Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot / Containing an Account of the Origin of the Regiment in the Reign of King James VI. of Scotland, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846

[6] Bishop Lesley; and Abercromby's Martial Achievements of the Scots Nation.

[7] L'Escosse Françoise, par A. Houston; and the Translator's Preface to Beauge's History of the Campaigns in 1548 and 1549.

[8] Milan, a military publisher remarkable for correct dates, states, in an account of the French army printed in 1746, that the Scots Gendarmes were instituted in 1422, and the Scots Garde du Corps in 1440. Père Daniel, the French military historian, adduces proof that they were instituted by Charles VII., but does not give the dates.

[9] Bishop Lesley; and Philip de Commines.

[10] List of the French army printed at the time.

[11] L'Ecosse Françoise, par A. Houston.

[12] Histoire de la Milice Françoise, par Le Père Daniel. 2 tom. 4to. Paris, 1721.

[13] The companies obtained from the Netherlands were part of a distinguished body of Scots, who had been many years in the service of the States-General of the United Provinces; and were, in consequence of a truce having been concluded for 12 years, at liberty to engage in the service of Sweden. Vide Historical Record of the Third Foot.

[14] Introduction de Puffendorf, tome iv. p. 84.

[15] Harte's Life of Guslavus Adolphus.

[16] The regiment alluded to was raised by Donald Mackay, Lord Reay, in 1626, for the service of the King of Denmark; it was afterwards in the service of the King of Sweden, and was reduced in 1634 to one company. In 1637, Colonel Robert Monro, who had served in the regiment from the time it was raised, published an historical account of its services, under the title of Monro's Expedition; from which history much valuable information has been obtained relating to the Royal Regiment, and its first Colonel, Sir John Hepburn, who had lived in terms of intimacy and strict friendship with Colonel Monro from the time they were schoolfellows.

[17] Monro's expedition; and Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus.

"He maintained his post for nine weeks, repulsing every attempt to retake it, till he was relieved by a Scotch regiment (the Royals) under Colonel Hepburn, and a body of Swedish troops."General David Stewart's History of the Highland Regiments, published in 1822.

[18] Swedish Intelligencer.

[19] Monro's Expedition.

[20] The Imperialists had previously enacted a cruel tragedy on a party of Scots at Old Brandenburg.

[21] Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus; Monro's Expedition; and the Swedish Intelligencer.

[22] In a list of Gustavus's army published at the time, in the Mercure François, the regiment is stated to have displayed four colours at the battle of Leipsic.

[23] "The King having noticed that the Duke of Saxony was leaving the field, and that Count Tilly was ready to charge his main body, selected 2,000 musketeers of the brave Scots nation, and placed 2,000 horse on their flanks. The Scots formed themselves in several bodies of six or seven hundred each, with their ranks three deep (the King of Sweden's discipline being never to march above six deep;) the foremost rank falling on their knees, the second stooping forward, and the third standing upright, and all giving fire together, they poured, at one instant, so much lead amongst the enemy's horse, that their ranks were broken, and the Swedish horse charging, the enemy were routed."—Account of the battle of Leipsic published at the time.

[24] "We were as in a dark cloud, not seeing the half of our actions, much less discerning either the way of our enemies, or the rest of our brigades; whereupon, having a drummer by me, I caused him to beat the Scots March, till it cleared up, which re-collected our friends unto us."—Monro's Expedition.

[25] Monro's Expedition.

[26] "His Majesty, accompanied by a great and honourable train of cavaliers, alighted from his horse at the head of our brigade; the officers coming together about his Majesty in a ring, his Majesty made a speech of commendation of the brigade, thanking them for their good service, and exhorting them to the continuation thereof, promised he would not forget to reward them; and turning towards the superior officers, they did kiss his Majesty's hand; the inferior officers and soldiers crying aloud, they hoped to do his Majesty better service than ever they had done."—Monro's Expedition.

"His Majesty bestowed particular encomiums on the Swedish and Finland horse, conducted by Horne; as also on that brave body of Scottish infantry which Hepburn commanded."—Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus.

[27] Harte.

[28] "The foot brigades were commanded to their several posts. Colonel Hepburn's brigade (according to custom) was directed to the most dangerous post, next the enemy; and the rest to theirs. The night coming on, we began our approaches, and prepared for making ready our attacks, when certain men were ordered to make cannon baskets, some to provide materials, some to watch, some to dig, some to guard the artillery, some to guard the workmen, and some to guard the colours before the brigade. The day approaching, we having made ready the batteries in the night, the service on both sides beginneth with cannon and musket."—Monro's Expedition.

[29] Monro gives the name of every British officer above the rank of Captain in the Swedish army. Many Scots officers had been promoted to the command of Swedish, Finland, and Dutch regiments.

[30] "Here also we see the valour of Hepburn and his brigade praiseworthy, being, first and last, the instruments of the enemy's overthrow."—Monro's Expedition.

"The King returned Hepburn public thanks for suggesting the idea of crossing the Wernitz, and for executing his plan with such judgement and valour."—Harte's Life of Gustavus Adolphus.

[31] In some accounts of the battle of Lützen the Green Brigade, of which Hepburn's regiment formed a part, is mentioned by mistake amongst the troops engaged, instead of the White Brigade. As Colonel Monro commanded the brigade at the time the battle was fought, his narrative is considered sufficient authority for stating that it was not present.

[32] Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden was born on the 9th of December, 1594. He learnt the duty of a musketeer as soon as he could carry a musket; and when seventeen years of age he was Colonel of a Cavalry corps, and served a campaign against the Danes. In the same year (1611) his father died, and the young Gustavus succeeded to the throne of Sweden; and he soon afterwards evinced, to the surprise of all Europe, the most distinguished abilities as a commander, a hero, and a politician. The discipline which he introduced into his army was strict beyond all precedent, and to this many of his victories may be attributed. His improvements in arms, equipment, and in military tactics, were particularly important; and he was brave even to rashness. He was wounded in action on six different occasions, had three horses killed under him, and was several times in the power of the enemy, but was rescued by his own men. On the fatal 6th of November, 1632, he fought sword in hand at the head of the Smoland cavalry, and was shot through the left arm, but continued fighting until his voice and strength failed from loss of blood, when he attempted to retire. At that instant an Imperial cavalier came galloping forward, and, crying "Long have I sought thee," shot the King through the body; and the next moment one of his Majesty's attendants shot the cavalier dead on the spot. As the King and his attendants were retiring, they were charged by a troop of cuirassiers; his Majesty was held for a few moments on the saddle, but his horse, being shot in the shoulder, made a desperate plunge, and threw the rider to the ground. After his fall the King received five wounds in different parts of his body, and was shot through the head. Thus fell the brave Gustavus, the most distinguished warrior of his age; with whose life the early services of Hepburn's regiment, now represented by the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot, are intimately connected.

[33] Monro's Expedition.

[34] In the Mercure François and other French works he is called Colonel Hebron and Le Chevalier d'Hebron; Père Daniel, the French historian, gives the following reason for this change—"On l'appelloit en France 'le Chevalier d'Hebron,' son nom d'Hepburn étant difficile à prononcer."

[35] This transfer of men from the service of the Crown of Sweden to that of France was not peculiar to Hepburn's veterans; but the German and Swedish forces which, after the defeat at Nordlingen, retreated, under the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, towards the Rhine, were nearly all taken into the pay of France.

[36] Mercure Françoise; Anderson's History of the Reign of Louis XIII.; and the Complete History of Europe.

[37] "The most deplorable accident was the death of the Scottish "Colonel Hepburn, who, with his usual coolness, surveying the breach, received a ball in his neck, and died, extremely regretted in the army, and by the Court of France."—Anderson's History of France, vol. v. p. 90.

"Le combat fut fort opiniâtre en ceste prise, et de telle façon; que le Colonel Hebron Escossois, y fut tué d'une mousquetade dans le col, qui luy passoit dans les reins, ayant laissé une reputation digne de sa valeur, fidelité, et experience au fait de la guerre."—Mercure François, tom. xxi. p. 277.

[38] The following return of the establishment of the regiment in 1637 was procured by its Colonel, General Lord Adam Gordon, who died in 1801:—

[39] Mercure François.

[40] In a plan of the siege of Hesdin, published at Paris in 1639, Douglas' Scots Regiment appears formed in brigade with the Regiment of Champaigne.

[41] The three Scots regiments in the service of France at this period, are designated by the French historians, the regiments of Douglas, Chambers, and Praslin.

[42] Père Daniel.

[43] Mercure François; and Le Histoire Militaire de Louis le Grand, par M. Le Marquis de Quincy.

[44] This division consisted of the following corps; viz.: The French Guards, the Swiss Guards, the regiments of Picardy, Douglas, La Meilleraie, Grancy, and Molondin.—Mercure François.

[45] Account of the battle of Lens, published at the time; Life of the Prince of Condé; and Histoire Militaire de Louis le Grand.

[46] A detailed account of this action is given in the Life of King James II., from the memoirs written with his own hand, and published by the Rev. J. S. Clarke in 1818. His Majesty was then (1652) Duke of York, and was serving with the French Army, of which Douglas' Regiment formed part.

[47] Life of King James II., from the Memoirs written with his own hand.

[48] The forces were designated by the following titles:—

[49] "Ce Régiment de Douglas, étant en garnison à Avesnes en 1661, eut ordre de passer en Angleterre, où il rendit des services très considerables au Roy Charles II.

"Il n'était que de huit compagnies en partant de France, et se trouva en y revenant, un an aprés, de trente-trois compagnies, qui étoient composées pour le moins de cent hommes chacune. Mylord George Douglas l'a toujours commandé en France."—Père Daniel.

[50] London Gazette; and Military Records in the State Paper Office.

[51] "Le Régiment de Douglas Escossois. Ce Régiment a servi plusieurs années en France, et s'y est fort distingué. Je trouve dans l'Ordonnance de Louis XIV., de l'an 1672, pour le rang des Régimens, qu'il étoit un des premiers."—Père Daniel.

[52] Comte de Chamilly's despatch, in the original correspondence respecting the campaign of 1672, published in France.

[53] See the Historical Record of the Life Guards, p. 43.

[54] Histoire du Vicomte de Turenne par L'Abbé Raguenet.

[55] Mémoires de deux dernieres Campagnes de Monsieur de Turenne en Allemagne.

[56] London Gazette.

[57] The Colonel of the Regiment, Lord George Douglas, was created Earl of Dumbarton on the 9th of March, 1675; but the French historians continued to designate the corps, "Le Régiment de Douglas."

[58] In the order of battle for the French army on the Rhine in 1677, printed in the Histoire Militaire de Louis le Grand, the First Battalion of Douglas' Regiment appears formed in brigade with the regiments of La Marine, Couronne, and Vendôme, and the second battalion is posted between two cavalry brigades, on the left of the line.

[59] "Captain Hume, who commanded our advance-party, showed great conduct and courage, standing several charges of the enemy's horse; and when the action was over, and he was upon his retreat to the main body, one of the Moors' chief commanders charged the rear of his party and overthrew him; but the Moor's horse falling, he was immediately killed."—London Gazette.

[60] Tangier's Rescue by John Ross, fol. 1681.

[61] Tangier's Rescue by John Ross, fol. 1681.

[62] "This day the Scots and their grenadiers charged first, if there was any time at all between their charging: for, like fire and lightning, all went on at once."—Tangier's Rescue.

[63] Tangier's Rescue.

[64] Four colours were captured in this action; one by Dumbarton's Scots, one by the Admiral's battalion, one by the English horse, and one by the Spaniards. Three guns were also taken; two by the Foot Guards, and one by the battalion of Marines and Seamen.

[65] The following return shows the loss sustained by the British troops in this engagement:—

[66] The First Regiment of Foot Guards was for several years designated the Royal Regiment. There was also at this period a Royal Regiment in Ireland, which was sometimes styled Foot Guards. This corps adhered to King James II. at the Revolution in 1688. One battalion had previously arrived in England, and, being composed of papists, it was disbanded by William III. The men were confined a short time in the Isle of Wight, and afterwards transferred to the service of the Emperor of Germany. The other battalion fought in the cause of James II. in Ireland, until the surrender of Limerick in 1691, when it proceeded to France, and remained in the French service until it was disbanded.

[67] The author of the account of this review here means two battalions of the 1st Foot Guards.

[68] War-Office Records.

[69] War-Office Records.

[70] Sixteen field-pieces were employed. Nine were sent from the Tower of London, and seven from Portsmouth.

[71] Lediard, and several other historians, attribute the preservation of the King's army from a complete overthrow at Sedgemoor to the excellent conduct of the Royals, in being under arms so quickly as to be able to hold the rebels in check until the other corps had time to form their ranks.

[72] Fountainhall's Diary, p. 59.

[73] War-Office Establishment Book.

[74] Sir John Dalrymple, and several other historians who wrote many years after these events occurred, have mistaken the Royal Regiment of Scots Horse for the Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons, now the 2nd or Royal North British Dragoons, or Scots Greys; but the latter regiment did not mutiny. The Scots Horse escaped to Scotland, and many of them joined the Highlanders in their resistance to King William III.; and the regiment was taken off the establishment of the army and was not afterwards restored.

[75] List of troops sent to the Netherlands, in 1689, under the Earl of Marlborough:—

• Second troop of Guards, now 2nd Regiment of Life Guards.
• Royal Regiment of Horse Guards.
• One Battalion of the 2nd Foot Guards.
• One Battalion of the Scots Foot Guards, now 3rd Foot Guards.
• One Battalion of the Royal Regiment.
• Prince George of Denmark's Regiment, now 3rd Foot, or the Buffs.
• Royal Fusiliers, now 7th Royal Fusiliers.
• Col. John Hales' Regiment, afterwards disbanded.
• " Sir David Collier's " " "
• " Robert Hodges' " now 16th Foot.
• " Edwd. Fitzpatrick's " afterwards disbanded.
• " Fergus D. O'Ffarrel's " now 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers.

[76] This officer commanded the Grenadier Company of the Royal Regiment when it was raised in 1678; and frequently distinguished himself against the Moors at Tangier in 1680. In October, 1688, Lieut.-Col. Archibald Douglas of the Royal Regiment was appointed Colonel of a newly-raised regiment, now the 16th Foot; and was succeeded in December of the same year by Lieut.-Col. Hodges, from the Royal Regiment, who was killed at the battle of Steenkirk.

[77] D'Auvergne's History of the Campaigns in Flanders.

[78] D'Auvergne.

[79] "The bravery of our men was extraordinary, and admired by all; ten battalions of ours having engaged above thirty of the French at one time, and Sir Robert Douglas, at the head of one battalion of his own regiment, having driven four battalions of the enemy from their cannon."—London Gazette.

[80] Memoirs of Captain George Carleton.

[81] The General History of Europe.

[82] D'Auvergne.

[83] The French brigades, which attacked the post occupied by the first battalion of the Royal Regiment, were those of Bourbonnois, Lyonnois, Anjou, and Artois, and King James' Royal Regiment, or Irish Guards, were amongst them.—(D'Auvergne.)

[84] Official Records in Ireland.

[85] Millner's Journal of the Marches, Battles, and Sieges of the British troops on the Continent from 1701 to 1712.

[86] Portmore's, now 2nd or Queen's Royals, and Elsts, afterwards disbanded.

[87] Now the 9th, 15th, 23rd, and 24th Regiments.

[88] Now the 10th, 16th, 21st, and 26th Regiments.

[89] The following Return shows the number of Officers killed and wounded in each British Regiment at the battle of Blenheim:—

[90] Milner's Journal.

[91] London Gazette, &c.

[92] War-Office Marching-Order Book.

[93] War-Office Establishment Book.

[94] Records of the Adjutant-General's Office.

[95] Extract of a letter from an officer.

[96] "The troops did honour to their country, particularly the 1st battalion of the Royal Scots, who were put to the hardest trials, behaved heroically, and suffered much."—Scots Magazine.

[97] London Gazette, &c. &c.

[98] In 1684, and for many years afterwards, the facing of the regiment was white.

[99] His Majesty's commands were issued in October, 1832, directing that the colours of both battalions of the Royal Regiment should bear the same devices and distinctions.

[100] South Carolina Gazette.

[101] Return of troops engaged in the assault of Fort Moro, on the 30th July, 1762.

[102] Stedman's History of the American War.

[103] Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain from 1727 to 1783, by Robert Beatson, Esq., LL.D.

[104] Lieut.-General Stuart's despatch.

[105] Afterwards General Sir William Hutchinson, K.C.H.

[106] Rainsford's Historical Account of the Black Empire of Hayti.

[107] The Duke of York's despatch.

[108] This officer rose to the rank of Major-General, and was killed before Bayonne in 1814.

[109] Journal of Quartermaster-General Brownrigg, laid before Parliament.

[110] Captain Mullen was on the Staff at Barbadoes, but volunteered his services on this expedition.

[111] Now Lieut.-General Sir J. Stevenson Barns, K.C.B., Colonel of the Twentieth Regiment of Foot.

[112] In this year (1811) was living at the village of Delmes, in Scotland, John Reed, aged 100 years; he was a private in the 2nd battalion of the Royal Regiment at the battle of Culloden, in 1746, and was in the battalion upwards of 40 years.

[113] At a Scots corporation dinner, held in London on the 4th of May, 1811, on the health of the Duke of Kent, the Colonel of the Royal Regiment, being drunk, his Royal Highness rose to return thanks, and, in the course of his speech, said:—"My royal brother has been pleased to praise the regiment in which I have been employed, and have had the honour to command, and I too can bear testimony to the spirit and gallantry of the Scottish soldiers. From the earliest days, when I commenced my military life, it was always my utmost aim to arrive at the command of a Scots regiment, and to bring that regiment into action would have been the greatest glory I could have attained, as I am well convinced the officers and men would have justified my most sanguine expectations; their courage, perseverance, and activity, being undoubtedly such as may always be relied on; and they are always able and willing to do their duty, if not more than their duty." His Royal Highness took great interest in the welfare of the regiment; and he this year presented, by the hands of Lieut.-Colonel M'Leod, a gold medal to Serjeant Manns of the regiment, for the very meritorious manner in which he had educated upwards of 800 soldiers and soldiers' children.

[114] This officer was shot through the hand whilst bearing the colours, the ball passing through the flag.

[115]

"Demerara, 20th of April, 1812.

"General Order.

"Major-General Carmichael cannot refrain from expressing his regret on the departure of the Royal Scots. The honourable testimony from Governor Bentinck and the inhabitants of the good conduct of the regiment for nearly nine years corresponds with the opinion the Major-General has formed of their correct discipline and military order in all respects, which evince the incessant attention of Colonel Stewart and the officers of the corps. He sincerely wishes them every happiness, and looks forward with the pleasing hope of meeting the regiment on future service.

(Signed) "A. Stewart,
Brigade-Major."

[116] "The Royals led the attack, on which occasion the distinguished gallantry of this corps was most conspicuous."

"The Royals refused to give way in the least, until General Hay received orders, through General Oswald, from General Graham, to retire, it having been found that success was physically impracticable, as the defences round the breach were not destroyed; and, from the showers of musketry, grape, hand-grenades, shells, and large stones, with which the attacking column was assailed, it appears miraculous that any escaped."—Extract from Sir T. Graham's despatch.

"The Royal Regiment proved, by the numbers left in the breach, that it would have been carried, had they not been opposed by real obstacles, which no human prowess could overcome."—Extract from Division Orders.

[117] "Major-General Hay speaks most highly of the conspicuous gallantry of Colonel Barns in the successful assault of the coverlain, with the brave battalion of the Royal Scots.

"Indeed I conceive our ultimate success depended upon the repeated attacks made by the Royal Scots."—Sir Thomas Graham's despatch.

[118] Extract from General Orders.

[119] The Americans were about 6000 strong, and the British only 1500: namely, Royal Scots, 500; 1st battalion King's Own, 480; 100th regiment, 450; one troop 19th Light Dragoons; and a proportion of artillery.—London Gazette.

[120] The Americans were 5000 strong; the British were 2800.London Gazette.

[121] Lieut.-General Drummond's Despatch.

[122] General Orders.

[123] A stone was placed in the church at Montreal, Lower Canada, with the following inscription:—

"In memory of Lieut.-Colonel John Gordon, commanding the 1st battalion Royal Scots Regiment of Foot, who departed this life on the 25th of September, 1814, in consequence of a wound received in action with the enemy in front of Fort Erie, on the 17th of the same month.

"This slab is placed by the officers of the battalion, to commemorate their high esteem for him as a man, and their respect for his character as a soldier."

[124] This valuable and gallant officer had served many years in the Royal Regiment, in which he had a son, Captain George Hay, killed at the battle of Vittoria.

A monument was erected to his memory in the cemetery of the church of Etienne, Bayonne, with the following inscription:—

This tomb is placed here By the officers of the 3rd battalion, 1st, or Royal Scots Regiment of Foot, As a testimony of respect to the memory of The late Major-General Andrew Hay, Commanding the First Brigade of the Fifth Division of the British Army in France, Who gallantly fell on the morning of the 14th of April, 1814, In defence of the ground in which His body is deposited, Aged 52 years.

Near the north door of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, a monument has also been erected to the memory of this gallant veteran. He is represented falling into the arms of Valour, with a soldier standing, lamenting the loss of his commander.

[125] "The 3rd battalion of the Royal Scots distinguished itself in a particular manner. Being removed from the centre of the 5th division, it charged and routed a column of the enemy. It was then formed in a square, to receive the cavalry, and though repeated attacks were made, not the slightest impression was produced. Wherever the lancers and cuirassiers presented themselves, they found a stern and undismayed front, which they vainly endeavoured to penetrate."Mudford's Historical Account of the Campaign in the Netherlands in 1815.

[126] "Though charged six or seven times by an infinite superiority of numbers, the French cavalry never for an instant made the slightest impression upon the square of the Royal Scots."Narrative by an Officer who was an eye-witness.

[127]

"Whitehall, 13th December, 1815.

"His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, taking into His Royal Highness's consideration the highly distinguished services of Colonel James Stevenson Barns, Lieut.-Colonel of the 1st, or Royal Scots Regiment of Foot, Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, and Knight of the Royal Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword, manifested by him on divers important occasions in the campaigns of Toulon, Corsica, Holland, Egypt, and during the recent arduous operations and splendid achievements of His Majesty's arms in Portugal, Spain, and France, and being desirous of conferring upon that officer such a mark of favour as may in an especial manner evince the sense his Royal Highness entertains of the intrepidity and valour displayed by him at the battle of Busaco, wherein, as Lieut.-Colonel of the Staff, he commanded a brigade; at the capture of Badajoz, on the 6th of April, 1812; at the victory of Salamanca, where, in leading his battalion to the charge, he was severely wounded; and his distinguished gallantry at the assault and capture of St. Sebastian, and the battles of the Nive, hath been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to grant unto the said Colonel Barns, His Majesty's Royal license and authority that he and his descendants may bear the following honourable augmentation to the arms of his family:—

"A chief, thereon the representation of the curtain of a fortification; and above the words 'St. Sebastian,' as also a canton charged, with the representations of the gold cross presented by His Majesty's command to the said James Stevenson Barns, and of the badge of the Royal Portuguese Military Order of the Tower and Sword pendant from the ribands from which the said distinctions are respectively attached.

"And the following crest of honourable augmentation:—

"Issuant from a broken battlement, a dexter arm in armour, the hand grasping a banner inscribed 'St. Sebastian;' in allusion to the conspicuous conduct of the said Colonel Barns, on the 31st of August, 1813, when he gallantly led the 3rd battalion of the Royals, and assaulted and carried the curtain of the fortress, thereby eminently contributing to the ultimate capture of that important place; provided the said armorial distinctions be first duly exemplified, according to our law of arms, and recorded in the Herald's Office; otherwise His Majesty's royal license and permission to be void, and of none effect."

[128]

"Port Chatlerain, 29th November, 1815.

"Brigade Order.

"The 4th battalion of the Royals, the 42nd and 92nd regiments, are to march to-morrow morning for Meulans, on their route for Boulogne, to embark for England.

"Major-General Sir Denis Pack, cannot allow these corps to depart from his command without expressing his regret at losing them.

"The conduct of the 4th battalion, Royals, in camp and quarters has been, like that of the 3rd battalion and the two regiments, orderly and soldier-like; and he is confident, from the high state of discipline these corps appear in, they would have emulated their comrades in the 3rd battalion, had the same glorious opportunity been afforded them."

[129] The following return shows the number of men drafted from the 4th to the other battalions on foreign service:—

[130] This officer was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1830, and was drowned in the 'Frolic' steam-boat, between Tenby and Bristol, in March, 1831, with his wife, Lady Arabella M'Leod.

[131] This officer was Deputy Adjutant-General to the King's troops, and he placed himself with the flank companies of the Royal Scots on the right, and encouraged the men by his example.

[132] This officer received a severe wound while protecting his brother's body.

[133] Captain Wetherall afterwards rose to the rank of Major in the regiment, and he wrote an historical record of his corps, which was printed in 1832, at the expense of the Colonel, the Duke of Gordon. Although there are some inaccuracies in the work, particularly as regards the formation and early services of the regiment, yet the record was as correct as could be expected from the limited information he was in possession of; and he evinced much laudable zeal and industry in its compilation. He followed the idea of Hamilton, who, in his printed sketch of the Royal Regiment, supposes it to have been a continuation of the Scots Guards at the French Court; but this has been proved to be an error. Major Wetherall died, while serving with the 1st battalion at Dominica, on the 7th August, 1833.

[134] It is only an act of justice to state that such was the soldier-like feeling and esprit de corps of the men, after they were made acquainted with the duty that lay before them, that on their falling in with their companions in the camp at Neembolah at twelve o'clock on the night of the 17th of March, there was not one individual amongst them in the least intoxicated, or unfit for duty.

[135] "The promptitude and energy with which the attack was made by the troops under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Fraser, of His Majesty's Royal Scots, reflect high credit on him and on all the officers and men employed. Our loss has been trifling; Lieutenant Bland, of the Royal Scots, is wounded. We are now in complete possession of the pettah, and the superintending engineer is employed in erecting a mortar battery to bombard the fort."Brigadier-General Doveton's Letter to Captain Stewart, Acting Resident at the Court of Doulat Rao Scindia.

[136] "Yesterday evening a desperate and unexpected sally from the fortress was made upon an advanced post of our troops in the pettah; and it is with extreme regret I have to add that Lieut.-Colonel Fraser, of His Majesty's Royal Scots, who had been appointed by me to command in the pettah, was killed when in the act of gallantly rallying the party and keeping the advance in their position. The enemy was, however, immediately driven back, and compelled to retire again into the fort."Brigadier-General Doveton's Despatch.

[137] Lieut.-Colonel Blaker's Mahratta War.

[138] Afterwards Lieut.-General Sir Archibald Campbell, Bt. G.C.B., Colonel of the 62nd Regiment, who died at Edinburgh on the 6th October, 1843.

[139] Now Major-General Sir Richard Armstrong.

[140] "The attack upon Simbike was most handsomely led by Lieut.-Colonel Godwin, with the advanced guard of the right column, consisting of the flank companies of His Majesty's Royals, &c. &c."London Gazette.

[141] This division consisted of 250 of the Royals, 270 of the 41st, 260 of the 89th, the light company of the 28th Madras native infantry, and 100 pioneers.London Gazette.

[142] When Dr. Sandford and Lieutenant Bennett were captured, preparations were made to crucify them, but, after an hour's suspense, they were sent away from the river, and eventually forwarded in chains to the capital, a distance of 300 miles. On reaching Ava they were thrown into a loathsome dungeon, crowded with criminals and deserters, where the Doctor remained five, and Lieutenant Bennett ten days, with nothing but a little rice to support them, and even this was occasionally omitted. After being released from gaol they were kept separate. The Doctor was a prisoner at large in the house of an American missionary (Mr. Price), and the king's interpreter; and Lieutenant Bennett was placed under charge of a Burmese constable, and was in chains in a lonely situation during the troubled and fearful state of Ava. From the vindictive and sanguinary disposition of some of the Burmese ministers and chiefs, the lives of the prisoners were in constant jeopardy, particularly during the moments of excitement produced by disastrous intelligence from the army. The prisoners had also to dread that, through the influence and fury of the Queen and Priests, they should be sacrificed as a propitiatory offering to the Burmese gods. On the nearer approach of the British army, the Doctor and Lieutenant Bennett were frequently consulted on European modes of concluding treaties of peace; and the Burmese acknowledged they could not reconcile to their minds the idea that a victorious army, with nothing to impede its progress, should halt within a day or two's march of the capital, and terminate the war on conditions; this was not Burman custom. To use their own simile, they could not believe the cat with the mouse in her claws would refrain from demolishing it; and, therefore, they concluded the pecuniary demand of the English general was merely a ruse to obtain as much precious metal as possible, and afterwards as much territory would be retained as was deemed convenient. To raise their opinion of British faith, the Doctor engaged to convey a letter to the British camp, and to return of his own accord, and his re-appearance astonished the Burmese ministers, and whole population of Ava.

Lieutenant (now Major) Bennett wrote an interesting narrative of the various scenes and incidents he met with, all of a novel and singular nature, and exhibiting traits and peculiarities of the Burman character, which his situation as a prisoner of war could alone develope. This narrative was published in the first and second volumes of the United Service Journal.

[143] Copy of a letter from Major-General Sir Theophilus Pritzler to the Colonel of the Royal Regiment:—

"Bangalore, East Indies, 30th July, 1830.

"My Lord Duke,

"The 2nd battalion of the Royal Regiment having been under my command for nearly five years, I cannot allow it to march from Bangalore without conveying to your grace the high opinion I entertain of it both collectively and individually. Its zeal and good conduct as soldiers have been equally conspicuous as its anxiety to produce harmony and good fellowship in society; and it will leave a lasting impression upon the inhabitants of this place, which has been marked in a most flattering manner.

"This battalion has of late been commanded by a particular friend of mine (Lieut.-Colonel Wetherall), in a manner which has produced the goodwill of his officers and soldiers in an eminent degree, and placed the battalion in the highest state of discipline; and I only regret that your grace cannot see it in the state in which it leaves this station, which, after a service in India of 23 years, has, I believe, astonished our Commander-in-Chief, who is now here.

"The corps of officers is highly respectable, and amongst them are some of the finest young men in the army. I am, therefore, confident that, under your grace's protection, the 2nd battalion of the Royals will very soon rival our best regiments in England.

"I trust your grace will excuse this long intrusion; I sincerely hope that you enjoy your health; and I have the honour to be,

"My Lord Duke, "Your faithful and obedient servant,

"Theophilus Pritzler.

"To His Grace the Duke of Gordon."