Part 2
[4] _Vide_ the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot.
[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 TWENTY-SECOND,
OR
THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT,
BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR
THE WORDS
"SCINDE," "MEEANEE," AND "HYDERABAD,"
IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE AMEERS OF SCINDE, DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE YEAR 1843;
AND PARTICULARLY IN THE TWO DECISIVE BATTLES
OF MEEANEE AND HYDERABAD,
FOUGHT AT THOSE PLACES, RESPECTIVELY, ON THE 17th OF FEBRUARY, AND ON THE 24th OF MARCH, 1843.
THE TWENTY-SECOND,
OR
THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD.
YEAR PAGE
INTRODUCTION.
1689 Formation of the Regiment 1
---- Henry, Duke of Norfolk appointed to the Colonelcy -
---- Numbered the Twenty-Second Regiment -
---- Stationed at Chester -
---- Embarked for Ireland -
---- Engaged at the siege of Carrickfergus 2
---- Marched to Dundalk, and thence to Armagh -
---- Sir Henry Bellasis, from the Sixth Regiment, appointed to the Colonelcy, in succession to the Duke of Norfolk -
1690 Engaged at the _Battle of the Boyne_ -
---- Reviewed by King William at _Finglass_ -
---- Advanced against Athlone -
---- Rejoined the Army -
---- Employed at the first siege of Limerick -
---- Proceeded into winter-quarters -
---- Engaged with the Rapparees -
1691 Proceeded with the Army against _Ballymore_ 3
1691 Engaged in the Siege and Capture of _Athlone_ 3
---- Engaged at the Battle of _Aghrim_ -
---- Engaged at the Capture of _Galway_ -
---- ------------------------ _Limerick_ 4
---- Termination of the War in Ireland -
1695 Proceeded to join the Army in Flanders -
1696 Returned to England -
1697 Treaty of Peace concluded at _Ryswick_ -
1698 Re-embarked for Ireland 5
1701 Appointment of Brigadier-General William Selwyn, by exchange, from the Second Foot, with Lieut.-General Sir Henry Bellasis -
1702 Accession of Queen Anne on the demise of King William III -
---- Regiment embarked for Jamaica -
---- Promotion of Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Handasyd to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General Selwyn, deceased -
1705 Establishment augmented by two companies -
1712 Promotion of Lieut.-Colonel Roger Handasyd to the Colonelcy, in succession to his Father, Major-General Thomas Handasyd, retired 6
1713 Treaty of Peace concluded at Utrecht -
1714 Regiment returned to England, leaving two Independent Companies at Jamaica -
1715 Employed in recruiting its Establishment -
1718 Embarked for _Ireland_ -
1726 ------------ _Minorca_ -
1727 Detachment embarked for _Gibraltar_ to assist in its Defence against the Spaniards -
1730 Appointment of Colonel William Barrel, from the Twenty-Eighth Regiment, to the Colonelcy, in succession to Colonel Roger Handasyd, removed to the Sixteenth Regiment -
1734 Appointment of Colonel Hon. James St. Clair to the Colonelcy, in succession to Colonel William Barrell, removed to the Fourth Foot 7
1737 Appointment of Major-General John Moyle, from the Thirty-Sixth Regiment, to the Colonelcy, in succession to Colonel Hon. James St. Clair, removed to the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot -
1738 Promotion of Colonel Thomas Paget to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General Moyle, deceased -
1741 Promotion of Lieut.-Colonel Richard O'Farrell, from the Ninth Regiment, to the Colonelcy, in succession to Colonel Paget, deceased -
1748 Treaty of Peace concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle -
1749 Regiment relieved at Minorca and proceeded to Ireland -
1751 Royal Warrant, dated 1st July, issued for regulating the Clothing, Colours, Numbers, Facings, Badges, Mottos, and Distinctions of the Regiments of Cavalry and Infantry -
1756 War declared against France -
---- Regiment embarked from Ireland for North America -
1757 Promotion of Lieut.-Colonel Edward Whitmore from the Thirty-Sixth Regiment to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General O'Farrell, deceased 8
1758 Engaged in the siege of _Louisburg_, and the Capture of the Island of _Cape Breton_ -
1759 The Grenadier Company, incorporated with the Louisburg Grenadiers,--Engaged at the Battle of Quebec 9
1760 Embarked from Louisburg, proceeded to _Quebec_, and advanced to _Montreal_ -
---- Engaged in the conquest of the Canadas -
1761 Proceeded to New York, and embarked for the _West Indies_ 9
---- Engaged in the capture of the Island of _Dominica_ 10
1762 Engaged in the Capture of _Martinique_, _Grenada_, _St. Lucia_, and _St. Vincent_ --
---- Embarked with the expedition against the _Havannah_ --
---- Storming and Capture of _Fort Moro_ 11
---- Appointment of Major-General Honorable Thomas Gage to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General Whitmore, drowned at sea --
1763 Treaty of Peace concluded at Fontainebleau --
---- The Havannah restored to Spain, in exchange for the Province of Florida, in South America --
---- Regiment proceeded to West Florida --
1765 Embarked for Great Britain --
1773 Proceeded to Ireland --
1775 Embarked for North America 12
---- Engaged at the Battle of Bunker's Hill --
1776 Quitted Boston, and proceeded to Nova Scotia --
---- Embarked for Staten Island, near New York --
---- Landed on Long Island, and engaged with the Americans at Brooklyn --
---- Gained possession of New York, captured Fort Washington, and reduced part of the Jerseys 13
---- Detached with other Corps and captured Rhode Island --
1778 The King of France having united with the Americans, made preparations for the re-capture of Rhode Island, but was compelled to abandon the siege 14
1779 The British Commander-in-Chief resolved to vacate Rhode Island; the Regiment proceeded to New York 15
1782 Appointment of Major-General Charles O'Hara to the Colonelcy, in succession to General the Honorable Thomas Gage, removed to the Seventeenth Light Dragoons 15
---- Regiment received instructions to assume the title of _the Twenty-Second_, or _the Cheshire Regiment_ --
1783 The American War having terminated, the regiment embarked for England --
1785 Regiment stationed at Windsor and furnished the Guards at the Castle --
---- King George the III. authorized an _Order of Merit_ to be instituted in the corps --
1787 Proceeded to Jersey and Guernsey, and thence to Portsmouth 16
1788 Proceeded to Chatham and Dover --
1790 Embarked for Ireland --
1791 Appointment of Major-General David Dundas to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General O'Hara, removed to the Seventy-Fourth Highlanders 17
1793 War commenced between Great Britain and France --
---- Regiment embarked for the West Indies --
1794 Capture of the Island of Martinique --
---- ---- ---- St. Lucia --
---- ---- ---- Guadaloupe --
---- ---- ---- St. Domingo --
1795 Returned to England from St. Domingo 18
---- Appointment of Major-General William Crosbie, from the Eighty-Ninth Regiment, to the Colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-General Dundas, removed to the Seventh Light Dragoons --
1798 Proceeded to Guernsey --
1798 Appointment of Major-General John G. Simcoe, from the Eighty-First Regiment, to the Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General Crosbie, deceased 18
1799 Removed to Portsmouth 19
---- Authorized to enlist boys or lads with a view to being sent to the Cape of Good Hope, preparatory to being embarked for service in the East Indies --
1800 Embarked for the Cape of Good Hope --
1802 Proceeded to India 20
1803 Arrival at Calcutta --
---- The flank companies embarked, and joined the field force assembled for the attack of the province of Cuttack --
---- Flank Companies engaged at the Capture of the fort of Barrabatta by storm --
1804 Joined the army under Lord Lake and engaged in the siege of Bhurtpore 21
1805 Marched from _Fort William_ and encamped at _Benares_, thence proceeded to _Cawnpore_ --
---- Siege of Bhurtpore continued, and the Flank Companies distinguished themselves in three unsuccessful attacks --
---- _Rajah Sing_ submitted and concluded a treaty of peace 22
---- British army withdrew from Bhurtpore --
---- The Flank Companies rejoined the regiment at Cawnpore --
---- _Holkar_ and _Scindia_ concluded Treaties of Peace --
1806 Marched from the banks of the Sutlej to _Delhi_ --
---- Removed to Muttra, and received the thanks of the Governor-General in Council and of General Lord Lake, Commander-in-Chief, for its conduct during the war --
1806 Appointment of Lieut.-General Sir James Henry Craig, K. B., in succession to General Simcoe, deceased 22
1807 Proceeded to Berhampore --
1809 Appointment of Major-General the Honorable Edward Finch to the Colonelcy, in succession to General Sir James Henry Craig, removed to the Seventy-eighth Highlanders --
1810 Embarked at Fort William, and formed part of the expedition against the Mauritius --
---- Engaged in the capture of the Mauritius 23
1811 Detachment employed at Tamatave in the Island of Madagascar --
1812 Proceeded to Bourbon --
1813 Removed a second time to the Mauritius --
1814 A second Battalion added to the establishment of the regiment, which was reduced in the same year --
1815 The Flank Companies rejoined the regiment at the Mauritius from Hindoostan 24
1819 Embarked for England from the Mauritius --
---- Landed at Gosport and marched to Northampton 25
1821 Marched to Liverpool and embarked for Ireland --
1822 Detachment proceeded against a body of armed men assembled at Newmarket in county of Cork. The officers commanding this detachment received the thanks of H. R. H. the Duke of York, and were presented with a silver cup by the gentlemen and inhabitants of the Town of Newmarket, for attacking and defeating this body of insurgents --
1826 Formed into six Service and four Depôt Companies preparatory to embarkation for foreign service 26
---- Service Companies embarked for Jamaica --
1830 Depôt Companies embarked for England 27
1831 Service Companies employed in suppressing an insurrection among the slaves in Jamaica --
1836 Depôt Companies embarked for Ireland --
1837 Service Companies embarked from Jamaica for Ireland, and rejoined by the Depôt Companies --
1840 Embarked from Ireland for England --
1841 Embarked for Bombay and proceeded to Poonah 28
1842 Proceeded to _Scinde_, and encamped at Kurrachee --
1843 Employed in the destruction of the Fort of _Emaum Ghur_ --
---- The march through the Desert to Emaum Ghur, as described by Major-General William E. P. Napier 29
---- The troops returned triumphant to Peer-Abu-Bekr 30
---- Treaty of Peace with the Ameers of Scinde --
---- Treacherous attack upon the British residency at _Hyderabad_, and gallant defence made by the _Light Company_ of the _Twenty-Second_ regiment --
---- Light Company joined the army under Major-General Sir Charles Napier 31
---- Battle of Meeanee --
---- Surrender of six Ameers on the field of battle --
---- British Colours planted on the Fortress of Hyderabad 32
---- Details of the defeat of the Beloochees at Meeanee --
---- Gallant conduct of the Twenty-Second regiment 34
---- Threatened attack by Mere Shere Mahomed 36
---- Battle of Hyderabad --
---- Flight of Mere Shere Mahomed to the desert 37
---- Particulars of the march of the British troops through the desert --
1843 Honors and distinctions conferred by Queen Victoria, and by the British Parliament, on the Twenty-second regiment for its conduct in the Campaign of Scinde 38
---- Address of Major-General Sir Charles Napier to the troops in distributing the medals conferred on them for their gallantry in this campaign 40
---- Marched from Hyderabad to Kurrachee 42
---- Directed to proceed to Bombay, and Major-General Sir Charles Napier's order on the occasion 43
---- Embarked for Bombay --
---- Honorable reception of the Regiment at Bombay --
---- Appointment of Major-General Sir Charles Napier to the Colonelcy, in succession to General Honorable E. Finch, deceased 44
1844 Employed on field-service in the Kolapore districts --
---- Capture of Forts _Punalla_ and _Pownghur_ --
---- Operations in the Sawunt-Warree district 45
---- Investments of the Forts of Monuhurr and Monsentosh --
1845 Capture of the village of Seevapore and other Forts --
---- Returned to Poonah --
1846 Marched to Bombay 46
1847 Removed to Poonah --
1849 Proceeded to Bombay --
---- Conclusion --
Description of the Standards captured at the battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad, and of the Medal conferred in honor of the victories obtained at those places 47
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE TWENTY-SECOND,
OR
THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
YEAR PAGE
1689 Henry Duke of Norfolk 48
---- Sir Henry Bellasis, Kt. 49
1701 William Selwyn 51
1702 Thomas Handasyd --
1712 Roger Handasyd 52
1730 William Barrell --
1734 _Hon._ James St. Clair --
1737 John Moyle 53
1738 Thomas Paget 54
1741 Richard O'Farrell --
1757 Edward Whitmore --
1762 _Hon._ Thomas Gage 55
1782 Charles O'Hara 56
1791 David Dundas 57
1795 William Crosbie 59
1798 John Graves Simcoe 60
1806 Sir James Henry Craig, K.B. 61
1809 _Hon._ Edward Finch 62
1843 Sir Charles James Napier, G.C.B. 63
PLATES.
Colours of the Regiment _to face_ 1
Costume of the Regiment 32
Engraving of the Beloochee Standard captured at the Battle of Meeanee in 1843; and of the Silver Medal conferred on the Officers and Men engaged in the Battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad 47
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE TWENTY-SECOND,
OR
THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
[Sidenote: 1689]
The accession of King William III. and Queen Mary, in February, 1689, was welcomed in England with anticipations of security to the civil and religious institutions of the country, and of prosperity in every branch of national industry; but in Ireland the majority of the people adhered to the interests of the Stuart dynasty, and a body of troops was raised in England, for the deliverance of that country from the power of King James, who had landed there with an armament from France. On this occasion HENRY, DUKE OF NORFOLK, evinced zeal for the principles of the Revolution, and raised a regiment of pikemen and musketeers, to which a company of grenadiers was attached; and the corps raised under the auspices of his Grace now bears the title of the TWENTY-SECOND, or the CHESHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
Having been speedily completed in numbers, equipped, and disciplined, the regiment was encamped near Chester in the early part of August, and soon afterwards embarked for Ireland, with the forces commanded by Marshal Duke Schomberg. On landing in Ireland, the siege of _Carrickfergus_ was commenced, and the garrison of that fortress was forced to surrender in a few days.
From Carrickfergus, the regiment marched with the army to Dundalk, where the troops were encamped on low and wet ground, and suffered much in their health.
While the regiment was encamped at Dundalk, the Duke of Norfolk was succeeded in the colonelcy by Sir Henry Bellasis, who had commanded the Sixth regiment of foot when it was in the Dutch service.
On the 7th of November the regiment commenced its march from Dundalk for Armagh, for winter-quarters.
[Sidenote: 1690]
In the summer of 1690, the regiment had the honour to serve at the battle of the _Boyne_, under the eye of its Sovereign, who commanded the army in Ireland in person; and on this occasion it took part in forcing the passage of the river, and in gaining a decisive victory over the army of King James on the 1st of July.
Advancing from the field of battle towards Dublin, the regiment was reviewed by King William at Finglass, on the 8th of July, and mustered six hundred and twenty-eight rank and file under arms. It was afterwards detached, under Lieut.-General Douglas, against Athlone; but that fortress was found better provided for a siege than had been expected, and the regiment rejoined the army.
The TWENTY-SECOND was one of the corps employed at the siege of _Limerick_. Many things combined to prevent the capture of that fortress until the following year, and when the siege was raised, the regiment proceeded into winter-quarters, from whence it sent out detachments, which had several rencounters with bands of armed peasantry, called Rapparees.
[Sidenote: 1691]