England, where they arrived in the summer of 1763. Two years afterwards they proceeded to Scotland.

[Sidenote: 1765]

On the 14th of June, 1765, the colonelcy was conferred by King George III. on Major-General William Rufane, from the half-pay of the seventy-sixth foot (a corps raised in 1756, and disbanded after the peace in 1763), in succession to General Guise, deceased.

[Sidenote: 1769]

[Sidenote: 1772]

The regiment left Scotland in 1769, and was stationed in England during the three succeeding years: in October, 1772, it embarked for the West Indies, to assist in reducing to submission to the British government the refractory Charibbees in St. Vincent. This island was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of 1763, and was found to contain two tribes of natives, called the red and black Charibbees; the former being the aborigines, and the latter having sprung from a cargo of African slaves who escaped from a vessel which was wrecked on the island. The Charibbees were found devoted to the French interest, and were dangerous and troublesome neighbours to the English planters. A resolution was taken to restrain their ambulations to a smaller range in the island, and to enforce obedience to several necessary regulations: and if this was found impracticable, to remove them to some other island, or to the continent of Africa. The Charibbees were, however, of a resolute spirit: they possessed many thickly-wooded fastnesses, and they resisted the attempt to restrict the indulgence of their roving propensities and mode of life so powerfully, that it was found necessary to augment the military force on the island.

[Sidenote: 1773]

Soon after arriving at St. Vincent the SIXTH lost their colonel, Lieut.-General RUFANE, who died on the 14th of February, 1773, and was succeeded by Lieut.-General JOHN GORE from the sixty-first regiment: this officer died in November following, when his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the SIXTH on Lieut.-General Sir WILLIAM BOOTHBY, Baronet, from the fiftieth foot.

[Sidenote: 1774]

The regiment was employed in operations against the Charibbees of St. Vincent; several skirmishes occurred among the thickly-wooded parts of the country, and a few men were killed and wounded in the bush-fighting which took place daily. At length the natives were reduced to submission, and an agreement was concluded with their chiefs in February, 1774, by which further hostilities were prevented.

Having reduced the two refractory tribes to submission, the SIXTH and forty-eighth regiments were stationed at the Charibbee islands until after the breaking out of the war of independence in North America.

[Sidenote: 1775]

[Sidenote: 1776]

[Sidenote: 1777]

Hostilities commenced in 1775, when the establishment of the SIXTH was augmented from ten companies of thirty-eight private men each, to twelve companies of fifty-six private men each. In the following year they were withdrawn from the West Indies, and joined the army commanded by Lieut.-General Sir William Howe at New York. The health of the soldiers had, however, been impaired by their residence in a tropical climate, and after transferring a few men to other corps, they returned to England, where they arrived in March, 1777.

[Sidenote: 1778]

[Sidenote: 1779]

[Sidenote: 1780]

During the summer of 1778, the regiment was encamped, with the twenty-fifth, sixty-ninth, seventy-ninth, and ten militia corps, at Warley, under the orders of Lieut.-General Pierson. In the following year the regiment was encamped at Coxheath, with the fourteenth, fiftieth, sixty-fifth, sixty-ninth, and sixteen corps of militia; and in 1780 it was encamped at Rye, under Major-General Sloper.

[Sidenote: 1782]

In 1782 county titles were given to regiments, in order to facilitate the procuring of recruits; and the SIXTH were designated the FIRST WARWICKSHIRE regiment: at the same time the officers were directed to cultivate a connection with that division of the county, so as to create a mutual attachment between the inhabitants of Warwickshire and the regiment.

[Sidenote: 1783]

The SIXTH had previously proceeded to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey, from whence they were removed to Ireland in the autumn of 1783.

[Sidenote: 1786]

On the 5th of May, 1786, the regiment embarked from Ireland for North America, to relieve the seventeenth at Nova Scotia, and was stationed in that island for several years.

[Sidenote: 1787]

[Sidenote: 1792]

General Sir William Boothby, Baronet, died at Bath on the 15th of April, 1787, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the SIXTH by Lieut.-General LANCELOT BAUGH, from the fifty-eighth regiment; after whose decease in 1792, Sir RALPH ABERCROMBY was appointed colonel of the SIXTH, from the sixty-ninth regiment.

[Sidenote: 1793]

While the regiment was stationed in Nova Scotia a revolution took place in France, and in 1793 the King and Queen were beheaded. The dangerous doctrines of liberty and equality extended to the French West India islands, and the SIXTH were withdrawn from Nova Scotia and employed in delivering these valuable possessions from the power of the republican government.

[Sidenote: 1794]

The forces engaged in this enterprise rendezvoused at Barbadoes in January, 1794, under the orders of General Sir Charles Grey, K.B. (afterwards Earl Grey), and the battalion companies of the SIXTH constituted part of the third brigade, the flank companies being formed in grenadier and light infantry battalions. A landing was effected at three different points on the island of _Martinico_ in the early part of February, and after some sharp fighting, in which the SIXTH had about half a dozen men killed and wounded, this valuable possession was delivered from the power of republicanism. Sir Charles Grey observed in his public despatch:--"The spirit, unanimity, and perseverance of the navy and army never were more conspicuous; nor has more cordial co-operation ever been manifested between his Majesty's naval and land forces. In a word, the general, and field-officers, and the commanding officers of corps, have set such an example of zeal, activity, and animation in this service, which has been so laudably imitated by all the officers and soldiers of this little army, that they merit the greatest praise."

From Martinico the grenadiers under Prince Edward (afterwards Duke of Kent), the light infantry under Major-General Thomas Dundas, with the SIXTH, ninth, and forty-third regiments, commanded by Colonel Sir Charles Gordon, re-embarked on the 30th of March, and arriving at _St. Lucia_ on the 1st of April, completed the conquest of that fine island in three days. A detachment of the regiment was next employed in the reduction of the island of _Guadaloupe_: a determined resistance was made by the enemy, but the island was captured before the end of April, and Sir Charles Grey declared in his public despatch, that he "could not find words to convey an adequate idea, or to express the high sense he entertained, of the extraordinary merit evinced by the officers and soldiers in this service."

Although the extension of revolutionary power in Europe engaged the attention of the regicide government of France, yet the loss of these valuable colonial possessions was not regarded with indifference, and an expedition was fitted out at Brest for the recovery of the conquered islands. In June a body of French troops arrived at Guadaloupe, and the doctrines of liberty and equality were so successfully disseminated among the mulattoes and blacks, that they quickly flocked to the republican standard. The posts occupied by the British were attacked, and in October the whole island, except Fort Matilda, was re-captured by the French. This fort was defended by the troops under Major-General Prescott until December, when it was evacuated. The SIXTH had several men killed and wounded in the defence of Guadaloupe, and had also Lieutenant Ekins wounded.

[Sidenote: 1795]

The regiment having sustained considerable loss from the effects of climate, transferred its service-men to the ninth foot, and embarked for England, where it arrived in July, 1795, and landed at Portsmouth, from whence it proceeded into Warwickshire to recruit. In this service it was not, however, very successful, in consequence of having transferred a number of Warwickshire men to the ninth regiment in the West Indies.

The regiment marched to Southampton in September, for the purpose of embarking for Gibraltar; but the order was subsequently countermanded, and it returned to Warwickshire to re-commence recruiting.

In November of the same year Sir Ralph Abercromby was removed to the seventh dragoon guards, and the colonelcy of the SIXTH was conferred on Prince WILLIAM FREDERICK, afterwards Duke of Gloucester.

[Sidenote: 1796]

Ireland being, at this period, in a state bordering on rebellion, the SIXTH, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Colin Campbell, were ordered to proceed to that country. They embarked at Bristol in February, 1796, landed at Waterford, and in May proceeded to Kilkenny. The French directory cherished a decided antipathy to the British government, and sent a body of troops to Ireland to aid the malcontents in an appeal to arms. In December, when the French armament appeared in Bantry Bay, the SIXTH marched to oppose the enemy, who returned to France without effecting a landing.

[Sidenote: 1797]

[Sidenote: 1798]

The regiment returned to Kilkenny in January, 1797, from whence it marched in April to Loughlinstown, near Dublin, where a considerable force was assembled in huts: it was subsequently encamped in Phœnix Park, Dublin, and being very weak in numbers, it was united to the first light infantry battalion in October it returned to its huts at Loughlinstown; and in the early part of 1798, marched to Nenagh, and subsequently to Galway.

The long-suppressed rebellion broke out in May, 1798, and Ireland became the scene of conflagration, rapine, and bloodshed, the conduct of the insurgents being of the most cruel and inhuman character. The SIXTH, and light battalion attached to them, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Colin Campbell, were employed in suppressing this unnatural warfare. Scarcely was this accomplished, when the French directory endeavoured to revive the contest by sending General Humbert with about a thousand men to Ireland; and Major Macbean, with eighty men of the SIXTH (who were not attached to the light battalion) formed part of the force sent against the French. In the action at _Castlebar_, on the 27th of August, the eighty men of the SIXTH were the last that quitted their ground; their commanding officer, Major Macbean, was taken prisoner by the French and very cruelly treated; but he escaped a few days afterwards and joined the regiment at Tuam. The French having been surrounded and made prisoners, the rebellion was finally suppressed, and the regiment passed the winter at Moate and Athlone, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bowes.

[Sidenote: 1799]

Tranquillity having been restored in Ireland, the regiment embarked at Cork in June, 1799, for Canada, and landed on the 14th of October at Quebec, where its ranks were completed by a draft from the third battalion of the sixtieth regiment.

[Sidenote: 1803]

The SIXTH remained at Quebec until 1803, when they proceeded, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bowes, up the country to Montreal, Kingston, and St. John's.

[Sidenote: 1804]

[Sidenote: 1806]