TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

This book is Vol. ii. The first volume can be found in Project Gutenberg at
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This volume covers the period from 1713 to 1763. The Julian calendar was still in use in England for much of this time. The change to the Gregorian calendar took place in Europe beginning in 1582, but in Britain not until 1752, producing a difference of eleven days between the Julian Old Style (OS) and the modern Gregorian New Style (NS) dates. Many Sidenotes and some Footnotes for the years before 1753 give both dates since contemporary English reference documents of that period used the OS date.

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Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes themselves have been placed near the end of the book in front of the Index.

The Index in this book covers both volumes. References in the Index to Vol. i or Vol. ii pages are indicated for example by "i. 123, 456" or "ii. 234". The link will go to the correct page in that volume.The links to vol i are not active on handheld devices.

Some minor changes to this volume are noted at the end of the book.

A
HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ARMY

A History of

The British Army

BY
The Hon. J. W. FORTESCUE

FIRST PART—TO THE CLOSE OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR

VOL. II

Quæ caret ora cruore nostro

London
MACMILLAN AND CO., Limited
NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
1899

All rights reserved

CONTENTS
BOOK VII
CHAPTER I
	PAGE
The Reduction of the Army	3
Mischievous influence of Bolingbroke and Ormonde	3
Death of Queen Anne; Return of Marlborough	4
King George I.; the New Ministry	4
The Jacobite Rebellion of 1715	5
Increase of the Army; Ninth to Fourteenth Dragoons raised	6
Chelsea Pensioners recalled; Forty-first Foot raised	6
Sheriffmuir and Preston	7
Reduction of the Army, 1717-1718	8
War with Spain	8
Invasion of Scotland; Action of Glenshiel	9
Attack on Vigo	10
Death of Marlborough	10
His Funeral	11
The Condition of England under George I.	14
The Army the only force for Maintenance of Order	15
The cry of No Standing Army	15
The British Establishment Fixed by Walpole	17
Attacks on the Army in Parliament	17
Opposition to the Mutiny Act	18
Parliament asks for the Articles of War	19
Officers cashiered for Political Disobligations	20
Omnipotence of the irresponsible Secretary-at-War	21
Hostility of Civilians against Soldiers	24
Discipline ruined by the Secretary-at-War's Supremacy	26
CHAPTER II
King George's efforts to arrest Indiscipline and Peculation	29
His dislike of Purchase	30
General Apathy of Officers	31
Bad Standard of Character among Recruits	32
Desertion and Fraudulent Enlistment	32
Other Scandals	34
System of Imperial Defence	36
The Colonies; "White Servants"	37
Gradual necessity for Increasing the Regular Garrisons in the
Colonies	42
Helplessness of the War Office in face of the problem	42
Unpopularity of Garrison Service Abroad	45
Technical Improvements in the Army	48
Royal Regiment of Artillery formed	49
Rise of the Forty-second Highlanders	49
Contemporary Reforms in Prussia	51
Their Evil Influence in England	51
The Officers of the Past and of the Future	53
CHAPTER III
Waning of Walpole's Popularity	55
The Quarrel with Spain	55
Popularity of a Spanish War	57
An Expedition to the Spanish Main resolved on	58
The Preparations; Cathcart and Wentworth	59
Incredible Mismanagement of the War Office	60
Death of Cathcart	62
The British and American Contingents meet at Jamaica	62
Decision to Attack Carthagena	63
The Operations begun; Vernon and Wentworth	64
The Attack on Fort St. Lazar	68
Frightful Condition of the Troops	72
The Enterprise against Carthagena abandoned	73
Descent upon Cuba	74
The Descent abandoned; continued Mortality among the Troops	75
The Spanish War ended by Yellow Fever	76
Anson's Voyage	77
Wentworth's responsibility for the disasters of Carthagena	77
The blame due also to the War Office and Ordnance Office	78
Faction in Parliament the true secret of the catastrophe	79
CHAPTER IV
Dispute over the Austrian Succession	80
Aggression of Frederick the Great	81
Ambitious Projects of France	81
England sends aid to Queen Maria Theresa	81
Army increased; Forty-third to Forty-eighth Regiments raised	82
John, Earl of Stair	83
His Advice and his Plans	84
The Campaign of 1742	86
Stair's Plans for the winter rejected	87
The British Army marches to the Main	88
Fresh Projects of Stair rejected	89
He forms new Plans	90
He disobeys Orders to prove their soundness	91
Desperate Peril of the Allies owing to disregard of his counsel	92
Battle of Dettingen	92
Stair resigns the Command	102
CHAPTER V
Insufficiency of the British Preparations for 1744	103
Saxe's Operations	104
Wade paralysed by the Dutch and Austrians	105
Stair's Plan of Campaign	106
Inactivity of Dutch and Austrians; Wade Resigns	107
Ligonier's proposals for a great effort in 1745	108
Cumberland appointed to the Command	109
The French Position at Fontenoy	110
Battle of Fontenoy	111
Cumberland's False Movements after Fontenoy	121
Extreme Peril of his situation	122
Recall of the Army to England	123
CHAPTER VI
Designs of Charles Stuart	124
His Landing in Scotland	125
General Cope marches northward	126
He Retires by Sea; Advance of the Rebels	127
The "Canter of Coltbrigg"	128
Cope Lands at Dunbar; Action of Prestonpans	129
Charles enters Edinburgh; the Castle holds out	131
Preparations in England	132
Charles invades England	133
He out-manœuvres Cumberland and enters Derby	136
He retreats northward and besieges Stirling	137
Hawley appointed to Command in Scotland	138
Action of Falkirk	139
Cumberland assumes Command in Scotland	141
He advances northward; Charles retreats	142
Battle of Culloden	144
Good service rendered by Cumberland	146
CHAPTER VII
French Capture Antwerp; British base shifted	149
Saxe's Plan of Campaign and Operations	150
Battle of Roucoux	153
Futile Expedition to L'Orient	156
The Campaign of 1747	156
Battle of Lauffeld	159
Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle	164

BOOK VIII
CHAPTER I
The Mohammedan Conquest of India	167
The Mahrattas	168
European Voyages to India	168
The English East India Company	169
First British Troops sent to India	171
The first Military Establishment in Bombay	171
The French East India Company	172
Settlements of the Rival Companies in 1701	173
Skill of the French in handling natives	174
Death of Aurungzebe; virtual Independence of the Deccan	175
Joseph François Dupleix	175
La Bourdonnais; Dumas	176
Native Disputes in the Carnatic	176
Dumas raised to rank of Nabob	178
War between France and England declared	179
Siege and Capture of Madras	180
Quarrel of Dupleix and La Bourdonnais	181
Paradis at St. Thomé	183
French invest Fort St. David	185
Stringer Lawrence at Cuddalore	187
Boscawen arrives and besieges Pondicherry	188
Misconduct of the Siege	189
The Siege raised; Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle	190

CHAPTER II
British Interference at Tanjore	192
Dupleix's Schemes for French Predominance in the Deccan	193
Bussy installed at Aurungabad	197
Zenith of French Rule in India	197
The British resolve to Oppose the French	198
The Contest centres about Trichinopoly	198
The British shut up in Trichinopoly	199
Clive proposes a diversion against Arcot	200
His Operations	200
Action of Covrepauk	204
Lawrence Marches to relieve Trichinopoly	209
The French retire to Seringham	210
Surprise of Clive's Force at Samiaveram	211
Surrender of the French Force	214
CHAPTER III
Intrigues of Dupleix; British Successes Neutralised	215
Defeat of Major Kinnear	216
Lawrence's Victory at Bahoor	217
Clive at Chingleput and Covelong	218
Contest for Trichinopoly renewed	221
Perilous Situation of the British	223
Lawrence's First Victory before Trichinopoly	224
His Second Victory	226
His Third Victory	230
Dupleix's attempt to surprise Trichinopoly fails	233
His Proposals for Peace rejected	233
Lawrence's situation at Trichinopoly still critical	234
Suspension of Arms; Recall of Dupleix	236

BOOK IX
CHAPTER I
French Explorers in North America	241
The English Settlements	243
Predominance of Massachusetts in the North	244
New York Captured by the British	245
French Explorations in the West	246
Their Design to confine the British to a strip of the Sea-board	246
Governor Dongan; the Iroquois	248
French and English Settlers and Military Systems	249
English Regular Troops in America	251
The War of 1689; Peril of New York	251
Failure of the Colonial Counterstroke on Canada	252
Massachusetts appeals to England for help	252
War of the Spanish Succession; Colonial Operations	254
Capture of Nova Scotia; British failure before Quebec	255
The Building of Louisburg	256
French Forts at Crown Point and Niagara	257
Colonial Apathy	257
War of the Austrian Succession; Colonists Capture Louisburg	257
Projected Operations for 1746	259
Neglect of America by Newcastle's Government	260
CHAPTER II
Reduction of the Army at Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle	261
Foundation of Halifax	262
British and French on the Ohio	263
Obstinacy of the Virginian Assembly	264
Washington's Mission; Apathy of the Colonies	265
Washington's First Skirmish with the French	266
Continued Apathy of the Colonies	267
General Braddock sent from England	268
His difficulties and their Causes	270
Boscawen's Action with French Ships; War inevitable	272
Braddock's March to the Monongahela	273
Dispositions of the French	274
Action of the Monongahela	275
Braddock and the School of Cumberland	278
CHAPTER III
Monckton's Capture of Fort Beauséjour	282
Johnson's Advance against Crown Point	283
Shirley's failure against Niagara	284
Close of the Campaign	285
Feebleness of the English Administration	286
New Treaties and New Ministers	287
Fiftieth to Fifty-ninth Regiments raised	288
The Sixtieth Regiment	289
Ill faith of the Government towards Soldiers	290
Germans imported to defend Britain	290
The French besiege Minorca	291
Fall of Minorca	294
Rage of the Nation; Byng; Newcastle	295
Lord Loudoun sent to Command in America	296
Inadequacy of his Force	296
Montcalm Captures Oswego	297
Close of American Campaign of 1756	298
Outbreak of the Seven Years' War	298
Pitt made Secretary-of-State	299
His Measures; Highland Regiments	300
The Militia Bill	301
Cumberland sent to Command in Hanover	303
Dismissal of Pitt	303
Restoration of Pitt	304
Loudoun's Campaign of 1757	304
Montcalm Captures Fort William Henry	305
Defeat of Cumberland at Hastenbeck	307
The Expedition against Rochefort	307

BOOK X
CHAPTER I
Ligonier made Commander-in-Chief	313
Preparations for 1758; Amherst	314
The Plan of Campaign for America	315
The Expedition against Louisburg	316
The Siege opened	319
Fall of Louisburg	321
The Operations of General Abercromby	322
Lord Howe; New Views as to Equipment of Troops	323
Embarkation of Abercromby's Army	324
The Skirmish by Lake Champlain; Death of Howe	326
Montcalm's Plan of Defence	327
Action of Ticonderoga	328
Retreat of Abercromby	331
Bradstreet's Capture of Fort Frontenac	332
Forbes's Operations on the Ohio	333
Defeat of Major Grant	335
French evacuate Fort Duquêsne	336
Burial of Braddock's dead	337
CHAPTER II
The Allied Army in Germany	339
Ferdinand of Brunswick	339
Expedition to Cancalle Bay	340
British Troops sent to Germany	341
Expedition against Cherbourg	342
The Reverse of St. Cast	344
Observations on Raids on the French Coasts	345
The Expedition to Senegal	346
The Expedition to Martinique	347
The Army leaves Martinique for Guadeloupe	349
Sickness among the Troops	350
Death of General Hopson	351
Barrington resolves on Active Operations	351
His Plan of Campaign	352
Successes of Crump and Clavering	353
Surrender of Guadeloupe	356
CHAPTER III
Establishment of the Army for 1759	358
Pitt's Designs against America; Wolfe	359
Strength of Wolfe's Army	361
The Defences of Quebec	362
The British arrive before the City	363
Wolfe's Difficulties	364
His Abortive Attack	366
He shifts Operations to west of the City	368
Amherst's Designs against Canada	368
Prideaux and Johnson at Niagara	369
Fall of Niagara	370
Amherst's Advance to Ticonderoga and Crown Point	371
His Operations closed	371
Discouragement of the British before Quebec	372
Wolfe's Brigadiers suggest New Plans	373
The Operations undertaken in consequence	373
The British climb to the Heights of Abraham	375
Wolfe's Order of Battle	377
Distraction of Montcalm	378
His Order of Battle	379
Battle of Quebec	380
Death of Wolfe	383
Energetic Operations of Townsend	383
Capitulation of Quebec	384
General Survey of the Operations in Canada	385

CHAPTER IV
Sufferings of the British in Quebec	389
French Preparations for Recapture of Quebec	390
Advance of Lévis	391
Action of Sainte Foy	392
The Siege of Quebec	394
Relief of Quebec	395
Amherst's Designs on Canada	395
Advance of Murray and Haviland	397
Advance of Amherst	398
Surrender of Montreal	400
Expedition against the Cherokee Indians	400
Occupation of Canada	401
Amherst	402
CHAPTER V
India: Hollowness of the Truce of 1755	406
It is infringed by both sides	407
Bussy	408
Surajah Dowlah	409
His Advance against Calcutta; the Black Hole	410
Madras sends aid to Bengal	411
Clive surprised at Budge Budge	412
Surajah Dowlah again Advances on Calcutta	413
Clive surprises his Camp	414
Alliance of Surajah Dowlah and the British	415
Capture of Chandernagore	415
Conspiracy against Surajah Dowlah	415
Clive Advances on Moorshedabad	416
Anxiety of his position; he Advances to Plassey	417
Battle of Plassey	418
Death of Surajah Dowlah; Meer Jaffier installed in his place	424

CHAPTER VI
Southern India	426
Arrival of French Reinforcements under Lally	428
Admiral Pocock's First Action with d'Aché	429
Lally besieges Fort St. David	430
Fall of Fort St. David; Capture of Devicotah	431
Lally's disastrous March to Tanjore	432
Pocock's Second Action against d'Aché	434
Lally's Preparations against Madras	435
Counter-preparations of the British	435
Bussy recalled from Hyderabad	436
Lally Advances upon Madras	437
Abortive Sortie of the British	438
Lally's difficulties during the Siege	439
The Siege raised	440
Clive's counter-stroke against the Northern Sirkars	441
Forde's Advance against Conflans	442
Battle of Condore	442
Forde delayed in his Advance on Masulipatam	445
He lays Siege to the Fort	447
His desperate Position	447
Storm of Masulipatam	449
The Fruits of the Victory	453
CHAPTER VII
British Operations in the Carnatic	454
Lally's difficulties with his Troops	455
Alarm of Dutch Aggression in Bengal	456
Third Engagement of Pocock and d'Aché	457
Defeat of Brereton at Wandewash	457
Lally turns to the Court of the Deccan	457
His diversion in the South; British Operations in the Carnatic	458
The Dutch in Bengal	459
Forde defeats them at Chandernagore	460
Battle of Badara	461
Lally Advances upon Wandewash	462
Coote follows him; the French position	463
Coote's Manœuvres	463
Battle of Wandewash	464
Coote's Movements after the Victory	470
Siege of Pondicherry	472
Fall of Pondicherry	473
CHAPTER VIII
The Establishment of the Army for 1759	475
Fifteenth Hussars raised	476
Purport of Ferdinand's Operations in Germany	477
He opens the Campaign of 1759	480
Movements of Contades and Broglie	481
Critical position of Ferdinand	482
Continued success of the French	483
Ferdinand Occupies Bremen; Contades's position at Minden	484
Ferdinand's Manœuvres before Minden	485
Their success; Battle of Minden	487
Sackville	496
Recovery of Cassel and Minden	497
Subsequent Operations	497
Close of the Campaign	498
CHAPTER IX
Increase of the Army for 1760	499
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Lancers raised	500
Thurot's Descent on Carrickfergus	501
Reinforcements for Ferdinand	501
Opening of the Campaign	502
Imhoff's Disobedience mars Ferdinand's Plans	502
Defeat of the Hereditary Prince at Sachsenhausen	503
The Prince's Counter-stroke; Action of Emsdorff	504
Broglie sends De Muy to cut off Ferdinand from Westphalia	507
Action of Warburg; Defeat of De Muy	508
Evacuation of Cassel by the Allies	512
Embarrassing position of Ferdinand	513
Ferdinand makes a Diversion against Wesel	514
Action of Kloster Kampen; Defeat of the Allies	515
The Hereditary Prince and British Troops	518
Close of the Campaign	519
CHAPTER X
Accession of King George III	520
Increase of the Army	521
The Expedition to Belleisle	521
The War in Germany	522
Ferdinand's Fruitless Winter March through Hesse	523
Great Preparations and Designs of the French	524
Supineness of Soubise	525
The Campaign opens; Ferdinand's March round Soubise's rear	526
Ferdinand's Position at Vellinghausen	527
Action of Vellinghausen	528
Ferdinand's skilful Manœuvres from July to November	531
Close of the Campaign	533
CHAPTER XI
Rise of Lord Bute to power	535
Trouble with Spain; Pitt advocates War	536
Resignation of Pitt; Bute compelled to Declare War	536
The Expedition against Martinique	537
Fall of Martinique, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Lucia	541
Expedition to Havanna	541
Mortality among the Troops	543
Expedition to Manilla	544
The War in Portugal	545
Burgoyne and the Sixteenth Light Dragoons	546
Ferdinand's Last Campaign	547
The Position of Wilhelmsthal	548
Action of Wilhelmsthal	549
The Race for Cassel	553
Position of the opposing Armies in the Ohm	554
Action of the Brückemühle	555
Fall of Cassel; Conclusion of the War	557
Ferdinand of Brunswick	557
His Difficulties with the British Troops	558
CHAPTER XII
Decay of the Army's Unpopularity	562
Inefficiency of the War Office and Ordnance Office	563
Defects in the Colonial Stations	564
Reformers in the Army; Cumberland	566
Pitt; the New School of Officer	568
The Recruiting of the Army	572
Depots and Drafts	576
Recruiting in America	578
Condition of the Private Soldier	579
Nicknames; Bands; Medals	583
Reforms in the Cavalry; Increase of Dragoons	584
Light Dragoons	585
Reforms in the Artillery	587
Reforms in the Infantry	589
German Models and British Experience	592

APPENDIX A.	595

APPENDIX B.	598

INDEX	607

The Project Gutenberg eBook of A History of the British Army, Vol. 2

A HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ARMY

CONTENTS

A
HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ARMY