HOME NAVAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
The naval and military incidents of the year at home, which were of a nature to record in history, were not numerous. The most important of them was the organization of a coast defence, which was thus described in a paper of the day, having a character for accurate naval and military intelligence:—“The organization of the coast-guard for the national defence, is the plan of the Earl of Auckland, first lord of the Admiralty, under the approbation of the commissioners of customs. The carrying out of the system is vested entirely in the hands of Captain Houston Stewart, C.B., the controller-general of the coastguard, in whose hands a sum of money has been placed for the purpose. It will be recollected that this gallant officer commanded the Benbow, 72, at the siege of Acre. Commander Jerningham is an additional commander appointed to the Excellent gunnery-ship, and has been selected for the purpose of carrying into operation the plans and arrangements of Captain Stewart, and to superintend the system of instruction of the men at great gun exercise, which is precisely the same as that laid down in the ‘Rules for exercise and service of great guns in her majesty’s ships.’ Wherever guns have been placed for the instruction of the coast-guard, warranted gunners from the Excellent have been appointed to instruct the men, under the superintendence of Commander Jerningham, who was gunnery-lieutenant of the Wellesley, in China. They receive four shillings a day, in addition to their present pay, and the men who are brought to the guns for instruction receive one shilling a day for six days, during which time they are excused from all other duty. It is proposed to instruct the coast-guard by means of ship platform batteries of one gun each, constructed exactly similar to the ports of a man-of-war, placed in a position in each district convenient for the drill of fifty men, and in a situation in which it may be rendered available for defence, as well as affording a range to sea for practice.”
In after years this institution proved of great value. Lord Auckland’s administration of the Admiralty will, on this account, be memorable, although certainly on no other.
The return of Sir Harry Smith from India was hailed by the public, who sought every opportunity of demonstrating their respect for a hero who had so nobly sustained the military reputation of England. Theregiment of lancers, upon which so much depended in Sir Harry’s separate command connected with the events of Loodiana and Aliwal, had also returned to England. The following exciting and singular scene occurred in the autumn at Brighton. The address delivered by the general was remarkable for the interesting incidents which it brought out, and its reference to the opinion of the Duke of Wellington:—“On Friday afternoon, Sir Harry Smith paid a visit of inspection to the 16th Lancers at Brighton. The gallant general arrived by railway at two o’clock, and was met at the terminus by Colonel M’Dowall who went out with the regiment in 1822 as a lieutenant. He accompanied the general to the cavalry barracks, situate a mile north-west of Brighton. Shortly after his arrival at the barracks, Sir Harry and Colonel M’Dowall, went into the barrack yard, where the regiment was drawn up for an undress parade. As soon as the general made his appearance the band struck up, ‘See, the conquering hero comes.’ The regiment was drawn up in squadrons by Lieutenant-colonel Smithe, who so gallantly led it into the field at Aliwal. Sir Harry inspected the troops, occasionally stooping as he proceeded down the line, addressing some of the veterans, who bore upon their breasts medals and stars, presented to them for their victories in India. Sir Harry inspected them on foot; but afterwards mounted a horse, and put the regiment through a variety of evolutions, which were performed to his great satisfaction. This done, the regiment was drawn up in close column. Sir Harry rode up to the front, and addressed the troops as follows:—‘Soldiers of the 16th Lancers, I hope you are now as happy as you made your enemies unhappy. You served in India with the highest honour. Whenever you were called on, you were ready to obey your officers, either in the field or in quarters. If I have not this day addressed each separate individual whom I know, it is not because I do not feel towards you all as I know you all feel towards me, but because I do not keep you and your officers on the ground. I have served many years, and commanded many soldiers; but never did I know a regiment of dragoons or of infantry superior, either in the field or in quarters, to my gallant comrades of the 16th Lancers. I think I now see you on the morning of Aliwal, marching in that order which would have done honour to a barrack parade—your hearts in the right place, your hands on your lances, and doing what I believe was never before done—charging twice through a dense mass of infantry. On the following morning I saw half of you, I believe, with your heads bound up, looking in the field of battle for your dead and wounded comrades. I saw you also, when the enemy had taken your baggage, with a cheerful heart and ready hand, willing to redeem what was considered to be a reverse, when I asked you to do it, and to make the enemy and the world know that you were equal to all trials. The Duke of Wellington has often talked to me about this regiment of dragoons, who have frequently distinguished themselves under his command, and also of the memorable morning of Aliwal. Soldiers of the 16th, I have on this occasion more particularly addressed you. I beg to address Colonel M’Dowall and the officers of the 16th Lancers: That you are gentlemen we all know, and none know it more than the privates of the regiment, and that they have a commander and officers who will ask nothing of them which they will not obey. I regard the 16th Lancers as the nucleus of another corps, which in future times will achieve another Aliwal. I tell you again, what I told you at Lahore, where Runjeet Singh asked if you were all gentlemen, and if her majesty had many such regiments of gentlemen; on that morning I told you I loved you. I repeat it, and the love of a comrade is known to none but to soldiers. My dear fellows, I rejoice to be amongst you again.’ Sir Harry then said (turning to Colonel M’Dowall)—’ Pray do not let them be kept any longer.’ The troops then gave a loud huzza, and marched off the ground with the band playing.”
On the 1st of June a general order was issued from the Horse-guards, to the following effect:—“Her majesty having been graciously pleased to command that a medal should be struck to record the services of her fleets and armies during the wars, commencing 1793, and ending in 1814, and that one should be conferred on every officer, non-commissioned officer, and soldier of the army who was present in any battle or siege, to commemorate which medals had been struck by command of her majesty’s royal predecessors, and had been distributed to the general or superior officers of the several armies and corps of troops engaged, in conformity with the regulations of the service at that time in force,—general and other officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, who consider that they have claims to receive this mark of their sovereign’s respect, are each to apply to the secretary of the board of general officers, Whitehall, London, and to send in writing a statement of their claim, for what action, at what period of time, and the names of the persons, and the titles of the documents by which their claim can be proved.”
The occasions for which medals were granted, in pursuance of the general order of which the above is an extract, were:—
Maida, 4th July, 1806. Bolein, 17th August, 1808. Vimeira, 21st August, 1808. Sahagun Benevento, December and January, 1809. Corunna, 16th January, 1809. Martinique, February, 1809. Talaveia, 27th and 28th July, 1809. Guadaloupe, January and February, 1810. Busaco, 27th September, 1810. Barrosa, 5th March, 1811. Fuentes d’Onor, 5th May, 1811. Albuera, 10th May, 1811. Java, August and September, 1811. Ciuclad Rodrigo, January, 1812. Badajoz, 17th March and 10th April, 1812. Salamanca, 22nd July, 1812. Fort Detroit, America, August, 1812. Vittoria, 21st June, 1813. Chateauguay, America, 26th October, 1813. Nivelle, 10th November, 1813. Chrystler’s Farm, America, 11th November, 1813. Nive, 9th to 13th December, 1813. Orthes, 27th February, 1814. Toulouse, 10th April, 1814.
The Admiralty issued an order similar to that of the Horse-guards. Gold medals to flag officers and captains were issued by the Admiralty for the actions undermentioned:—
Lord Howe’s victory over the French fleet, 1st June, 1794.
Lord St. Vincent’s victory over the Spanish fleet, 14th February, 1797.
Lord Duncan’s victory over the Dutch fleet, 11th October, 1797.
Captain Sir Edward Hamilton. Surprise and recapture of the Hermione, 15th October, 1799.
Lord Nelson. Battle of Trafalgar, 21st October, 1805.
Sir R. Strachan. French squadron taken, 4th November, 1805.
Sir J. Duckworth. Action off St. Domingo, 6th February, 1806.
Captain Bresbane, of the Arethusa, and three other ships, take Curaçoa.
Captain M. Seymour, of the Thetis, captured the Amethyst, 10th November, 1808.
Captain Stewart, of the Seahorse, captured Turkish frigate, Badere Zaffer, 6th July, 1809.
Captain Mounsey, of the Bonne Citoyenne, captured the Furieuse, 6th July, 1809.
Captain C. Cole, of the Caroline, captured the Banda Neira, 9th August, 1810.
Captain W. Hoste, with the Antphion and three other ships, action off Lissa, 13th March, 1811.
Captain Talbot, Victorious, captured Rivoli, 22nd February, 1812.
Captain Broke, of the Shannon, captured the Chesapeake, 1st June, 1813.
Captain E. Palmer, of the Helvis, captured L’Etoile, 27th March, 1814.
Captain E. Hope, of the Endymion, defeated the President, 25th January, 1815.
The issue of these orders, and the grant of the medals, gave general satisfaction; but severe animadversions were offered in the London press against the want of public spirit, on the part of successive governments, in allowing such actions so long to remain without the honour thus tardily accorded. Many of the heroes who contributed to this glorious list of victories by sea and land, had passed away, their breasts unhonoured by the badge which they would have prized so much. It was no new thing for England’s braves to be neglected by their country, or rather, by those to whom the government of the country was so often unworthily committed.