Soon after its arrival in England the regiment was augmented to two battalions, and in the summer of 1757, both battalions were encamped on Barham downs, under the Duke of Marlborough: the second battalion afterwards served on board the fleet as marines.

In June, 1758, the second battalion was constituted the Seventy-third Regiment, under the command of Colonel Browne. This regiment was disbanded at the peace in 1763.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment proceeded to the Isle of Wight, where it was formed in brigade with the Twenty-fourth and Seventy-second Regiments, under the orders of Major-General Granville Elliott, and sailed with the armament, under the Duke of Marlborough, for the purpose of reducing the maritime power of France, and making a diversion in favour of the allied army in Germany. A landing was effected on the coast of Brittany on the 5th of June, and the French infantry and cavalry assembled to oppose the debarkation were quickly dispersed. On the 7th of June the army advanced in two columns towards St. Maloes, and encamping about a mile from the town, sent a strong detachment to the harbour, to set fire to the shipping, magazines, and maritime stores, when a grand and dreadful scene of conflagration illuminated the coast, and was seen for many miles. Having destroyed a valuable fleet, and extensive magazines of maritime stores, the troops re-embarked, and preparations were afterwards made for a descent at Granville, on the coast of Normandy, and afterwards at Cherbourg; but the weather being severe, the fleet returned to England.

This success was followed by the preparation of another expedition of a similar character, in which the Thirty-fourth Regiment was also employed; and on the 6th of August a landing was effected in the Bay des Marées, in the face of a body of French troops. On the following day Cherbourg was taken possession of, with the harbour, forts, magazines, and about two hundred pieces of ordnance; the iron guns were destroyed, and twenty-two fine brass cannon and two brass mortars, were sent to England as trophies. These guns were seen by King George II., in Hyde Park, and afterwards conducted by a cavalcade to the Tower.

After remaining in France ten days, the troops returned on board the fleet, and a second descent was made on the coast of Brittany on the 4th of September, when the batteries in the Bay of St. Lunaire were destroyed, and the troops afterwards penetrated the country a considerable distance; but no advantage resulted from this enterprise, and when the troops re-embarked at St. Cas, the enemy attacked the rear guard with superior numbers, and occasioned severe loss. The Thirty-fourth Foot returned to England, and landed at Portsmouth towards the end of September.

In the summer of 1759, the Thirty-fourth were encamped at Sandheath, with the Fifth, Eighth, and Thirty-third Regiments, under the Earl of Ancram; and in the summer of 1760, they pitched their tents at Winchester, where five battalions of militia were encamped with them, the whole under the colonel of the Thirty-fourth,—Thomas Earl of Effingham.

On the 30th of October, King George III. nominated the Earl of Effingham to the command of the first troop of Horse Grenadier Guards, (which was incorporated in the First Regiment of Life Guards in 1788,) and his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the Thirty-fourth on Lord Frederick Cavendish, from the Sixty-seventh Regiment[11].

During the summer of 1761, the regiment was encamped, with the Seventy-second Foot, at Sandheath, under Lieutenant-General Cornwallis.

Meanwhile the conduct of the Spanish Government had led to an interruption of the amicable relations existing between the two countries, and in the early part of 1762 an attack on the Havannah, in the island of Cuba, which was looked upon as a key to the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, was resolved upon by the British Government; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment, mustering one thousand officers and soldiers, under Lieutenant-Colonel John Reed, embarked for this service; the expedition being under General the Earl of Albemarle. On arriving at the West Indies, the regiment was formed in brigade with the Thirty-fifth, Forty-third, and Seventy-fifth Regiments, under Brigadier-General Reed; and proceeding with the armament through the Straits of Bahama, arrived in the vicinity of the Havannah on the 6th of June. On the following day a landing was effected, and the siege of the Moro Fort was commenced by a body of troops under Major-General the Honorable William Keppel. In the attack of this fortress, the troops evinced that courage and patient perseverance under severe toil and privation, for which British soldiers have been distinguished, and united with the cordial co-operation of the royal navy, overcame all difficulties. Batteries were erected, the sallies of the Spaniards repulsed, and the Moro Fort captured by storm on the 30th of July. This success facilitated the attack on the Havannah, and a series of batteries opened so well-directed a fire on the works of the town, and on the shipping in the harbour, on the 11th of August, that in a few hours the guns of the garrison were silenced, and the Spaniards solicited terms of capitulation, which were speedily agreed upon. The wealthy city of the Havannah, with a valuable fleet of Spanish men-of-war, and numerous stores, were thus captured by British skill and valour, and prize money to a large amount was afterwards distributed to the army and navy. “This conquest was, without doubt, in itself the most considerable, and in its consequences the most decisive, of any we had made since the beginning of the war; and in no operation were the courage, steadiness, and perseverance of the British troops, and the conduct of their leaders, more conspicuous. It was a military achievement of the highest class[12].”

The regiment was commanded, on this occasion, by Major Robert Farmar, (Lieutenant-Colonel Reed being at the head of the brigade,) and after taking part in this splendid conquest, it was stationed a short time at the Havannah.

In the following year a treaty of peace was concluded, and the Spaniards ceded to Great Britain the country of Florida, in North America, on condition of having the Havannah restored to them, which was agreed to; and the Thirty-fourth Regiment was one of the corps which proceeded to North America, to take possession of the ceded territory.

In the pleasant and fertile country of West Florida, the regiment was stationed some time; in 1768 it was relieved from duty in North America, and returned to Europe, and in 1769 it was stationed in Ireland.

The regiment was quartered in Ireland seven years; and was equally conspicuous for good conduct on home service, as it had been for gallantry when confronting the enemies of its country abroad.

In 1775, the misunderstanding between Great Britain and her North American provinces, on the subject of taxation, attained a character which produced hostilities, and the Thirty-fourth Regiment was augmented to the war establishment. The American Congress sent a body of troops, under Colonel Montgomery, to invade Canada, where Major-General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester, commanded, and the English general, having very few troops to oppose to the enemy, evacuated Montreal, and retired to Quebec. The Americans detached a division of troops, under Colonel Arnold, to surprise Quebec; but this enterprise failed, through the activity and vigilance of Major-General Carleton, who defended that fortress against the united provincial forces, and repulsed an assault made on the works, during a snow storm, in the depth of winter.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment embarked from Ireland early in the spring of 1776, for the relief of Quebec; and on the arrival, in the river St. Lawrence, of the expected succours from the United Kingdom, in May, the Americans quitted the vicinity of that fortress, and made a precipitate retreat. The Thirty-fourth Regiment advanced up the country in pursuit of the provincial troops, and took part in the movements by which the Americans were driven out of Canada. The regiment was stationed in Canada during the winter.

In the spring of 1777, the flank companies of the regiment were detached from Canada, with the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, which was destined to proceed, by Lakes Champlain and George, to Hudson’s river, with the view of forcing its way to Albany, and co-operating with the army at New York, in the reduction of the revolted states. The troops employed on this service embarked on board a flotilla, and, after a pleasant voyage along Lake Champlain, landed at Crown Point, from whence they advanced towards Ticonderago, and forced the Americans to abandon the fort. This conquest achieved, the troops proceeded to Skenesborough, and drove the enemy from a stockaded fort on the 6th of July, and pursued them towards Castletown. On the 8th of July the Americans were repulsed in an attack on the Ninth Regiment, and driven from Fort Anne. After this success, preparations were made for a forward movement; but extraordinary difficulties had to be encountered; felled trees had to be removed from the roads,—creeks and marshes had to be passed,—forty new bridges had to be constructed, and others to be repaired; one made of log-work crossed a morass two miles in extent. These difficulties were overcome by the soldiers with cheerful alacrity, and on the 30th of July the troops arrived on the banks of the Hudson’s river, when they took post at Fort Edward, awaiting the arrival of provisions. The river was crossed in September, and a forward movement was made; but the expedition proved of insufficient force for the enterprise, and the means for supplying the troops inadequate. Having penetrated into the heart of the revolted provinces, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself encompassed by difficulties and dangers which he was unable to overcome. After a series of hard toil, incessant effort, and severe privation, the Indian warriors, who formed part of the expedition, deserted, and many of the Canadians followed their example; and after several stubborn engagements, in which the British regiments fought gallantly against an immense superiority of numbers, and the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth Foot had repeated opportunities of distinguishing themselves, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself on the banks of the Hudson’s river, with an army diminished in numbers to three thousand five hundred men,—reduced in physical power by incessant toil and want of provisions,—invested by an army of sixteen thousand Americans,—disappointed of co-operation from other armies,—and without provision. Under these dismal circumstances, a convention was concluded with the American General Gates, at Saratoga, in which it was agreed that the troops should lay down their arms, on condition of being sent to England, and of not serving in America during the remainder of the war. These articles were violated by the American government, and the brave soldiers who had fought so gallantly, and who did not submit until surrounded by five times their own numbers, were detained prisoners in America.

The battalion companies of the regiment, which had remained in Canada, were not involved in this occurrence.

In the several actions between the Americans and the troops under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth had a number of men killed and wounded; also Captains Harris and Ross, and Lieutenant Richardson, wounded.

The battalion companies furnished a detachment of one hundred men, for the expedition to the Mohawk, under Brigadier-General Barry St. Leger. This detachment was engaged in the unsuccessful siege of Fort Stanwix.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment formed part of the force to which the protection of Canada was confided during the remainder of the American war, which was terminated in 1782, by a treaty of peace, in which the independence of the United States was acknowledged.

A letter, dated the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the regiment His Majesty’s pleasure that it should assume the title of the Thirty-fourth, or Cumberland Regiment of Foot, and that a connection and mutual attachment between the corps and that county should be cultivated, in order to promote the success of the recruiting service.

The regiment remained in Canada until 1786, when it was relieved, and returned to Europe. In 1787 it was stationed in England.

On the breaking out of the French revolutionary war, the establishment of the regiment was augmented. In 1793 a British army proceeded to Flanders; but the Thirty-fourth remained in Great Britain until the middle of February, 1795, when they embarked for the West Indies.

Previous to this date the revolutionary principles, which had involved France in anarchy and crime, had extended to the French West India islands; but the planters of these colonies had been delivered from the power of the republicans by a British armament, under General Sir Charles (afterwards Earl) Grey; the Thirty-fourth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, proceeded to St. Lucia, which island had been captured from the French in April, 1794.

The National Convention which governed France, although employed in extending revolutionary power in Europe, paid so much attention to the colonial interests of that nation, as to send an expedition to the West Indies, for the recovery of the conquered islands; and the doctrines of liberty and equality, which were disseminated in the islands, occasioned multitudes of mulattoes, blacks, and Charibbees to array themselves under the standard of republicanism, which led to a frightful catalogue of outrages and depredations. St. Lucia, where the Thirty-fourth were stationed, was among the colonies attacked by the enemy, and the regiment was engaged a short period in its defence, in which it lost several men, and Captain Dodsworth was taken prisoner, on the 18th of June. The British troops not being sufficiently numerous for the defence of the island, it was evacuated, the Thirty-fourth Regiment proceeding to St. Vincent, where republican emissaries from France had organised a rebellion, and many whites, mulattoes, blacks, and native Charibbees, were in arms against the British Government, which occasioned the regiment much severe service[13].

Early in 1796, additional forces arrived at the West Indies, where Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby assumed the command of an armament to complete the deliverance of the West India islands from the power of the republicans, and to reduce to obedience the insurgents of St. Vincent and Grenada.

On the 8th of June, a body of troops landed at the island of St. Vincent, and were joined by the Thirty-fourth Foot, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, who had the honour of taking a distinguished part in the reduction of the colony, which was accomplished in a few days. Part of the regiment evinced signal gallantry at the assault and capture of the insurgent camp, on, the 10th of June, when Sir Ralph Abercromby stated in orders,—“Lieutenant-Colonel Dickens, and the troops who served under him, are entitled to a great share of praise.” The regiment had two serjeants, one drummer, and six rank and file killed; Volunteer Gordon died of his wounds; Lieutenants O’Donoughue and Georges, nine serjeants, three drummers, and sixteen rank and file wounded.

The hostile spirit long shown by the Charibbees towards the European inhabitants, occasioned the British Government to determine to remove them from the island; and the execution of the orders received for this purpose was attended with much harassing duty to the troops, in which the Thirty-fourth took part, and sustained some loss. The regiment afterwards received the thanks of Major-General Hunter, and of the principal inhabitants of the colony, for its conduct in the brigand and Charibbee war.

On the 15th of July, the regiment embarked for England, where it arrived on the 8th of October, and was stationed at Poole, in Dorsetshire, from whence recruiting parties were detached to various towns in South Britain.

In the spring of 1797[14], the regiment proceeded to York, where the non-commissioned officers and soldiers evinced their loyalty and zeal for the preservation of the constitution of their country, by a contribution in aid of the war, for which they received the thanks of Lieutenant-General Scott, commanding the district. In the autumn the regiment marched to Lincoln.

Field-Marshal Lord Frederick Cavendish was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment in July by George Frederick Lord Southampton, from captain and lieutenant-colonel Second Foot Guards.

The regiment remained in England during the years 1798 and 1799, and, having been brought into a high state of discipline and efficiency, it was selected to proceed on colonial service.

In January, 1800, the regiment marched from Hilsea barracks, and embarking on board an Indiaman, sailed to the Cape of Good Hope, where it landed on the 21st of May, and occupied barracks at Cape Town until September, when it pitched its tents at Wynberg, where a numerous force was encamped under Major-General Dundas.

After remaining two years and a half at the Cape of Good Hope, that colony was restored to the Dutch, at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, and the regiment embarked for the East Indies, where it arrived in January, 1803, and landed at Madras on the 2nd of February.

The regiment was stationed at Madras several months, during which period the conduct of the officers and soldiers on the occasion of an alarming fire, elicited the following communication to Colonel Dickens, from the merchants of that place:—“Impressed with a grateful sense of the extraordinary exertions manifested by the officers and men of His Majesty’s Thirty-fourth Regiment, under your command, on the occasion of the late calamitous fires, we feel it incumbent upon us to offer you and them our public acknowledgements for the service rendered to the commercial interests in particular, and at the same time to request you will be assured of our sincere respect for the public spirit which uniformly animates the British military on every emergency.”

The peace of Europe was violated by the ambitious projects of Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France, and the war was resumed in 1803, in July of which year two companies of the regiment embarked, under Captain Everard, for the island of Ceylon, which had been captured from the Dutch, and they were followed by two additional companies, under Captain Roberts, in October.

In 1804 the head-quarters were removed from Madras to Wallajabad, where they arrived on the 21st of August. In December a detachment returned to Madras, where it embarked for Vizagapatam, to protect the shipping.

In the mean time the menace of invading England, made by Napoleon Bonaparte, had been followed by a simultaneous appeal to arms throughout the United Kingdom, and an array of military power was manifested which proved the attachment of the British people to their sovereign and constitution. On this memorable occasion a second battalion was added to the Thirty-fourth Regiment, and was embodied at Ashford, in Kent. It was formed of volunteers from the First East York, Third West York, First Lancashire, South Lincoln, and East Essex Regiments of Militia, and was placed on the establishment of the army on the 25th of April, 1805.

Soon after its formation, the second battalion marched to Colchester.

Bonaparte obtained the dignity of Emperor from the French nation, was crowned King of Italy, and added Genoa to his dominions; he afterwards marched his army from Boulogne to crush the coalition forming against his interests in Germany; at the same time the French troops were withdrawn from Hanover, which country they had seized soon after the resuming of hostilities in 1803. A body of troops was sent to Hanover under Lieutenant-General Lord Cathcart, to co-operate with the continental powers; and on the 28th of November the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth Regiment marched to Ramsgate for embarkation for Germany, under the orders of Major Broomhead. The battle of Austerlitz established the preponderance of French power; in a subsequent treaty it was stipulated that Hanover should be occupied by the Prussians, and the British troops, under Lord Cathcart, withdrew to the coast and embarked for England. On its return from this expedition, the battalion was quartered on the coast of Sussex.

In March of this year, the detachment of the first battalion was withdrawn from Ceylon, and joined the head-quarters at Wallajabad; and in April four companies proceeded to the fortress of Vellore, which had been chosen for the residence of the captive princes of the race of Hyder and Tippoo, with the two hostages given up to Lord Cornwallis. In October, the battalion was united at Bellary.

During the year 1806, the first battalion was in garrison at the fortresses of Gooty and Bellary. Lieutenant-Colonel Fancourt of the Thirty-fourth Regiment was commandant of Vellore, and was killed in the mutiny which took place among the Sepoys and Moormen, on the morning of the 10th July, 1806.

In April, the second battalion embarked for the island of Jersey, where it remained until May, 1807, when it was removed to the Isle of Wight, in order to its embarkation for the island of Ceylon; but while waiting for shipping, its destination was changed, and it proceeded to Cork, to join a secret expedition ordered to rendezvous at that place, under Brigadier-General Beresford. The expedition sailed to Madeira, and took possession of that island; but the Thirty-fourth landed in Ireland, were stationed at Bandon barracks, and placed under orders to proceed to India.

In December they embarked from Cork, and sailed to Spithead, where they arrived on the 18th of January, 1808; but circumstances had occurred which occasioned their embarkation for India to be countermanded; they landed and marched to Steyning barracks, where they remained until May, when they returned to the island of Jersey.

During this period, the first battalion had remained at Gooty and Bellary.

The second battalion was stationed at Jersey until the summer of 1809, when it was completed to a thousand rank and file by volunteers from the militia, and embarked for the Peninsula, to join the British army, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, and take part in the deliverance of Portugal and Spain from the tyrannical domination of the Emperor Napoleon, who was attempting to bring those kingdoms under his despotic sway. After landing at Lisbon, on the 4th of July, the battalion was encamped near that place, with the brigade under Brigadier-General James Catlin Craufurd, for three weeks, and afterwards proceeded in boats up the river Tagus, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maister, to Santarem, from whence it marched into Spain, to co-operate with the troops under Lieutenant-General Lord Wellington, who had driven the French from Portugal, and repulsed the army under Joseph Bonaparte (titular King of Spain) at Talavera, a short time before. After several movements, the brigade joined the army under Lord Wellington in Spanish Estremadura; and the Thirty-fourth were placed in village cantonments on the right bank of the Guadiana, near Badajoz, where the battalion suffered from the epidemic fever which thinned the British ranks.

When Lord Wellington marched northward, the Thirty-fourth were left in Portuguese Estremadura, under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill.

In the mean time, the disaffection to the civil authorities of Madras, which occurred in the native army in India, particularly among the European officers, had occasioned the first battalion to be withdrawn from garrison, and to be employed in services necessary to bring the disaffected to submission; at the same time four captains and eight lieutenants were attached to the Company’s artillery, and to the Seventh, Ninth, Twenty-second, and Twenty-fifth Regiments of native infantry, in the place of the suspended officers: officers of the Thirty-fourth were also appointed to perform the duties of assistant adjutant-general, fort-adjutant, and deputy judge advocate.

The Thirty-fourth Regiment performed many long marches with the field force, under Colonel Conran, of the First, or the Royal Regiment of Foot, in October, November, and December, 1809, and it was also frequently in motion during the first four months of 1810. On the 8th of May it encamped at Jaulnah, and was in tents during the periodical heavy rains: in October it moved into temporary barracks. Previous to this period, the arrival of Lord Minto, Governor-General of India, had been followed by happy results, and the authority of the civil government of Madras had been restored.

In the Peninsula, the immense preparations of the French for the campaign of 1810, induced Lord Wellington to limit his operations to the defence of Portugal; and the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth was employed, with the division under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, on the Alemtejo frontier, in opposition to the French under General Reynier. Portugal being invaded by a powerful French army, under Marshal Massena, Prince of Esling, the British forces withdrew before the superior numbers of the enemy. The movements of the Thirty-fourth were the same as those of the second division of the army, and after passing the Mondego river, early on the morning of the 26th of September, they took post on the right of the position on the rocks of Busaco, where an array of British power was prepared to resist the torrent of invasion. The Prince of Esling assailed this position on the 27th of September, when the furious attacks of the veteran legions of Napoleon were repulsed by British valour. After astonishing efforts, the French fell back; and they subsequently turned the left of the position by a flank movement; when the British commander withdrew to the lines of Torres Vedras, where a series of works, along a range of lofty mountains, opposed a formidable barrier to the progress of the enemy. The Thirty-fourth had their post in the lines, and were stationed at Calendrix, and afterwards at Bucellas.

The French commander viewed the stupendous works of Torres Vedras with surprise, and being unable to accomplish his menace of driving the English into the sea, and planting the eagles of France on the towers of Lisbon, he withdrew to Santarem in the middle of November. On the retrograde movement of the enemy taking place, the division of which the Thirty-fourth formed part, was ordered to cross the Tagus, and move upon Abrantes, to succour that place, or head the march of the enemy. The battalion passed the river on rafts; but when the enemy was found in position at Santarem, Sir Rowland Hill’s division was ordered to halt at Chamusca.

The battalion passed the winter in village cantonments on the left bank of the Tagus, and the country being low and marshy, the health of the soldiers suffered from agues.

On the decease of Lord Southampton, in the summer of this year, the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, from the Sixty-second Foot.

The first battalion suffered from the effects of the climate at Jaulnah, in the East Indies, and was removed in May, 1811, to Secunderabad; when it left one hundred and thirty men in hospital.

To the second battalion was appointed the duty of watching the movements of the enemy, to prevent the passage of the Tagus by the French. On one occasion an island in the river was taken possession of by a detachment of the enemy; but the light companies of the brigade, of which the Thirty-fourth formed part, dislodged the French, and the island was occupied by a company of the regiment, until the 5th of March, when the Prince of Esling quitted his position and retreated.

The Thirty-fourth pursued the retreating enemy towards the confines of Portugal, witnessing scenes of slaughter, devastation, and confusion, produced by the French army, beyond description; the battalion was afterwards detached, with other forces, under Field-Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford, to the relief of Campo Mayor, which fortress was besieged by a detachment from the French army, commanded by Marshal Soult. This place surrendered before the troops marching to its relief arrived, and as the British approached, the French, having dismantled the works, were marching out of the town, when some fighting occurred, in which the Thirteenth Light Dragoons evinced great gallantry.

The fortress of Olivenza was afterwards captured; and the siege of Badajoz was commenced, in which the Thirty-fourth were employed and sustained some loss.

While the siege of Badajoz was in progress, Marshal Soult assembled a numerous force, and advanced to the relief of that fortress, when Marshal Beresford moved forward to meet him, and took up a position at Albuhera, where he was joined by a Spanish division under General Blake. The Thirty-fourth, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Fenwick, were in position, and were formed in brigade with the first battalion of the Twenty-eighth and the second battalion of the Thirty-ninth Regiments, under Lieutenant-Colonel the Honorable Alexander Abercromby.

On the morning of the 16th of May, the enemy made a slight attack on the village of Albuhera, and on the bridge, to draw attention to that point; and soon afterwards powerful columns of infantry, supported by a numerous force of cavalry and artillery, assailed the heights on the right, from which the Spaniards were forced to retire. Lieutenant-Colonel Colborne’s brigade of the second division, under Lieutenant-General Stewart, rushed up the heights with great gallantry; but was nearly annihilated by a charge of the enemy’s Polish lancers and hussars on its rear. Major-General Hoghton reached the heights with the third brigade, under a heavy cannonade, and was soon engaged in a furious contest in which many officers and soldiers fell, and Major-General Hoghton was shot in the act of cheering his men: the battle raged with dreadful fury, and this brigade was nearly destroyed.

At a critical moment the Fusiliers mounted the hill on the right of the remnant of the third brigade, at the same time the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-ninth passed on its left; and this gallant line arrested the progress of the French columns, which were pressing forward in anticipation of victory. The heads of the enemy’s masses were broken by the steady fire of the British soldiers, who closed on their numerous adversaries, and sternly contended for victory. The Thirty-fourth were severely engaged; many officers and soldiers fell, and Ensign Sarsfield, bearing the regimental colour, was shot; the colour was seized by another officer, and the battalion pressed forward upon its opponents, who, by a determined and continued attack, were driven from the heights, and the British soldiers stood victorious on the contested hill.

Marshal Soult, finding that his French soldiers could not force the position, withdrew beyond the river, and the battle was thus won by the divisions of the allied army, under Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford, who stated in his public despatch,—“It is impossible to enumerate every instance of discipline and valour shown on this severely contested day; but never troops more valiantly or more gloriously maintained the honor of their respective countries.”

Captain George Gibbons, Lieutenant Thomas Castle, and Ensign Sarsfield, with three serjeants, and twenty-seven rank and file of the Thirty-fourth were killed; and Captains G. J. Widdrington and John Wyatt, Lieutenants John Hay, and —— Walsh, with six serjeants, and eighty-five rank and file wounded.

The word “Albuhera,” displayed by royal authority, on the colours of the regiment, commemorates the distinguished gallantry of the second battalion on this occasion; and a medal was conferred on its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel William Fenwick.

After the victory at Albuhera, the siege of Badajoz was resumed; but the advance of two powerful French armies, under Marshal Massena and Marshal Soult, occasioned the British commander to raise the siege and take post behind the Caya, where the superior numbers of the enemy did not venture to attack him, and in a short time the French retired. Lord Wellington marched the main body of the army to the province of Beira, leaving ten thousand infantry, with a proportion of cavalry and artillery, in the Alemtejo, under Sir Rowland Hill; and the Thirty-fourth formed a part of this force.

General Girard’s division of the Fifth French corps having taken post at Caceres, Sir Rowland Hill advanced, on the 22nd of October, to drive the enemy from thence, and on the approach of the British troops, the French retired, halting at Arroyo de Molinos, a village situate in a plain at the foot of a ridge of rocks rising in the form of a crescent. An opportunity presenting itself to effect the surprise of this corps, the British performed a forced march in cold, wet, stormy weather, and arrived at the vicinity of the village at daybreak on the morning of the 28th of October, their approach being concealed by a thick mist with heavy rain. The French infantry were assembling outside the village to commence their march, the baggage was being loaded, and General Girard was waiting at his quarters for his horse, when suddenly the Seventy-first and Ninety-second British Regiments charged into the village, capturing much baggage and many prisoners; at the same time the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-fourth made a detour, supported by the Thirty-ninth, to cut off the enemy’s retreat. The French formed two squares, and commenced retreating; the British pressed resolutely upon their opponents; the Thirteenth Light Dragoons captured the French artillery, the Ninth Light Dragoons and Second Hussars King’s German Legion overpowered the enemy’s cavalry, and the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-fourth Foot cut off the retreat of the French infantry by the main road. Thus beset on every side, the French soldiers dispersed, and rushed with great speed up the steep mountain by an unfrequented path; when the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-fourth British Foot passed a ploughed field at a running pace, and ascended the difficult precipice in pursuit, chasing the enemy among the rugged heights, and capturing many prisoners; a battalion of the French Thirty-fourth Regiment being made prisoners on this occasion by the second battalion of the British Thirty-fourth Regiment[15]. The French General Brun, and Colonel the Prince d’Aremberg, were among the prisoners.

Sir Rowland Hill, speaking of the troops employed in this service, stated in his despatch,—“No praise of mine can do full justice to their admirable conduct; the patience and goodwill shown by all ranks during forced marches, in the worst of weather; their strict attention to the orders they received; the precision with which they moved to the attack; and their obedience to command during the action; in short, the manner every one has performed his duty from the commencement of the operation, merits my warmest thanks.” The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, of the Thirty-fourth, was particularly commanded.

After this exploit the troops returned to the Alemtejo.

Towards the end of December the Thirty-fourth again advanced into Spain, and were employed in operations to surprise a body of French troops at Merida, under General Dombrouski. On arriving at La Nava, the British cavalry found three hundred French infantry and a party of hussars in the town, and this body of troops, effecting its retreat to Merida with little loss, informed General Dombrouski of the approach of the British troops, and he retreated during the night.

In January, 1812, the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo was undertaken, and the Thirty-fourth and other corps, under Sir Rowland Hill, made a movement to co-operate in covering the troops employed in this enterprise, which ended in the capture of the besieged fortress by storm on the 19th of January.

When the siege of Badajoz was undertaken, the Thirty-fourth formed part of the covering army, and were stationed some time at Merida. The two divisions of the covering army, under Sir Rowland Hill and Sir Thomas Graham, afterwards advanced upon Almendralejos and Llerena, the Thirty-fourth moving towards the former town. Marshal Soult collected a numerous force and advanced to relieve Badajoz; but learning that on the 6th of April that fortress was captured by storm, he retraced his steps.

After the capture of Badajoz, Lord Wellington proceeded towards the northern frontiers of Portugal, leaving the Thirty-fourth in Estremadura, under Sir Rowland Hill; and in May the battalion was employed in an enterprise for the destruction of the enemy’s communication across the Tagus at Almaraz. After a march made with great secrecy, amidst various divisions of the enemy, the troops approached the bridge, the Thirty-fourth being with the left column, which was prepared with ladders to capture the fort of Mirabete by escalade; but the difficulties of the march had retarded the progress of the troops, and as the attack could not be made before daylight, they remained concealed in the mountains until the evening of the 18th of May, when they moved forward. At daybreak, on the following morning, the left column, of which the Thirty-fourth formed part, commenced a slight attack on the castle of Mirabete, at the same time another column captured the forts, which covered the bridge, by storm.

Speaking of the Thirty-fourth, and other corps which operated on the Mirabete, Sir Rowland Hill stated in his despatch, “I regret much that the peculiar situation of Mirabete should have prevented my allowing the gallant corps to follow up an operation which they had commenced with much spirit, and were anxious to complete.”

The bridge having been destroyed, and the communication between the several divisions of the French army rendered more difficult, the British troops retired.

After the victory gained by the army under Lord Wellington at Salamanca, the troops under Sir Rowland Hill penetrated the Spanish provinces, and eventually advanced upon Madrid: they afterwards occupied a line from Toledo to Aranjuez. The Thirty-fourth took part in these movements; and when the concentration of the enemy’s forces rendered a retrograde movement necessary, the battalion suffered, in common with the other corps, the fatigues and privations consequent upon this retreat;—the soldiers were not able to procure any other food besides acorns, chesnuts, and berries from the hedges, for nineteen days together; and the inclemency of the weather augmented the sufferings endured on this occasion. The retreat was continued to the frontiers of Portugal, where the army went into winter quarters.

During this year the first battalion was stationed at Secunderabad, in the East Indies.

After passing several months in quarters in Estremadura, the second battalion of the Thirty-fourth advanced, in May, 1813, with the troops under Sir Rowland Hill, upon Salamanca, thus taking part in the comprehensive movements by which the enemy’s position on the Douro was turned, and the French divisions forced to retreat. The Thirty-fourth followed the enemy in his retrograde movements, advancing upon Valladolid, and afterwards upon Burgos, and on the 12th of June the battalion took part in forcing a strong body of French troops from Hormaza; which was followed by the destruction of Burgos Castle, and the retreat of the enemy behind the Ebro river. The battalion took part in the movement through the wild and beautiful regions towards the source of the Ebro, and after traversing rocks, and mountains, and narrow defiles, it crossed the Ebro; when the enemy again fell back, and Joseph Bonaparte concentrated his force in the valley of Vittoria, to arrest the progress of the British arms.

After taking part in these brilliant operations, the Thirty-fourth had the honor to contribute to the complete overthrow of the French army on the 21st of June. On this occasion the battalion formed part of the column under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, which advanced at day-break, and seizing the bridge of Puebla, crossed the Zadora river; the Spaniards under General Morillo attacking the heights of La Puebla, and the British advancing along the Vittoria road. The French commander sent a strong body of troops to regain the heights, and two British battalions were detached to aid the Spaniards. Before the fighting at this point had ceased, Sir Rowland Hill’s column issued fiercely from the defiles of Puebla, and captured the village of Sabijana de Alava. The heights at this point, some thickly wooded ground, and the village, became the theatre of a severe contest, in which the Thirty-fourth, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, were warmly engaged. The troops advanced under a heavy cannonade; but undismayed by the determined countenance of the foe, and regardless of a shower of bullets, the British infantry rushed forward, dislodged the enemy, and drove him back on his reserve. In vain the French endeavoured to recover the lost ground; columns of attack were formed, and repeated efforts made; but all without success. The other columns of the allied army were also victorious at their several points of attack, and the legions of Napoleon sustained a decisive overthrow; they were driven from the field with the loss of their artillery, baggage, and military chest, and were pursued until dark.

The Thirty-fourth had ten rank and file killed; Lieutenants T. G. Ball, Edward Mogridge, and Alan B. Cairnes, four serjeants, and fifty-nine rank and file wounded.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick received a clasp, in addition to his medal for the battle of Albuhera; and the royal authority was afterwards given for the word “Vittoria” to be inscribed on the regimental colours, to commemorate the gallantry of the second battalion on this occasion.

The Thirty-fourth followed the retreating enemy to the foot of the Pyrenean mountains, and were some time employed in the blockade of Pampeluna. While on the march for this place, the battalion was exposed, on the 24th of June, to a violent thunder-storm, when Lieutenant Masterman, an officer of approved gallantry and of great promise, was killed by lightning: his horse was also killed under him.

Notwithstanding the enemy had withdrawn his right and left into France, he maintained his centre in force in the rich valley of Bastan, which afforded numerous strong positions; and the troops, under Sir Rowland Hill, having been relieved from the blockade of Pampeluna, advanced to dislodge the enemy. On penetrating the mountains, in the early part of July, the left wing of the Thirty-fourth was engaged in dislodging the enemy from one of the villages in the pass. The battalion also took part in forcing the French from the valley of Bastan, and being in advance, on the 7th of July, it drove the enemy’s piquets from the heights of Maya: it was afterwards attacked by a strong line of French troops; but the Thirty-ninth coming up, the two battalions repulsed the enemy by a few well-directed volleys.

One private soldier of the Thirty-fourth was killed, and ten rank and file were wounded; Lieutenant Ball, who had recovered of the wounds received at Vittoria, was again severely wounded.

After taking part in forcing the enemy from the valley of Bastan, the Thirty-fourth were employed in guarding the Col-de-Maya, one of the entrances to the valley; they were encamped in the Arestesque Pass, about two miles from the summit of the mountain, and furnished a piquet on the lofty rock of Arestesque.

Marshal Soult, having been appointed to the command of the troops on the Pyrenees frontier of France, assembled a numerous force to break through the mountains, and relieve Pampeluna and St. Sebastian. Captain Moyle Sherer, of the Thirty-fourth Foot, commanded the piquet on the Arestesque rock, on the morning of the 25th of July, and a glimpse of cavalry and infantry advancing having been obtained at dawn, the light companies were ordered to support the piquet. These companies had just formed, with their left at the rock, when three French divisions ascended the rock and attacked the piquet, which defended its ground with great gallantry, against overwhelming numbers, until Captain Sherer was taken prisoner, and many men had fallen, when the survivors fell back on the light companies; and these troops sustained the assault of the enemy with difficulty. The din of war echoed through the valley, and the brigade, consisting of the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-ninth, hurried to the scene of conflict. The Thirty-fourth ascended the rock first, by companies, at a running pace, and arrived breathless from the length and ruggedness of the ascent. The grenadier company was in front, under Captain John Wyatt, who urged his men to make a desperate effort, and fell pierced with many bullets the instant he gained the summit; nearly every man of the leading section experienced the same fate. The other companies of the battalion rushed forward in the face of a storm of musketry, and a determined, but unavailing, effort was made. The commanding officer, the adjutant, and many other brave officers and soldiers, were struck by the tempest of balls. After fighting with great desperation some time, the Thirty-fourth, the light companies, and the piquet were forced back by superior numbers, and the enemy established his columns on the ridge of the position. The British, however, retained possession of a rock, which was the key of the pass, and the progress of the enemy was arrested.

The Thirty-fourth had five hundred and thirty officers and soldiers engaged on this occasion, and their loss was Captain John Wyatt, Ensign T. W. Phillips, one serjeant, and thirty-six rank and file killed; Adjutant John Day mortally wounded and prisoner; Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick, Lieutenants P. S. Barron and M. Simmons, Ensign S. Pickett, four serjeants, and fifty-one rank and file wounded; Captain Moyle Sherer, Lieutenant F. Hovenden, Ensigns F. Russell and John Norman, one serjeant, one drummer, and seventy-seven rank and file prisoners: many of the prisoners were wounded. Total loss, one hundred and eighty-two.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick had his right leg amputated above the knee; and the command of the battalion devolved on Major Henry Worsley.

The enemy’s attacks being developed, and other points of the position in the mountains forced, Sir Rowland Hill retired during the night fifteen miles, to a post in the rear of Irueta. The Thirty-fourth halted on the heights of Irueta until the evening of the 27th, and marched during the night through the pass of Villate, upon the town of Lanz, and afterwards upon Lizasso: the British army went into position to cover the blockade of Pampeluna, and the troops under Sir Rowland Hill formed on the left of the line. Some severe fighting occurred on the 28th of July, and the resolute attacks of the enemy were repulsed with great gallantry.

The Thirty-fourth were not engaged on this occasion. On the 30th of July Marshal Soult moved a strong force against the troops under Sir Rowland Hill, and a sharp combat took place, in which the Thirty-fourth were engaged. During this contest Lord Wellington directed an attack to be made at another part of the enemy’s line, which proved decisive, and the French were forced to make a precipitate retreat through the mountains. Five rank and file of the Thirty-fourth were killed on this occasion; Lieutenant A. Orrell, one serjeant, and fifteen rank and file wounded.

Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill was directed to pursue the retreating enemy, on the road to Donna Maria, and about ten o’clock on the morning of the 31st of July, the French rear-guard was overtaken beyond Lizasso. The enemy gained a wood on the summit of the pass, and there facing about, and throwing out a number of skirmishers, offered formidable resistance; the first brigade of the British second division was repulsed, and Lieutenant-General the Honorable William Stewart wounded; when the second brigade, commanded by Colonel the Honorable R. W. O’Callaghan, was ordered forward, and the Thirty-fourth took the lead on this occasion. Passing the retreating troops, and advancing steadily up the hill, the Thirty-fourth soon gained the edge of the wood, when the soldiers raised a loud and confident shout, and rushed among the trees to decide the contest with cold steel; but when the French saw a line of British bayonets come sparkling through the foliage, they fled in confusion along a defile, followed by the Thirty-fourth, who killed and wounded many of the fugitives, and took some prisoners. The pursuit was not continued above half a mile, in consequence of a thick fog rendering any further advance dangerous. The loss of the battalion was limited to two men killed, thirteen wounded, and two made prisoners.

Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Worsley received a honorary distinction for commanding the battalion in the several actions in the mountains, and the word “Pyrenees” on the regimental colours, commemorates the distinguished conduct of the officers and soldiers on this occasion.

The British troops resumed their positions in the Pyrenees, awaiting the capture of St. Sebastian, and Pampeluna, and the Thirty-fourth were encamped in Roncesvalles, &c., until the end of October, when a heavy snow storm obliged the battalion to leave the mountains.

On the 10th of November, the troops descended from the Pyrenees by moon-light, to transfer to France the calamities of war, and the allied army drove the forces of Napoleon from a fortified position on the river Nivelle, capturing many guns and prisoners. The Thirty-fourth did not sustain any loss on this occasion: they passed the night in the huts left by the enemy, and afterwards advanced towards the Nive; but operations were retarded by heavy rains, and the battalion went into cantonments.

The Thirty-fourth were afterwards honored with the word “Nivelle” on their regimental colours, as a mark of royal approbation of their conduct; and Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley received a second honorary distinction.

The passage of the Nive river was effected on the 9th of December; the Thirty-fourth were at their post two hours before daylight—the stream was nearly five feet deep, and rapid; a mill stream of equal depth also opposed the advance; and the mill, with the village beyond the river, were occupied by the enemy; but the soldiers moved forward in defiance of all opposition, forded the streams under a sharp fire of musketry, and after some fighting, in which the Thirty-fourth had one man killed and seven wounded, the troops established themselves beyond the river; the French retreating into an intrenched camp in front of Bayonne.

On the following morning, the battalion took post on a ridge commanding the communication of the right wing with the river Nive; this wing was in position with its right towards the Adour river, and its left at Ville Franche, and it was not attacked by the enemy on the 10th, 11th, or 12th of December; but on the 13th a number of French corps assailed the troops under Sir Rowland Hill with great spirit; when the Thirty-fourth maintained their important post during the day, with the loss of five men wounded. The enemy was repulsed with severe loss, and pursued to the camp in front of Bayonne: the brigade to which the Thirty-fourth belonged, followed the French until it arrived within musket shot of the works, and took post in a ravine, where it remained until night, when it was relieved by the third division.

The battalion earned another honorary distinction for its colours on this occasion, and the word “Nive” inscribed thereon by royal authority, commemorates its gallantry; Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley also received a third distinction.