History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, Vol. 1 / Compiled from the Original Records

No. 6 COMPANY, 5th BATTALION,
Now "3" BATTERY, 3rd BRIGADE.

No. 8 COMPANY, 5th BATTALION,
Reduced in 1819.

No. 9 COMPANY, 5th BATTALION

(Became No. 7 in 1819),| Now "A" BATTERY, 9th BRIGADE.

SIXTH BATTALION.

By a General Order, dated 22nd July, 1799, four companies of Artillery were raised, and added to two already existing, which were designated the East India Detachment, to form half a battalion; and on the 8th October in the same year a further augmentation was made, consisting of two companies, and a Colonel-Commandant. The addition of a Colonel en seconde and two Lieutenant-Colonels completed the organization of what was now known as the Sixth Battalion of the Royal Artillery. The Staff of the Battalion on its formation stood as follows:—

The companies, their stations, and commanding officers were as follows:—

An augmentation of one Major and two companies to the battalion,—Nos. 9 and 10,—took place in December, 1800.

The companies called above "The East India Detachment," which formed the nucleus of the Sixth Battalion, embarked at Woolwich for India on the 19th April, 1791. They left that country for the Cape of Good Hope in 1798, arriving in October of that year, and remained until incorporated in the newly-formed battalion, in 1799. They are now C Battery 11th Brigade, and No. 6 Battery 5th Brigade. Prior to 1799, although part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, they belonged to no battalion.

The following was the strength of the battalion in various years:—

From this date until 1847 the average strength of the battalion was 650.

The following was the dress of the battalion at its formation, in 1799, as also of the whole Regiment, except the Horse Artillery: the officers wore blue cloth double-breasted coats, with scarlet lappels; the field officers had two epaulettes, the company officers only one, which they wore on the right shoulder; white kerseymere breeches; long black leather boots, fastened to the back part of the knee of the breeches by a black strap and buckle; and a cocked-hat, with gold-loop and button, and white feather. The non-commissioned officers and men wore blue cloth coats, single breasted, laced in front and on the cuffs and flaps; the staff-sergeants and sergeants with gold lace, and the rank and file with yellow worsted lace. The staff-sergeants wore two gold bullion epaulettes; the sergeants two gold-laced straps; the corporals two fringe epaulettes; the bombardiers one fringe epaulette on the right shoulder; the gunners two worsted straps.

The changes in dress during the succeeding years will be noted in the succeeding chapters of this work.

Annexed is the list, as in former cases, of the various companies, their successive Captains, and the military operations in which they were engaged. In the Sixth Battalion, as in the Horse Artillery, considerable confusion was created by the reduction, in 1819, of Nos. 5 and 8 companies, and the consequent altering of the numbers of Nos. 6, 7, 9, and 10 to Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 respectively. The reduction of the two junior companies, instead of Nos. 5 and 8, would have rendered the student's task a far easier one.

No. 2 COMPANY, 6th BATTALION
(One of the old East India Detachment Companies),
Now "6" BATTERY, 5th BRIGADE.

No. 4 COMPANY, 6th BATTALION,
Now "B" BATTERY, 8th BRIGADE.

No. 6 COMPANY, 6th BATTALION
(Became No. 5 on that Company being reduced in 1819),
Now "C" BATTERY, 8th BRIGADE.

No. 8 COMPANY, 6th BATTALION,
Reduced in 1819.

No. 9 COMPANY, 6th BATTALION
(Afterwards No. 7),
Now "C" BATTERY, 9th BRIGADE.

SEVENTH BATTALION.

The Seventh Battalion of the Royal Artillery was formed on the 1st April, 1801. The Act for the Union between England and Ireland received the Royal assent on the 2nd July, 1800, and came into force on the 1st January, 1801. From this measure arose, as has been mentioned in a former chapter, the incorporation of the Royal Irish Artillery with the older Corps; and it was transferred as the Seventh Battalion of the Royal Artillery, consisting, at the date of transfer, of ten companies, with a proportion of Field and Staff officers. The incorporated officers took rank according to the dates of their respective commissions; but they were also allowed the option of retiring on full pay, or of taking commissions in the Line. The non-commissioned officers and gunners who were approved for transfer received each a bounty of three guineas.

The following table shows the proportion of ranks, total numbers, and rates of daily pay, in the Battalion when first formed.

Some of the companies were in the West Indies when the transfer was effected; and on reference to the appended list it will be seen that much of the active service of the Seventh Battalion was carried on in these islands. It was in connection with West Indian service that the Battalion obtained a distinctive mark, as containing among its companies one known always, until the Brigade system was introduced, as

"The Battle-Axe Company."

The story of the circumstances under which this title was earned is worthy of reproduction. The company in question was originally No. 8 of the 7th Battalion, but in the year 1819, No. 7 Company being reduced, No. 8 became No. 7. Under the altered nomenclature of 1859, it became and now is

No. 2 Battery, 5th Brigade.

In the year 1808 the company was quartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In December of that year it was ordered on an expedition for the capture of Martinique; forming part of the force under Sir George Prevost, which included the 7th Fusiliers, 8th King's, and 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

The force arrived at Martinique on the 30th January, 1809, and remained brigaded together during the attack, quite distinct from the West Indian division under General Maitland, which had arrived in company with Admiral Cochrane and his fleet. On the 2nd February, 1809, the French met the Halifax brigade under General Prevost, about half-way between the bay where they landed and the town, but were driven back with considerable loss. In one day, this company prepared and armed a battery of six 24-pounders, and four 10-inch mortars, and opened fire on the day following. On the 24th February the Garrison capitulated, for "the British Artillery was so well served, that most of the Fort guns were quickly dismounted."^[62] The officers of the company were assembled by the General to consult as to what should be bestowed on the company as a reward of bravery and good conduct. It was first contemplated to give a one-pounder French gun, beautifully mounted, but the officers, knowing that the company was about to return to Halifax, and a war with America likely to take place, when they would be unable to take the gun with them, chose an axe and a brass drum. A brass eagle was affixed to the axe, which was always carried by the tallest man in the company, who in virtue of his office was permitted to wear a moustache.

This version of the story was committed to paper by one who was present with the company at Martinique, Master-Gunner Henry McElsander, who joined it three years after the amalgamation, and remained in it until promoted to be Sergt.-Major at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. It is completely corroborated by the Records of the Seventh Battalion, from which the further history of the company may be obtained. It returned to Halifax in April, and remained in that station until May, 1813, when it sailed for Quebec. It served in the campaigns of 1813 and 1814 in Canada. In the winter of the former year it was collected in Kingston, Upper Canada, watching the enemy. Acting-Bombardier James Keating, being detached with seven gunners to Michilimackinac, distinguished himself in an affair with the enemy, and his conduct was rewarded by a commission from the Provincial Government. The company was present at the operations against Fort Erie in August, 1814, and at the enemy's attack on the English position before that place on the 17th September. It was also engaged in the defence of the Log Bridge on the Chippawa. The two officers present with the company during these hostilities, Captain Walker and Lieutenant Carter,^[63] were specially mentioned in despatches, and received permission to wear "Niagara" on their appointments. The company returned to Woolwich in 1823, and in 1831 again proceeded on foreign service to the West Indies, whence it returned in 1837. Its only additional foreign service prior to the introduction of the Brigade system was at Gibraltar, where it served from January, 1845 to January, 1851, and to which station it again proceeded in May, 1855.

The history, present designation, and succession of Captains, of all the companies, will now be given.

No. 2 COMPANY, 7th BATTALION,
Became 1 Company, 3rd Brigade; was afterwards reduced; the
non-commissioned officers and men being formed into
"I" BATTERY, 1st BRIGADE.