The regiment passed the winter in quarters at Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1778, it furnished several detachments, which ranged the country in various directions to open communications for obtaining provisions. At this period General the Honorable Sir William Howe had returned to England, and resigned the command of the army to General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. The regiment also took part in the fatigues and difficulties of the march of the army from Philadelphia, through the Jerseys, in order to return to New York, and the flank companies were engaged on the 28th of June in repulsing the attack of the enemy on the rear of the column at Monmouth Court-House, near Freehold, in New Jersey.
The army had marched from Philadelphia to New York in consequence of the King of France having engaged to aid the Americans, which circumstance changed the character of the war. Shortly after the arrival of the British army at New York a powerful French armament appeared off that port. The enemy had a great superiority of numbers; but the enthusiasm in the British navy and army was unbounded, and the hour of contest was looked forward to with sanguine expectations. The enemy did not, however, venture to hazard an attack; but proceeded against Rhode Island; a numerous body of Americans co-operated in the enterprise, and besieged Newport. The British fleet put to sea, and the thirty-third, forty-second, FORTY-SIXTH, and sixty-fourth regiments embarked, under Major-General Grey, to join the fleet at the east end of Long Island.
When the transports were about to sail, information was received of the departure of the French fleet from Rhode Island, and while at sea, news arrived of the Americans having raised the siege of Newport. The troops were then directed to proceed against Bedford, on the Accushnet river, a noted place for American privateers. On the evening of the 5th of September the troops landed,—overcame all opposition,—destroyed seventy privateers and other ships,—demolished the fort and artillery,—blew up the magazine,—destroyed an immense quantity of naval stores, &c., and returned on board the transports at noon on the following day. The troops afterwards proceeded against Martha's Vineyard,—destroyed the defences,—took three hundred and eighty-eight stand of arms from the militia,—obliged the inhabitants to deliver up three hundred oxen, ten thousand sheep, and a thousand pounds sterling collected by the Congress. After this success the regiment returned to New York.
A powerful French armament menacing the British possessions in the West Indies, the FORTY-SIXTH, and other regiments, sailed from North America, early in November, for Barbadoes, under Major-General James Grant.
Upon the arrival of the reinforcements at Barbadoes, the British naval and military commanders resolved to attack the French island of St. Lucia. On this occasion the FORTY-SIXTH regiment was formed in brigade with the fifteenth, twenty-eighth, and fifty-fifth regiments, under Major-General Prescott.
The expedition sailed from Carlisle Bay on the 12th of December, a landing was effected at St. Lucia on the following day, and on the 14th the French troops were driven from several important posts. In the meantime a French armament of very superior numbers approached the island, and the British took up positions to repel the enemy. The French fleet made a desperate attack on the British naval force, but was repulsed.
A numerous body of the enemy landed, and, on the 18th of December, stormed the post of La Vigie, which was occupied by the grenadiers and light infantry (of which the flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH formed part), and the fifth regiment, under Brigadier-General Medows. The enemy amounted to nine thousand men, commanded by Monsieur D'Estaing, the Marquis de Bouillé, and M. Lavendahl, and advanced in three columns; their first two attacks were made, to quote the words of Major-General Grant's despatch, "with the impetuosity of Frenchmen, and repulsed with the determined bravery of Britons." The French made a third attempt, but were soon broken, and were forced to re-embark, leaving the ground covered with killed and wounded.[14]
The flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves on this occasion, and Lieutenant William Gomm was wounded.
The loss of the French amounted to about four hundred killed and eleven hundred wounded, while the killed on the side of the British was only ten, and one hundred and thirty wounded. The sense Major-General Grant entertained of the services of Brigadier-General Medows and the detachment under his command, was expressed in the following letter, dated from Morne Fortunée, the 19th of December, 1778:—
"Sir,
"I cannot express how much I feel obliged to you, and the troops under your command, for repulsing, with so much spirit and bravery, so great a body of the enemy, and own it was just what I expected from you and them; and I am sure, under your command, they will always behave in such a manner as to do honor to you, themselves, their King, and their country; and I must beg of you to express my gratitude.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "James Grant,
"Major-General.
"Brigadier-General Medows, &c., &c., &c."
Immediately after the departure of the French armament, the governor surrendered the island of St. Lucia to the British troops, the capitulation being signed on the 30th of December.
In 1779 the Court of Spain commenced hostilities against Great Britain, and this example was followed by the Dutch.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment remained in the West Indies until the year 1782, when it returned to England.
A letter, dated the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the regiment His Majesty's pleasure, that County Titles should be conferred on the Infantry, and the FORTY-SIXTH was directed to assume the designation of the SOUTH DEVONSHIRE regiment, in order that a connexion between the regiment and that part of the county should be cultivated, which might be useful in promoting the success of the recruiting service.
On the 30th of November, 1782, the preliminary Articles of Peace were signed at Paris between Great Britain and the United States of America, and the treaty was concluded in the ensuing February.
The preliminaries of the treaties between England, France, and Spain, were signed at Versailles on the 20th of January, 1783. St. Lucia was restored to France, also the settlements on the river Senegal and the city of Pondicherry in the East Indies. France relinquished all her West India conquests, with the exception of Tobago; Spain retained Minorca (which had surrendered to the combined French and Spanish forces in the previous year), and West Florida; East Florida was ceded in exchange for the restitution of the Bahamas to Great Britain.
On the 2nd of September, 1783, were signed the preliminary Articles of Peace with Holland, the treaty with that country having been postponed in consequence of the Dutch claiming an indemnification for the expenses of the war, and the restoration of Trincomalee, in Ceylon, which had been captured from the Dutch by the English in January of the previous year, and retaken by the French in August following. The place was, however, restored to Holland at the general peace.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment proceeded from Plymouth to Ireland on the 21st of February, 1784, and continued in that country during the eight following years.
In February, 1792, the regiment proceeded from Ireland to Gibraltar.
While the FORTY-SIXTH regiment was stationed at Gibraltar, the French revolutionary war commenced, and in the year 1794, the islands of Martinique, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe were captured by the British. The French republican government fitted out an expedition for the recovery of these islands, and some success attended their efforts. This occurrence occasioned an order to be given for the FORTY-SIXTH regiment to be embarked from Gibraltar to reinforce the British troops in the West Indies. The regiment accordingly embarked in November, 1794, and arrived in the following month at the island of Martinique.
The republican emissaries employed by France having organized an insurrection in the island of St. Vincent, where the native Caribs, and several of the French inhabitants were in arms against the British government, occasioned the FORTY-SIXTH regiment to be ordered to St. Vincent.
At Dorsetshire Hill, the Caribs hoisted the tri-coloured flag, and burnt every plantation in their power. The loyal inhabitants of the island assembled at Kingston, and in the fort, and every means of defence which the colony afforded, were used by Governor Seton.
It being determined to storm Dorsetshire Hill, Governor Seton selected a force for this enterprise, of which a company of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, which had arrived from Martinique, under the command of Captain Dugald Campbell, formed part. Shortly after twelve o'clock, on the night of the 14th of March, the troops mounted the steep and rugged path in regularity and silence. They ascended within eighty yards of the main post, when they were discovered by the enemy's sentry, who challenged and fired. The Caribs, undismayed by the surprise, shouted, and opened a smart fire of musketry on the British. As soon as the troops were within twenty yards of the enemy, orders were given to fire a volley and charge, which were obeyed with the greatest alacrity. While a portion of the British force mounted the bank at one place, the detachment of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, under Captain Campbell, ascended another part of the bank. The buildings which sheltered the enemy were stormed, but many escaped through the darkness of the night. Chatoye, the Carib king, was killed with several of his adherents, and the enemy's two pieces of cannon were captured.
Dorsetshire Hill being too extensive a position, was abandoned early on the following morning, and the British returned to Sion Hill.
The remainder of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment having arrived, enabled the governor to make a second attack upon the enemy on the 10th of April, when the Caribs were driven from their positions with considerable loss on their side, but small on the part of the British.
On the 7th of May, the enemy appeared on the height above Calliaqua, in the vicinity of which was situated the estate belonging to Sir William Young, whose buildings had been previously consumed by the Caribs, who had received reinforcements from Guadaloupe.
Governor Seton, considering that some attempt would be made against Kingston, sent on the 7th of May, a party, under Captain John Hall, of the FORTY-SIXTH, consisting of a subaltern and thirty-three rank and file of that regiment, forty militia, and forty of the corps of rangers, with five of the royal artillery, and a fourteen pound field-piece, to take possession of Dorsetshire Hill. About one o'clock in the morning of the 8th of May, the party under Captain Hall was attacked by a force of three hundred French and Caribs, and after a vigorous resistance, was compelled to withdraw to the post on Sion Hill, in consequence of the enemy's great superiority in numbers, leaving the field-piece spiked.
Kingston would inevitably have been destroyed, if the enemy had kept possession of Dorsetshire Hill, and sixty rank and file of the FORTY-SIXTH, under Captain William Cooper Forster, of that regiment, were immediately detached with other troops to attack the foe at daybreak.
The Caribs, with great dexterity, found means to clear the field-piece of the spike during the short time they had it in their possession, and had been joined by upwards of a hundred French and others of their party immediately after the retreat of Captain Hall's party. The British, however, attacked them with great spirit, and, in less than half an hour, they retook the field-piece, and obtained possession of the hill, the enemy flying on all sides.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment had three rank and file killed, and nine wounded. Captain William Cooper Forster and Ensign Michael Lee, were also wounded.
On the 12th of June the troops under Lieut.-Colonel Baldwin Leighton, of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, carried by assault, the enemy's post on the Vigie, on which occasion Captains John Law and William Cooper Forster, of that regiment, were wounded:—after this success the Lieut.-Colonel advanced into the Carib country, and took up a position on Mount Young.
On the 1st of August, 1795, Major-General James Henry Craig was appointed Colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir John Vaughan, K.B., deceased.
In September, 1795, reinforcements arrived from England, consisting of the fortieth, fifty-fourth, and fifty-ninth regiments, and Major-General Paulus Æmilius Irving assumed the command. The enemy, apprised of the arrival of fresh troops, retired from his position on Fairbane's Ridge, during the night of the 30th of September.
At three o'clock on the morning of the 2nd of October, the troops advanced against the Vigie, and after a severe action, the Caribs abandoned that post, of which possession was taken by the British.
After this action the British remained on the defensive, but several attacks were made by the enemy. Major-General Peter Hunter, after an action fought on the 8th of January, 1796, evacuated the New Vigie, in order to provide for the safety of Fort Charlotte and Kingston. The party from Morne Ronde was also withdrawn.
On the 8th of June further reinforcements arrived under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., and on the following day the troops marched in one column, by the right, as far as Stubbs, about eight miles from Kingston; each division halted that evening opposite to their respective points of attack. The post of New Vigie, an eminence on which the enemy had constructed four redoubts, stronger by the natural difficulties of the approach, than by the art displayed in their formation, was attacked on the 10th of June, and after a conflict of seven hours' duration, the Caribs surrendered prisoners of war; but about six hundred broke the capitulation, and escaped to the woods, where they joined their friends at the farther end of the island.
In this attack the FORTY-SIXTH had two rank and file killed, and one wounded.
Troops were also despatched to Mounts Young and William, where a number of brass ordnance, and a quantity of ammunition, &c., were taken.
A desultory warfare was carried on until September, when the Caribs were forced to submit, and they were afterwards removed from the island of St. Vincent.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment, which had been engaged with the Caribs, together, and in detachments, on thirteen occasions, and in eight months had sustained a loss of four hundred men out of five hundred and twenty, afterwards returned to England, and arrived at Portsmouth in November, 1796.
While stationed in England the regiment was successively quartered at Doncaster, York, Henley-upon-Thames, Warminster, Poole, and Plymouth, from which port it embarked for Ireland, towards the end of the year 1799.
In the beginning of the year 1800, the regiment arrived at Cork, and was subsequently stationed at Fermoy, Limerick, and Cork.
While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, a treaty of peace was signed on the 27th of March, 1802, at Amiens, but the ambitious designs of the French ruler occasioned the war to be renewed in May, 1803.
On the 5th of January, 1804, His Majesty King George III., appointed Lieut.-General John Whyte, from the First West India regiment, to be colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir James Henry Craig, who was removed to the eighty-sixth regiment.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment embarked at Cork for the West Indies, and arrived at Barbadoes in April. In June following the regiment proceeded to Dominica.[15]
In February, 1805, the island of Dominica was attacked by the French, and the gallant conduct of the FORTY-SIXTH on that occasion cannot be better recorded than by the insertion of the following despatch, addressed to Earl Camden, K.G., one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, by Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, Bart., commanding the troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands:—
"Barbadoes, March 9th, 1805.
"My Lord,
"I have the honor to enclose to your Lordship, a copy of a despatch from Brigadier-General Prevost, dated Dominica, 1st of March, 1805. The details contained therein are so highly reputable to the Brigadier-General, and the small portion of troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great satisfaction in recommending that their gallant exertions may be laid before His Majesty.
"The zeal and talent manifested by the brigadier-general upon this occasion, it is my duty to present for the royal consideration, and at the same time I beg to be permitted to express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery of His Majesty's troops, and the militia of the colony, employed on that service.
"The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and the loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to them, that however inferior our numbers were on this occasion, British troops are not to be hostilely approached with impunity; and had not the town of Roseau been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and much to exult in.
"Your Lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss in men, compared to that of the enemy, is but trifling; but I have sincerely to lament that of Major Nunn, of the First West India regiment, whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he is an excellent man, and a meritorious officer.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "W. Myers.
"Lieut.-General."
"Head Quarters, Prince Rupert's,
Dominica, March 1st, 1805.
"Sir,
"About an hour before the dawn of day on the 22nd ultimo, an alarm was fired from Scots Head, and soon after a cluster of ships was discovered off Roseau. As our light increased, I made out five large ships, three frigates, two brigs, and small craft under British colours, a ship of three decks carrying a flag at the mizen. The frigates ranging too close to Fort Young, I ordered them to be fired on, and soon after nineteen large barges, full of troops, appeared coming from the lee of the other ships, attended and protected by an armed schooner, full of men, and seven other boats carrying carronades. The English flag was lowered, and that of the French hoisted.
"A landing was immediately attempted on my left flank, between the town of Roseau and the post of Cachecrow. The light infantry of the First West India regiment were the first on the march to support Captain Smart's company of militia, which, throughout the day, behaved with great gallantry; it was immediately supported by the grenadiers of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment. The first boats were beat off, but the schooner and one of the brigs coming close on shore, to cover the landing, compelled our troops to occupy a better position, a defile leading to the town. At this moment I brought up the grenadiers of the St. George's regiment of militia, and soon after the remainder of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, and gave over to Major Nunn these brave troops, with orders not to yield to the enemy one inch of ground. Two field-pieces (an amuzette and a six-pounder), were brought into action for their support, under the command of Serjeant Creed of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, manned by additional gunners and sailors. These guns, and a twenty-four pounder from Melville battery, shook the French advancing column by the execution they did.
"I sent two companies of St. George's militia, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Constable, and a company of the FORTY-SIXTH, to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of the position occupied by Major Nunn.
"On my return I found the "Majestueuse" of 120 guns, lying opposite to Fort Young, pouring into the town and batteries her broadsides, followed by the other seventy-fours and frigates doing the same.
"Some artillery, several captains of merchantmen with their sailors, and the militia artillery, manned five twenty-four pounders, and three eighteens, at the fort, and five twenty-fours at Melville battery, and returned an uninterrupted fire; from the first post red-hot shot were thrown. At about ten o'clock, A.M., Major Nunn, most unfortunately for His Majesty's service, whilst faithfully executing the order I had given him, was wounded; I fear mortally.
"This did not discourage the brave fellows. Captain O'Connell, of the First West India regiment, received the command and a wound almost at the same time; however, the last circumstance could not induce him to give up the honor of the first, and he continued on the field animating his men, and resisting the repeated charges of the enemy, until about one o'clock, when he obliged them to retire from their position with great slaughter. It is impossible for me to do justice to the merit of that officer; you will, I doubt not, favorably report his conduct to His Majesty, and at the same time that of Captain James, who commanded the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, and Captain Archibald Campbell, who commanded the grenadiers of that corps.
"Foiled and beat off on the left, the right flank was attempted, and a considerable force was landed near Morne Daniel. The regulars not exceeding two hundred, employed on the left in opposing the advance of three columns, consisting of upwards of two thousand men, could afford me no reinforcement; I had only the right wing of the St. George's regiment of militia to oppose them, of about a hundred men. They attacked with spirit, but unfortunately the frigates had stood in so close to the shore to protect this disembarkation, that after receiving a destructive fire, they fell back and occupied the heights of Woodbridge estate. Then it was that a column of the enemy marched up to Morne Daniel, and stormed the redoubt defended by a small detachment, which, after an obstinate resistance they carried. On my left Captain O'Connell was gaining ground, notwithstanding a fresh supply of troops and several field-pieces, which had been brought on shore by the enemy. I now observed a large column climbing the mountains to get in his rear.
"The town, which had been for some time in flames, was only protected by a light howitzer and a six-pounder to the right, supported by part of the light company of the St. George's regiment. The enemy's large ships in Woodbridge Bay, out of the reach of my guns, my right flank gained, and my retreat to Prince Rupert's almost cut off, I determined on one attempt to keep the sovereignty of the island, which the excellent troops I had warranted. I ordered the militia to remain at the posts, except such as were inclined to encounter more hardships and severe service; and Captain O'Connell, with the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, under the command of Captain James, and the light company of the First West India regiment, were directed to make a forced march to Prince Rupert's. I then allowed the President to enter into terms for the town of Roseau; and then demanded from the French General that private property should be respected, and that no wanton or disgraceful pillage should be allowed; this done, only attended by Brigade Major Prevost, and Deputy Quarter Master-General Hopley, of the militia forces, I crossed the island, and in twenty-four hours, with the aid of the inhabitants and the exertions of the Caribs, I got to this garrison on the 23rd. After four days' continued march, through the most difficult country, I might almost say existing, Captain O'Connell joined me at Prince Rupert's, himself wounded, and bringing in his wounded, with a few of the royal artillery, and the precious remainder of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, and the First West India light company.
"I had no sooner got to the fort, than I ordered cattle to be driven in, and took measures for getting a store of water from the river in the bay. I found my signals to Lieut.-Colonel Charles Broughton, of the First West India Regiment, made from Roseau soon after the enemy had landed, had been received, and that, in consequence, he had made the most judicious arrangements his garrison would allow for the defence of this important post.
"On the 25th I received the letter of summons I have now the honor to transmit, from General of Division La Grange, and without delay sent the reply you will find accompanying it.
"On the 27th the enemy's cruisers hovered about the head, however, the "Centaur's" tender (Vigilante) came in, and was saved by our guns. I landed Mr. Henderson, her commander, and crew, to assist in the defence we were prepared to make.
"As far as can be collected, the enemy had about four thousand men on board, and the whole of their force was compelled to disembark before they gained one inch of ground.
"I entrust this despatch to Captain O'Connell, to whom I beg to refer you; his services entitle him to consideration. I am much indebted to the zeal and discernment of Fort Adjutant Gualy, who was very accessary to the due execution of my orders.
"I cannot pass unnoticed the very soldier-like conduct of Lieutenant Wallis of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, to whom I had entrusted the post of Cachecrow, or Scots Head: on perceiving our retreat he spiked his guns, destroyed his ammunition, and immediately commenced his march to join me at Prince Rupert's with his detachment: nor that of Lieutenant Schaw of the same corps, who acted as an officer of artillery, and behaved with uncommon coolness and judgment, while on the battery, and great presence of mind in securing the retreat of the additional gunners belonging to the FORTY-SIXTH regiment. On the 27th, after levying a contribution on Roseau, the enemy reimbarked, and hovered that day and the next about this post. This morning the French fleet is seen off the south end of Guadaloupe, under easy sail.
"Our loss, you will perceive by the returns I have the honor to transmit, was inconsiderable, when compared with that of the enemy, which included several officers of rank, and about three hundred others.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "Geo. Prevost.
"Lieut.-General Sir William
Myers, Bart., &c. &c. &c."
"P.S. As I find I cannot spare Captain O'Connell from the duty of this garrison, I must refer you to the master of a neutral vessel, who has engaged to deliver this despatch."
(Translation.)
"From the General of Division La Grange, &c., to his Excellency General Prevost, &c.
"Head Quarters at Roseau,
the 5th Ventôse, Year 13th, Feb. 25th, 1805.
"The General of Division La Grange, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, Inspector-General of the Gendarmerie, Commander-in-Chief of the troops of the expedition to the Leeward Islands:
"General,—
"Before I commence any military operations against the fort, into which it appears that you have retired, I shall fulfil a preliminary duty authorised and practised by civilized nations. You are aware, no less than myself, of the nature of your position, and of the entire inutility of occasioning any further effusion of blood. You witnessed with grief the melancholy fate of the town of Roseau; my first endeavours on entering it were to issue orders for stopping the progress of the conflagration; but, unfortunately, considerable destruction had already taken place.
"The want of necessaries is ever attended with the most cruel consequences, the evils of which can easily be calculated; this consideration alone is more than sufficient, without reference to the particular circumstances in which you are placed, to induce you to accept the honorable conditions that I am ready to grant you, and thus to preserve the interesting inhabitants of this colony from fresh calamities, which are inseparable from the occurrences of war.
"I beg you, General, to make me an early communication of your answer, and in the meantime to receive the assurance of the high esteem which I entertain for you.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "La Grange."
(Answer.)
"Head Quarters, Prince Rupert's
February 25th, 1805.
"Sir,
"I have the honor to say I received your letter. My duty to my King and country is so superior to every other consideration, that I have only to thank you for the observations you have been pleased to make, on the often inevitable consequences of war. Give me leave, individually, to express the greatest gratitude for your humanity and kind treatment of my wife and children; and at the same time to request a continuance thereof, not only to her and them, but towards every other object you may meet with.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "Geo. Prevost."
Return of the killed and wounded in the actions of the 22nd of February, 1805, at Point Michael, Morne Daniel, and Roseau, in the Island of Dominica.
Royal Artillery;—three rank and file wounded; one captain, one serjeant, and six rank and file taken by the enemy.
Forty-sixth regiment;—one serjeant, one drummer, and ten rank and file killed; one captain, and seven rank and file wounded.
First West India regiment;—nine rank and file killed; one field officer, one captain, and eight rank and file wounded.
Total killed;—one serjeant, one drummer, and nineteen rank and file.
Total wounded;—one field officer, two captains, and eighteen rank and file.
Taken by the enemy;—one captain, one serjeant and six rank and file.
Names of Officers Wounded.
Captain Colin Campbell, FORTY-SIXTH regiment; Major Nunn and Captain O'Connell, First West India regiment.
N. B. Three sailors wounded, exclusive of the militia, from which no return has been received, but whose loss was considerable.
(Signed) James Prevost.
Major of Brigade.
The Royal authority was afterwards received for the FORTY-SIXTH to bear the word "Dominica" on the regimental colour and appointments, "as a distinguished mark of the good conduct and exemplary valour displayed by that regiment in the defence of the Island of Dominica, against a very superior French force, on the 22nd of February, 1805."
In the beginning of May, 1806, the "Dominica" armed sloop was cut from her anchorage by her own crew, and taken from Dominica into Guadaloupe: early on the morning of the 6th of May, a large schooner, a row-boat full of troops, and the "Dominica" sloop, were discovered making out from the land, and Major-General Stair Park Dalrymple perceiving they were suspicious, and evidently enemy's vessels, ordered detachments from the FORTY-SIXTH regiment to be instantly embarked on board the "Duke of Montrose" packet, Captain Dynely, who had volunteered his services, and another on board a small colonial sloop. Lieutenant James Wallis, of the FORTY-SIXTH, was appointed to take command of the first detachment, and under him Lieut. Benjamin Forster and forty men; Lieutenant Andrew Hamilton commanded the second detachment on board the sloop. Both were successful; the "Duke of Montrose" chased the schooner from ten A.M. until four P.M., when she engaged within musket-shot for three-quarters of an hour. The schooner then hove up, and again endeavoured to escape. On the packet's overhauling fast, and being about to board her, she surrendered. The schooner proved to be the French national schooner L'Impérial, having on board General Dumareau and eighty soldiers, and carried one large gun amidships, which was well served during the action. Lieutenant Andrew Hamilton also proved successful in capturing the row-boat.
For these services the officers and men received the unqualified approbation of Lieut.-General Henry Bowyer, commanding the forces in the West Indies, and of Major-General Dalrymple, for having so handsomely supported the honor of their corps by their zeal, courage, and steady discipline.
In 1808 an expedition was assembled at Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, for the reduction of the French island of Martinique,[16] and the flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment were selected to form part of the expedition. The land forces were under Lieut.-General George Beckwith, and the navy was commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, K.B.
The fleet left Carlisle Bay on the 28th of January, 1809, and arrived off the island of Martinique in two days. On the 30th, the troops landed in two divisions; the first division at Bay Robert under Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost, and the second division, commanded by Major-General Maitland, near St. Luce and Point Solomon. Both divisions were actively engaged in operations for the reduction of the island. St. Pierre surrendered on the 8th of February, to Lieut.-Colonel Edward Barnes of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, who commanded a brigade in the army employed in this expedition.
The flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH composed part of the flank battalion under Major Richard Payne, of the regiment, at the siege of Fort Royal.
The reduction of Fort Desaix (or Fort Bourbon) by the first division of the army, which was effected on the 24th of February, completed the reduction of Martinique, and the flank companies rejoined the regiment at Dominica.
In 1810, the flank companies of the regiment were selected to form part of an expedition under Lieut.-General Sir George Beckwith, K.B., against the island of Guadaloupe, which had been restored to the French at the Peace of Amiens. The expedition arrived before the island in January, 1810.
The grenadiers composed part of the First Grenadier Battalion, and the light company that of the Second Light Battalion. On the 3rd of February the grenadiers were engaged in the attack on the enemy's post at Bellair, on the heights of Saint Louis, on which occasion the following report was made in the despatches of Brigadier-General George Harcourt to Lieut.-General Sir George Beckwith, commanding the forces in the West Indies.
"Post Bellair, Morne St. Louis,
7th February, 1810.
"Where all deserve so much praise, it is difficult to discriminate, but the good fortune of the grenadiers of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, under Captain Alexander Ogilvie, and of the First Light Infantry Battalion, under Lieut.-Colonel David Stewart, brought their merits conspicuously forward. They in truth behaved most admirably.
(Signed) "G. Harcourt,
"Brigadier-General,
"Commanding Second Division."
The regiment had three rank and file killed, and one serjeant and eight rank and file wounded.
The FORTY-SIXTH having been much reduced in numbers during the arduous services of the regiment in the West Indies, the head-quarters embarked on board the "Earl" transport, on the 13th of November, 1811, for England, and arrived at Liverpool on the 13th of December, from whence they marched to Kingsbridge, in Devonshire.[17]
Four companies of the regiment, about two hundred strong, continued to serve in the West Indies after the departure of the head-quarters.
On the 18th of March 1812, the FORTY-SIXTH regiment embarked on board the "Nautilus" transport at Plymouth for Jersey, and arrived in St. Aubin's Bay on the 11th of April, when it marched to Grouville, in the eastern division of the island, the head-quarters being stationed at Mont Orgueil Castle.
In June 1812, the four companies which had been left in the West Indies, arrived at Portsmouth in the "Shipley" transport, and proceeded, without landing, to Jersey. A few officers and men, who came home from the West Indies in the "John Tobin" merchantman, arrived in the same month at Liverpool, and proceeded to the regiment at Jersey.
On the 11th of June 1813, the regiment embarked on board the "Preston" transport for Portsmouth, and after its arrival at Spithead, received orders to proceed to Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. It disembarked at that place on the 16th of the same month, and proceeded to Sandown barracks, where the regiment remained until August following, when it received orders to proceed to New South Wales.
The regiment embarked on the 23rd of August 1813, on board the "Wyndham," "Three Bees," and "General Hewitt" transports, and arrived at New South Wales in February 1814.
On the 31st of May 1814, the regiment was inspected by Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, who expressed his satisfaction at its appearance in General Orders, dated—
"Head-Quarters, Sydney,
31st May, 1814.
"The Commander of the Forces having inspected His Majesty's FORTY-SIXTH regiment, commanded by Colonel Molle, this forenoon, is happy to express publicly his approbation of the clean and soldier-like appearance of that corps under arms, as well as the uniformity of dress, both of officers and men.
"The advance of the corps in line was excellent, and the distances in formation were well preserved, and had the weather permitted of movements, the Major-General doubts not they would have been equally well performed.
"L. Macquarie,
"Major-General."
The regiment was again inspected by Major-General Macquarie on the 21st of November following, when its appearance and movements elicited the Major-General's commendation.
In May 1815, Serjeant Robert Broadfoot and six privates were sent from the detachment of the regiment stationed at Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, into the interior of the colony, in order to suppress a gang of bushrangers, which infested that settlement, and had by their atrocious deeds become the terror of the inhabitants. The party succeeded in taking two of the principals, named Maguire and Burne, who were tried and executed. The serjeant and his party received the sum of one hundred pounds sterling, and the thanks of Lieut.-Governor Davy for their conduct on the occasion.
In May and October 1815, the regiment was inspected by Major-General Macquarie, who again expressed his entire approval of its appearance and movements.
While the regiment was stationed in New South Wales, the war, in which the European powers had been engaged, was ended by the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte on the plains of Waterloo, and a lengthend period of peace has been the result of that victory.
Early in February 1816, Corporal Justin McCarthy and seven privates were sent in pursuit of bushrangers, and on the 5th of April following, they succeeded in taking two of them, both of whom were executed.
Lieut.-General Henry Wynyard was appointed Colonel of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment on the 1st of April 1816, in succession to General John Whyte, deceased.
In the early part of April 1816, the flank companies of the regiment were detached into the interior of New South Wales, and received in General Orders the thanks of Major-General Macquarie, Commanding the Forces, for their arduous services in pursuing into the interior, and reducing the aborigines to a state of obedience. Captain Schaw commanded the light company, and Captain Wallis the grenadiers.