Historical Record of the Seventieth, or the Surrey Regiment of Foot

PREFACE.

The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour by which all who enter into its service are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.

Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable object than a full display of the noble deeds with which the Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have preceded him in their honorable career, are among the motives that have given rise to the present publication.

The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the “London Gazette,” from whence they are transferred into the public prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on the Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill and bravery; and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour of their Sovereign’s approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most highly prizes.

It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies) for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic account of their origin and subsequent services.

This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His Majesty having been pleased to command that every Regiment shall, in future, keep a full and ample record of its services at home and abroad.

From the materials thus collected, the country will henceforth derive information as to the difficulties and privations which chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so long a period, being undisturbed by the presence of war, which few other countries have escaped, comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or no interval of repose.

In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,—on their sufferings,—and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which so many national benefits are obtained and preserved.

The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance, have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and their character has been established in Continental warfare by the irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against superior numbers.

In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the Corps employed; but the details of their services and of acts of individual bravery can only be fully given in the Annals of the various Regiments.

These Records are now preparing for publication, under his Majesty’s special authority, by Mr. Richard Cannon, Principal Clerk of the Adjutant General’s Office; and while the perusal of them cannot fail to be useful and interesting to military men of every rank, it is considered that they will also afford entertainment and information to the general reader, particularly to those who may have served in the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.

There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or are serving, in the Army, an Esprit de Corps—an attachment to everything belonging to their Regiment; to such persons a narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of the great, the valiant, the loyal, have always been of paramount interest with a brave and civilized people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood “firm as the rocks of their native shore:” and when half the world has been arrayed against them, they have fought the battles of their Country with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of achievements in war,—victories so complete and surprising, gained by our countrymen, our brothers, our fellow citizens in arms,—a record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant deeds before us,—will certainly prove acceptable to the public.

Biographical Memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished Officers will be introduced in the Records of their respective Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value and importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth.

As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment will be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.

INTRODUCTION TO THE INFANTRY.

The natives of Britain have, at all periods, been celebrated for innate courage and unshaken firmness, and the national superiority of the British troops over those of other countries has been evinced in the midst of the most imminent perils. History contains so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery, that no doubts can be raised upon the facts which are recorded. It must therefore be admitted, that the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is Intrepidity. This quality was evinced by the inhabitants of England when their country was invaded by Julius Cæsar with a Roman army, on which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into the sea to attack the Roman soldiers as they descended from their ships; and, although their discipline and arms were inferior to those of their adversaries, yet their fierce and dauntless bearing intimidated the flower of the Roman troops, including Cæsar’s favourite tenth legion. Their arms consisted of spears, short swords, and other weapons of rude construction. They had chariots, to the axles of which were fastened sharp pieces of iron resembling scythe-blades, and infantry in long chariots resembling waggons, who alighted and fought on foot, and for change of ground, pursuit or retreat, sprang into the chariot and drove off with the speed of cavalry. These inventions were, however, unavailing against Cæsar’s legions: in the course of time a military system, with discipline and subordination, was introduced, and British courage, being thus regulated, was exerted to the greatest advantage; a full development of the national character followed, and it shone forth in all its native brilliancy.

The military force of the Anglo-Saxons consisted principally of infantry: Thanes, and other men of property, however, fought on horseback. The infantry were of two classes, heavy and light. The former carried large shields armed with spikes, long broad swords and spears; and the latter were armed with swords or spears only. They had also men armed with clubs, others with battle-axes and javelins.

The feudal troops established by William the Conqueror consisted (as already stated in the Introduction to the Cavalry) almost entirely of horse; but when the warlike barons and knights, with their trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a proportion of men appeared on foot, and, although these were of inferior degree, they proved stout-hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When stipendiary troops were employed, infantry always constituted a considerable portion of the military force; and this arme has since acquired, in every quarter of the globe, a celebrity never exceeded by the armies of any nation at any period.

The weapons carried by the infantry, during the several reigns succeeding the Conquest, were bows and arrows, half-pikes, lances, halberds, various kinds of battle-axes, swords, and daggers. Armour was worn on the head and body, and in course of time the practice became general for military men to be so completely cased in steel, that it was almost impossible to slay them.

The introduction of the use of gunpowder in the destructive purposes of war, in the early part of the fourteenth century, produced a change in the arms and equipment of the infantry-soldier. Bows and arrows gave place to various kinds of fire-arms, but British archers continued formidable adversaries; and, owing to the inconvenient construction and imperfect bore of the fire-arms when first introduced, a body of men, well trained in the use of the bow from their youth, was considered a valuable acquisition to every army, even as late as the sixteenth century.

During a great part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth each company of infantry usually consisted of men armed five different ways; in every hundred men forty were “men-at-arms,” and sixty “shot;” the “men-at-arms” were ten halberdiers, or battle-axe men, and thirty pikemen; and the “shot” were twenty archers, twenty musketeers, and twenty harquebusiers, and each man carried, besides his principal weapon, a sword and dagger.

Companies of infantry varied at this period in numbers from 150 to 300 men; each company had a colour or ensign, and the mode of formation recommended by an English military writer (Sir John Smithe) in 1590 was:—the colour in the centre of the company guarded by the halberdiers; the pikemen in equal proportions, on each flank of the halberdiers: half the musketeers on each flank of the pikes; half the archers on each flank of the musketeers, and the harquebusiers (whose arms were much lighter than the muskets then in use) in equal proportions on each flank of the company for skirmishing.[1] It was customary to unite a number of companies into one body, called a Regiment, which frequently amounted to three thousand men: but each company continued to carry a colour. Numerous improvements were eventually introduced in the construction of fire-arms, and, it having been found impossible to make armour proof against the muskets then in use (which carried a very heavy ball) without its being too weighty for the soldier, armour was gradually laid aside by the infantry in the seventeenth century: bows and arrows also fell into disuse, and the infantry were reduced to two classes, viz.: musketeers, armed with matchlock muskets, swords, and daggers; and pikemen, armed with pikes from fourteen to eighteen feet long, and swords.

In the early part of the seventeenth century Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, reduced the strength of regiments to 1000 men. He caused the gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in flasks, or in small wooden bandoliers, each containing a charge, to be made up into cartridges, and carried in pouches; and he formed each regiment into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of forming four regiments into a brigade; and the number of colours was afterwards reduced to three in each regiment. He formed his columns so compactly that his infantry could resist the charge of the celebrated Polish horsemen and Austrian cuirassiers; and his armies became the admiration of other nations. His mode of formation was copied by the English, French, and other European states; but so great was the prejudice in favour of ancient customs, that all his improvements were not adopted until near a century afterwards.

In 1664 King Charles II. raised a corps for sea-service, styled the Admiral’s regiment. In 1678 each company of 100 men usually consisted of 30 pikemen, 60 musketeers, and 10 men armed with light firelocks. In this year the King added a company of men armed with hand grenades to each of the old British regiments, which was designated the “grenadier company.” Daggers were so contrived as to fit in the muzzles of the muskets, and bayonets similar to those at present in use were adopted about twenty years afterwards.

An Ordnance regiment was raised in 1685, by order of King James II., to guard the artillery, and was designated the Royal Fusiliers (now 7th Foot). This corps, and the companies of grenadiers, did not carry pikes.

King William III. incorporated the Admiral’s regiment in the second Foot Guards, and raised two Marine regiments for sea-service. During the war in this reign, each company of infantry (excepting the fusiliers and grenadiers) consisted of 14 pikemen and 46 musketeers; the captains carried pikes; lieutenants, partisans; ensigns, half-pikes; and serjeants, halberds. After the peace in 1697 the Marine regiments were disbanded, but were again formed on the breaking out of the war in 1702.[2]

During the reign of Queen Anne the pikes were laid aside, and every infantry soldier was armed with a musket, bayonet, and sword; the grenadiers ceased, about the same period, to carry hand grenades; and the regiments were directed to lay aside their third colour: the corps of Royal Artillery was first added to the Army in this reign.

About the year 1745, the men of the battalion companies of infantry ceased to carry swords; during the reign of George II. light companies were added to infantry regiments; and in 1764 a Board of General Officers recommended that the grenadiers should lay aside their swords, as that weapon had never been used during the Seven Years’ War. Since that period the arms of the infantry soldier have been limited to the musket and bayonet.

The arms and equipment of the British Troops have seldom differed materially, since the Conquest, from those of other European states; and in some respects the arming has, at certain periods, been allowed to be inferior to that of the nations with whom they have had to contend; yet, under this disadvantage, the bravery and superiority of the British infantry have been evinced on very many and most trying occasions, and splendid victories have been gained over very superior numbers.

Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like champions who have dared to confront a host of foes, and have proved themselves valiant with any arms. At Crecy, King Edward III., at the head of about 30,000 men, defeated, on the 26th of August, 1346, Philip King of France, whose army is said to have amounted to 100,000 men; here British valour encountered veterans of renown:—the King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and nobles were slain, and the French army was routed and cut to pieces. Ten years afterwards, Edward Prince of Wales, who was designated the Black Prince, defeated, at Poictiers, with 14,000 men, a French army of 60,000 horse, besides infantry, and took John I., King of France, and his son Philip, prisoners. On the 25th of October, 1415, King Henry V., with an army of about 13,000 men, although greatly exhausted by marches, privations, and sickness, defeated, at Agincourt, the Constable of France, at the head of the flower of the French nobility and an army said to amount to 60,000 men, and gained a complete victory.

During the seventy years’ war between the United Provinces of the Netherlands and the Spanish monarchy, which commenced in 1578 and terminated in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the States-General were celebrated for their unconquerable spirit and firmness;[3] and in the thirty years’ war between the Protestant Princes and the Emperor of Germany, the British Troops in the service of Sweden and other states were celebrated for deeds of heroism.[4] In the wars of Queen Anne, the fame of the British army under the great Marlborough was spread throughout the world; and if we glance at the achievements performed within the memory of persons now living, there is abundant proof that the Britons of the present age are not inferior to their ancestors in the qualities which constitute good soldiers. Witness the deeds of the brave men, of whom there are many now surviving, who fought in Egypt in 1801, under the brave Abercromby, and compelled the French army, which had been vainly styled Invincible, to evacuate that country; also the services of the gallant Troops during the arduous campaigns in the Peninsula, under the immortal Wellington; and the determined stand made by the British Army at Waterloo, where Napoleon Bonaparte, who had long been the inveterate enemy of Great Britain, and had sought and planned her destruction by every means he could devise, was compelled to leave his vanquished legions to their fate, and to place himself at the disposal of the British Government. These achievements, with others of recent dates in the distant climes of India, prove that the same valour and constancy which glowed in the breasts of the heroes of Crecy, Poictiers, Agincourt, Blenheim, and Ramilies, continue to animate the Britons of the nineteenth century.

The British Soldier is distinguished for a robust and muscular frame,—intrepidity which no danger can appal,—unconquerable spirit and resolution,—patience in fatigue and privation, and cheerful obedience to his superiors. These qualities, united with an excellent system of order and discipline to regulate and give a skilful direction to the energies and adventurous spirit of the hero, and a wise selection of officers of superior talent to command, whose presence inspires confidence,—have been the leading causes of the splendid victories gained by the British arms.[5] The fame of the deeds of the past and present generations in the various battle fields where the robust sons of Albion have fought and conquered, surrounds the British arms with a halo of glory; these achievements will live in the page of history to the end of time.

The records of the several regiments will be found to contain a detail of facts of an interesting character, connected with the hardships, sufferings, and gallant exploits of British soldiers in the various parts of the world, where the calls of their Country and the commands of their Sovereign have required them to proceed in the execution of their duty, whether in active continental operations, or in maintaining colonial territories in distant and unfavourable climes.

The superiority of the British infantry has been pre-eminently set forth in the wars of six centuries, and admitted by the greatest commanders which Europe has produced. The formations and movements of this arme, as at present practised, while they are adapted to every species of warfare, and to all probable situations and circumstances of service, are calculated to show forth the brilliancy of military tactics calculated upon mathematical and scientific principles. Although the movements and evolutions have been copied from the continental armies, yet various improvements have from time to time been introduced, to insure that simplicity and celerity by which the superiority of the national military character is maintained. The rank and influence which Great Britain has attained among the nations of the world, have in a great measure been purchased by the valour of the Army, and to persons who have the welfare of their country at heart, the records of the several regiments cannot fail to prove interesting.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A company of 200 men would appear thus:—

20	20	20	30	20	30	20	20	20
Harquebuses.		Muskets.		Halberds.		Muskets.		Harquebuses.
	Archers.		Pikes.		Pikes.		Archers.

The musket carried a ball which weighed 1/10th of a pound; and the harquebus a ball which weighed 1/25th of a pound.

[2] The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine corps in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the reign of Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the Fleet under Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of Gibraltar, and in its subsequent defence in 1704; they were afterwards employed at the siege of Barcelona in 1705.

[3] The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his Discourse on War, printed in 1590, observes:—“I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the field, let them be chosen where they list.” Yet at this time the Spanish infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe. For instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during the Seventy Years’ War, see the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or Buffs.

[4] Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot.

[5] “Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty.”—General Orders in 1801.

In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January, 1809, it is stated:—“On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to yield,—that no circumstances can appal,—and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means.”

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CONTENTS — HISTORICAL RECORD.

OF THE

1849.

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS — PLATE.

OF

THE SEVENTIETH REGIMENT OF FOOT.

HISTORICAL RECORD

OF

THE SEVENTIETH,

OR

THE SURREY REGIMENT OF FOOT.

The repose granted to Europe by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was interrupted by the aggressions, made by the French, on the British territory in America. War between the two kingdoms speedily followed; and a considerable augmentation was made to the strength of the British army in the winter of 1755, and in the spring of 1756. On that occasion a second battalion was added to the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, then commanded by Major-General Henry Holmes, and stationed in Great Britain.

In 1758 the second battalion of the THIRTY-FIRST foot was constituted a regiment, which was numbered the “SEVENTIETH” in the British line. It was stationed in North Britain; its facings were light grey; it contained in its ranks many men who were natives of Scotland, particularly of Glasgow, and they were commonly called the “Glasgow greys.”

The colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH regiment was conferred on Colonel John Parslow, from captain and lieut.-colonel in the first foot guards; the lieut.-colonelcy on Charles Vignoles, from major in the thirty-first regiment; and the majority on Robert Pigot, senior captain of the thirty-first. The officers appointed to the SEVENTIETH regiment were:—

From Scotland the regiment was removed to South Britain, in 1759, and remained there during the seven years’ war. Colonel Parslow was removed to the fifty-fourth regiment, in September, 1760, and the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH was conferred on Lieut.-Colonel Cyrus Trapaud, of the Third or Buffs.

Peace having been concluded, the establishment of the regiment was reduced in 1763; at the same time it was removed to Ireland.

In 1764 the regiment embarked from Ireland for the West Indies, where it was stationed ten years.

By the Royal Warrant of the 19th December, 1768, the facings were directed to be black.

The regiment sustained severe loss from the climate of the West India Islands during the period it was employed there; and in 1774 it returned to England much reduced in numbers.

During the year 1775 the regiment was employed recruiting its numbers in England, and in 1776 it marched to Scotland.

The regiment was stationed in Scotland until the early part of the year 1778, when it embarked for North America, and was employed in that part of the British dominions during the remainder of the American war, which commenced in 1775, and ended in 1782.

Lieut.-General Trapaud was removed in 1778 to the fifty-second regiment, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH by Major-General William Tryon, from major in the first foot guards.

The battalion companies of the regiment were stationed in the northern provinces of America; but the flank companies were detached southward.

In 1781 the regiment was stationed in Nova Scotia, and it remained in that country during the two following years.

In 1782, the SEVENTIETH was designated the SURREY regiment, county titles being adopted at this period in the army, pursuant to His Majesty’s command, with a view of promoting the recruiting service by cultivating a connexion with distinct parts of the kingdom.

Lieut.-General Tryon was removed, in 1783, to the twenty-ninth regiment, and King George III. appointed Colonel the Earl of Suffolk, from the ninety-seventh (afterwards disbanded) to the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH regiment.

Having been relieved from duty in North America, the regiment returned to England in 1784.

The regiment occupied various quarters in England during the years 1785 and 1786, and in 1787 it proceeded to Ireland.

While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, the French Revolution involved Great Britain in war with France; and in 1793, the SEVENTIETH regiment embarked from Ireland, under the command of Colonel Eyre Coote, for the West Indies, to take part in an attack on the French West India Islands.

An armament was assembled at Barbadoes in the beginning of 1794, under the orders of General Sir Charles, afterwards Earl, Grey, for the capture of Martinique, and the SEVENTIETH regiment had the honor to take part in this enterprise. The grenadiers and light infantry were formed in flank battalions, and Lieut.-Colonel Coote commanded the first battalion of light infantry; the regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Johnston. A landing was effected, at three different points, on the island of Martinique on the 5th, 6th, and 8th of February; and the first light infantry, under Lieut.-Colonel Coote of the SEVENTIETH, distinguished themselves at the capture of the heights of Morne le Brun. The battalion companies had also an opportunity of signalizing themselves. Sir Charles Grey stated in his despatch,—“I received intelligence of the enemy’s landing troops, and taking post on Morne Pied, to cut off the communication between Brigadier-General Whyte and head-quarters at Salée, and I ordered the SEVENTIETH regiment, with two howitzers, to march on the same night and dislodge them, which was executed with great spirit, and the post taken possession of early on the morning of the 9th, under the good conduct of Adjutant-General, Colonel Dundas, the SEVENTIETH regiment being commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Johnston, and the enemy completely defeated at the first charge.” The loss of the regiment on this occasion was limited to a few private soldiers wounded.

After a series of brilliant successes, possession was gained of the greater part of the island; Fort Bourbon and Fort Royal were besieged, and the garrisons forced to surrender,—the French troops in the former delivering up five stand of colours, and those in the latter two. These colours were sent to England, and lodged in St. Paul’s Cathedral by a party of life guards and foot guards on the 17th of May. Thus the British flag waved a second time over Martinique, the island having been captured by the English in 1762, but restored to France by the peace of Fontainebleau in the following year.

In these successes of the British arms, in which the SEVENTIETH regiment had the honor to share, the commander of the expedition stated—“The spirit, unanimity, and perseverance of the navy and army never were more conspicuous; nor has more cordial co-operation ever been manifested between His Majesty’s naval and land forces. In a word, the general and field officers, and the commanding officers of corps, have set such an example of zeal, activity, and animation in this service, which has been so laudably imitated by all the officers and soldiers of this little army, that they merit the greatest praise.”

Having sustained severe loss from the climate of the West Indies, the SEVENTIETH regiment returned to Europe in May, 1795; it was speedily recruited, and embarked for Gibraltar under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Coote.

The regiment performed garrison duty at Gibraltar until February, 1800, when it embarked for the West Indies; six companies, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Wolfe, arrived at their destination, and were stationed at Trinidad. The vessel containing four companies, under Lieut.-Colonel Nichol, sprung a leak at sea, and put into Lisbon harbour, from whence they were ordered to proceed to the island of Jersey.

The six companies, which had proceeded to the West Indies, arrived at Jersey in May, 1801, and the regiment proceeded to Dover. It was one of the regiments forming the army of observation at Shornecliff camp under Major-General (afterwards Sir John) Moore.

Peace was concluded with France in 1802; but hostilities were resumed in 1803, and in the autumn of the same year the regiment again embarked for the West Indies, under Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Ross. It arrived at its destination in December, and was stationed at the island of Antigua during the years 1804 and 1805.

In June, 1806, the head-quarters were removed to St. Christopher, leaving two companies at Antigua, under Lieut.-Colonel Lewis Grant, for one month, and they afterwards joined the regiment.

The policy of the Court of Denmark having become favourable to the interests of the French, that country became involved in war with Great Britain, in 1807, and in December of that year a detachment of the SEVENTIETH regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Ross, embarked from St. Christopher with the expedition, under General Henry Bowyer, against the Danish islands of St. Thomas and St. John, which surrendered to the British arms without firing a shot. The regiment followed the detachment soon afterwards, and was stationed at the island of St. Thomas.

During the years 1808 and 1809 the regiment was stationed at the island of St. Thomas and its dependencies.

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 troops employed on this service were formed into two divisions of two brigades in each: on the 30th of January, Major-General (afterwards Sir Thomas) Hislop reported, that the enemy having retained possession of the sea-batteries commanding the anchorage in the Grande Aine, from which they continued to fire on the British men of war, the Light Company of the SEVENTIETH regiment was sent to dislodge them, which was instantly effected, the party of the enemy escaping along shore. The conquest of this important settlement was accomplished in nine days; the Governor, Captain-General Ernouf, surrendering the colony and its dependencies to the British arms, by articles dated the 6th of February.

In June of the same year, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and drummers of four companies proceeded to Europe, in order to replace the casualties arising from a long course of colonial service, and formed a recruiting depôt, which was established at Ayr, in Scotland, under the orders of Colonel Andrew Ross. This officer was placed on the Staff of the army in the following year, and proceeded to Cadiz, from whence he was removed to Carthagena, where he died of an illness brought on by fatigue and service: he attained the rank of Major-General before his decease.

From Ayr the depôt was removed, in 1811, to Stirling Castle, under Lieut.-Colonel Grant.

The regiment was relieved from duty in the West Indies in the early part of 1812, and, returning to Europe, joined the depôt at Stirling Castle, in April and June of that year.

On the 22nd of October, 1812, the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, was pleased to approve of the SEVENTIETH being styled the Glasgow lowland regiment.

From Stirling Castle the regiment marched in January, 1813, to Montrose, to assist the magistrates in suppressing riots: in February it proceeded to Perth, and performed duty over French prisoners about four months.

In July the regiment proceeded to Ireland, where it only remained a few days, before it received orders to embark for Canada, to reinforce the British troops in that country in consequence of the war between Great Britain and the United States. The regiment embarked from Cork, on the 31st of August, under Major MacGregor, and, arriving in Lower Canada in November, was stationed at Quebec.

Lieut.-General the Honorable Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, K.B., was appointed Colonel of the SEVENTIETH regiment, from the 103rd foot, in January, 1814, in succession to General the Earl of Suffolk, who was removed to the forty-fourth regiment.

After performing garrison duty at Quebec eight months, the regiment proceeded to Montreal, from whence it was removed to Cornwall in Upper Canada, and in August it was brigaded with the ninth, sixteenth, and fifty-seventh, under Colonel Grant, on the line of communication from Montreal to Kingston in Upper Canada.

Peace was concluded with the United States in 1815, and in June of that year the SEVENTIETH regiment was ordered to proceed to Kingston.

Lieut.-General Sir G. Lowry Cole was removed to the thirty-fourth regiment in May, 1816, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH by Lieut.-General Forbes Champagné, from colonel-commandant of a battalion of the Rifle Brigade.

During this year the regiment remained at Kingston, and Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Evans, C.B., assumed the command in August.

Lieut.-General Champagné died in the autumn of the year 1816, and the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on Major-General Sir Kenneth Alexander Howard, K.C.B., afterwards Lord Howard of Effingham.

In April, 1817, the regiment was removed, under the command of Colonel Grant, to Fort George, Drummond’s Island, Amherstburg, the posts on the Niagara frontier, and York, now called Toronto.

The regiment was removed to Kingston, in June, 1819, and was stationed at that place, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel MacGregor; in November, 1820, Colonel Ottley arrived and assumed the command of the regiment.

From Kingston the regiment was removed in May, 1821, to Quebec, and in May, 1822, Colonel Ottley proceeded to Europe on leave, when the command again devolved on Lieut.-Colonel MacGregor.

The regiment continued to occupy quarters in Canada during the years 1823, 1824, 1825, and 1826.

In 1825 the SEVENTIETH was permitted to resume the County title of the Surrey regiment, conferred upon it in 1782, and to discontinue the title of the Glasgow Lowland regiment.

In the summer of 1827 the regiment was relieved from duty in Canada, and returning to Europe, arrived in Ireland in September; it was stationed in that country six years.

The Earl of Effingham was removed to the third foot in 1832, and the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH was conferred on Lieut.-General Gage John Hall, from the ninety-ninth regiment.

After occupying various stations in Ireland until the spring of 1834, the regiment was divided into six service, and four depôt companies. The service companies embarked at Cork in March and April, for Gibraltar, where they were stationed two years.

In 1835, the depôt companies were removed from Ireland to South Britain, and were afterwards stationed at the island of Guernsey.

On the 16th of June, 1836, the service companies embarked at Gibraltar for Malta, where they landed on the 3rd of July.

The service companies remained at Malta until January, 1838, when they embarked for the West Indies, and were stationed at Barbadoes.

In September of the same year the depôt companies returned to Ireland. Previously to the depôt companies quitting Guernsey, the following testimonial of the Royal Court of the Island was presented to Major White, complimentary of that portion of the regiment:—

“I have the honor to be, Sir,
“Your very obedient humble servant,
“Daniel De Lisle Brock,
“Bailiff of Guernsey.

“To Major White, commanding the depôt
of the 70th regiment, in Guernsey, &c.”

“Charles Lefebvre,
Her Majesty’s Greffier.”

“In testimony of the above, the seal of the bailiwick of the said island of Guernsey is affixed to this present Act.

“Daniel De Lisle Brock,
Bailiff of the island of Guernsey.
“P. B. Dobrée,  }  
“Thomas Le Retilley }  Jurats.”

From Barbadoes the service companies were removed, in May, 1841, to Canada, and landed at Montreal in June. On their embarkation for North America, Lieutenant-General Maister, commanding in the West Indies, issued the following General Order, expressive of his approbation of the appearance of the Regiment:—

The service companies were stationed in Canada during the year 1842. In May, 1843, they embarked at Quebec for England, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Joseph Kelsall, in Her Majesty’s troop-ship Resistance; and, landing at Portsmouth on the 24th of June, were afterwards joined by the depôt companies from Ireland. Previous to leaving Canada seventy-two men of the SEVENTIETH volunteered for permanent service to other regiments stationed in North America. The regiment was moved from Portsmouth, in September following, to Manchester, from whence it marched to Leeds in October, with detached companies to Bradford, Sheffield, Halifax, Huddersfield, and Keighley.

Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Kelsall retired on full pay on the 23rd February, 1844, and was succeeded by Major Edward James White, who was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

In October, 1844, the regiment returned to Manchester, where it remained till April following.

In April, 1845, the regiment proceeded to Ireland and was stationed at Newry, from whence it marched in September to Dublin. On the 30th December, 1845, Lieut.-Colonel E. J. White retired on full pay, and Major Thomas Reed was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment.

The regiment was removed from Dublin to Templemore in August, 1846.

On the 1st April, 1847, the regiment was augmented to an establishment of 57 serjeants, 21 drummers, and one thousand rank and file. Major William Matthew Bigge was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the 23rd April, 1847, on the retirement of Lieut.-Colonel Reed.

Events in the East Indies having rendered reinforcements necessary, the sixty-fourth, SEVENTIETH, and eighty-third regiments have been selected for embarkation for India,—the SEVENTIETH being ordered to proceed to the Bengal Presidency, where the regiment may probably have an opportunity of distinguishing itself in a more signal, though not less useful, manner than a long tour of Colonial Service has afforded.

The foregoing statement of the services of the SEVENTIETH regiment shows the long, and unavoidable, detention of the corps on West India service, and that such was the cause of its not having had an opportunity of sharing in the splendid victories obtained by other regiments which were engaged in the Continental wars:—While the regiment was employed in an apparently inactive state on Colonial duty, the Government, and the Commander-in-Chief, were enabled to send other disposable regiments to combat the enemy in the Peninsula, and on various expeditions in Europe; the conquered Islands in the West Indies were consequently entrusted to a few corps, of which the SEVENTIETH regiment was one, and on which full reliance could be placed by the Sovereign, and by the Country.

1848.

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS

OF THE

SEVENTIETH,

OR

THE SURREY REGIMENT OF FOOT.

John Parslow,

Appointed 28th April, 1758.

John Parslow was many years an officer in the First Regiment of Foot Guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of captain and lieut.-colonel on the 18th of May, 1747. In 1758 King George II. conferred upon him the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH regiment, from which he was removed, in 1760, to the Fifty-fourth regiment. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1761, to that of lieut.-general in 1770, and of general in 1782. He was removed to the Thirtieth regiment in April, 1770. He died at Bath on the 15th of November, 1786.

Cyrus Trapaud,

Appointed 10th July, 1760.

Cyrus Trapaud, descended from a family of distinction in France, was related to Marshal Turenne and other noblemen in that country: his father was a Protestant, and was forced by persecution to seek an asylum in England. Cyrus Trapaud entered the British army, and was many years an officer in the Buffs. He accompanied his regiment to the Netherlands in 1742, served at the battle of Dettingen in 1743, and of Fontenoy in 1745. Returning to Great Britain in the same year, he served, in 1746, at the battles of Falkirk and Culloden. In 1747 he again proceeded to the Netherlands, and served at the battle of Val. On the 3rd of February, 1750, he was appointed lieut.-colonel of the Buffs, and commanded that regiment in the expedition to the coast of France, in 1757. He served at the attack of Martinique, and commanded a brigade at the reduction of Guadaloupe in 1759. In 1760 he was rewarded with the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH regiment; he was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1762, and to that of lieut.-general in 1772; was removed to the Fifty-second regiment in 1778, and promoted to the rank of general in 1783. He was conspicuous for courage, and for the exact performance of every duty both of public and private life, united with a kind and gentlemanly deportment, which procured him the esteem of all who knew him. He lived to be the senior general in the army, and dying on the 3rd of May, 1801, was buried with military honors at Chelsea, many distinguished persons attending his funeral.

William Tryon,

Appointed 14th May, 1778.

This Officer served many years in the First Foot Guards, in which corps he was promoted to the rank of captain and lieut.-colonel in 1758; in May, 1772, he was advanced to the rank of colonel, and in 1776 he was nominated major in his regiment. He was appointed governor of the state of North Carolina, where he evinced great zeal and ability in suppressing the rising seeds of insurrection, and he conciliated the loyal British subjects. Being afterwards called to the government of New York, his abilities were conspicuously displayed there during the American War of Independence. He raised a body of Provincials for the King’s service, and evinced gallantry in several military services, particularly in the expedition to Danbury in the spring of 1777. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in the same year, and to that of lieut.-general in 1782. In 1778 he was rewarded with the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH regiment, and was removed to the Twenty-ninth in 1783. He died in 1788.

John, Earl of Suffolk,

Appointed 16th August, 1783.

John Howard was page to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and entered the army as ensign in the First Foot Guards, on the 13th of June, 1756; he was promoted to the rank of captain and lieut.-colonel in 1773. In 1782 he was nominated colonel of the Ninety-seventh regiment, afterwards disbanded; he succeeded to the dignity of Earl of Suffolk in 1783, and was removed to the SEVENTIETH regiment in the same year. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1787, to that of lieut.-general in 1797, and of general in 1802. In 1814 he was removed to the Forty-fourth regiment. He was many years governor of Londonderry and of Calmore fort. His Lordship died in 1820.

The Honorable Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, K.B.,

Appointed 12th January, 1814.

The Honorable Galbraith Lowry Cole entered the army in March, 1787, and after serving in the subordinate commissions, was advanced to the rank of major in 1793, when the struggle between Great Britain and the revolutionists of France had commenced; and the progress of the eventful contest which followed, afforded him opportunities for the display of those professional abilities which he possessed. In 1794 he was appointed lieut.-colonel in Ward’s regiment, afterwards disbanded; and in 1799 he was nominated lieut.-colonel in General Villette’s corps, afterwards disbanded; in 1801 he obtained the rank of colonel. He served in the island of Sicily, as brigadier-general, and commanded the first brigade at the battle of Maida on the 4th of July, 1806; Major-General Sir John Stuart, afterwards Count of Maida, bore testimony, in his public despatch, to the gallant conduct of Brigadier-General the Hon. G. L. Cole on that occasion, which reflected lustre on the British arms. In 1808 he was promoted to the rank of major-general. His services were afterwards extended to the Peninsula, where he commanded a division during the campaigns from 1810 to the overthrow of Napoleon, Emperor of France, and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty in 1814. His distinguished services during those campaigns are blended with the military annals of the Peninsula, and the public despatches of the Duke of Wellington bear testimony of his excellent conduct during many difficult operations, severely contested battles, and sieges. He received the local rank of lieut.-general in Spain and Portugal in 1810; was appointed colonel of the 103rd regiment in 1812; and obtained the rank of lieut.-general in 1813. He was nominated a Knight of the most Honorable Military Order of the Bath, and on the extension of that order, in 1815, he received the decorations of Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. In commemoration of his distinguished services in Sicily, Portugal, Spain, and the South of France, he received the distinction of a cross and four clasps, for the battles of Maida, Albuhera, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse. In 1814 he was removed to the SEVENTIETH regiment; in 1816 to the Thirty-fourth; and in 1826 to the Twenty-seventh regiment. He was appointed governor of Gravesend and Tilbury Fort; and in 1830 promoted to the rank of general. He died in 1842.

Forbes Champagné,

Appointed 21st May, 1816.

This officer was appointed ensign in the Fourth foot in 1773; he was stationed at Boston when the American war commenced, and was engaged at Lexington on the 19th of April, 1775. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the same year, and attached to the first light battalion, with which he served in 1776, at the descent on Long Island, battle of Brooklyn, capture of New York, action at Frog’s Neck, capture of Fort Washington, and capture of New Jersey. In 1777 he served in the expedition to Pennsylvania, and was at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown: and in the march through the Jerseys, in 1778, he was engaged at Freehold. He was promoted to captain in the Twenty-third regiment in 1779, and was removed to the mounted light infantry in 1780. He served in the expedition to South Carolina, was at the siege of Charleston, at the battles of Camden, and Guildford Court-house, and in all the actions in which the troops under Major-General the Earl Cornwallis were engaged, in the two Carolinas and in Virginia, ending with the capitulation of York Town. He returned to England at the end of the war. In 1793 he was appointed major, and afterwards lieut.-colonel of the Eightieth regiment, with which corps he served in the Netherlands at the siege of Nimeguen, and during the winter campaign of 1794-5 in Holland. In 1795 he was removed to the Twentieth foot, and in 1797 was promoted to the rank of colonel. He served as brigadier-general in Ireland, during the rebellion in 1798, and in 1799 in the expedition to Holland. In 1800 he was placed on the staff of the south-west district; and was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1803. In 1806 he was nominated to the command of the western district, and to the colonelcy of the Eighth Garrison Battalion. In May, 1807, he was placed on the staff in the East Indies, where he served some time. He was appointed colonel-commandant of a battalion of the Rifle Brigade in 1809,—promoted to the rank of lieut.-general in 1810, and removed to the colonelcy of the SEVENTIETH regiment, in May, 1816. He died on the 22nd of October, 1816.

Sir Kenneth Alexander Howard, G.C.B.,

afterwards

Lord Howard, Earl of Effingham,

Appointed 24th October, 1816.

This officer entered the army, as ensign in the second (Coldstream) foot guards, on the 21st April, 1786, and on the 25th February, 1793, embarked for Flanders, and served during the campaign in that country; on the 25th April, 1793, he obtained a lieutenancy, and on the 1st September the adjutancy. He continued to serve with his regiment on the Continent till May, 1795, when the troops returned to England. He was wounded at the battle of St. Amand; and was present at the siege and capture of Valenciennes, action of Lincelles, and siege of Dunkirk. On the 30th of December, 1797, he was promoted to a captain-lieutenancy; and to a company on the 25th of July, 1799. On the 13th of June, 1793, he was appointed major of brigade to the foot guards sent to Ireland, where he served during the whole of the rebellion. In August, 1799, he served in the same capacity with the expedition to Holland, and was present in all the actions. On the 1st of July, 1801, he was deputed to act as inspector-general of foreign corps during the absence from England of Colonel W. Clinton; and on that officer’s return he was appointed on the 25th of February, 1802, deputy inspector-general of foreign corps; on that office being abolished, he was nominated commandant of the foreign depôt. On the 1st of January, 1805, he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King, and received the rank of colonel; on the 4th of August, 1808, second major in his regiment; and on the 25th of July, 1810, major-general. He joined the army in the Peninsula on the 9th of January, 1811, and was appointed to the command of a brigade in the first division, and was present with it at the action at Fuentes d’Onor on the 5th of May; he was afterwards transferred with his brigade to the second division, the command of which he held, as senior officer, from July, 1811, to April, 1812; he commanded the right column at the action of Arroyo dos Molinos; stormed and took with part of his brigade the forts Napoleon and Ragusa at Almaraz. In November, 1812, he was appointed to the command of the first brigade of foot guards in the first division, and in June, 1813, to the command of the division, which he held until the end of the Peninsular war in 1814, being present at the battle of Vittoria, attack on Tolosa, passage of the Bidassoa, Nivelle, Nive, and Adour; investment of Bayonne, and repulse of the sortie, besides various minor actions. Major-General Howard received a medal and one clasp for Vittoria and Nive. He was subsequently appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth,—a Knight Companion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath,—and, on the 24th of October, 1816, he was appointed by the Prince Regent, in the name, and on the behalf, of His Majesty King George III., Colonel of the SEVENTIETH regiment. He succeeded Richard, the late Earl of Effingham, in the Barony, when the earldom became extinct, on the 11th of December, 1816. On the 12th of August, 1819, Lord Howard of Effingham was advanced to the rank of lieut.-general, and on the 17th of March, 1820, was nominated a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. On the 30th of January, 1832, his Lordship was removed from the SEVENTIETH regiment to the Third foot, or the Buffs. On the 10th of January, 1837, his Lordship was further advanced to the rank of general, and on the 21st of that month was created, by His Majesty King William IV., Earl of Effingham.

His Lordship’s decease occurred at Brighton on the 13th February, 1845.

Gage John Hall,

Appointed 30th January, 1832.