FOOTNOTES:
[1] The Regimental Band at the date referred to in this chapter consisted of a Bandmaster at 4s. per diem, and 8 private men, who were borne on the strength of the companies at Woolwich.
[2] The Duke of Wellington, being at this time Master-General of the Ordnance, invariably selected the artillery for reductions rather than the cavalry and infantry.
[3] These were withdrawn about 1861.
[4] i. e. Amalgamation of Royal and Indian Artilleries.
[5] It is but just to say, that much that is good in the care of the horses in the Royal Artillery in the field comes traditionally from the Horse Artillery attached to the German hussars in the Peninsula: and the riding of the Corps was first taught by a German riding-master brought from Hanover by George III.—Communicated by Sir D. E. Wood.
[6] In the year of Trafalgar, some artillerymen under Lieut. Robertson served on board the ‘Victory’ with Nelson, in the West Indies.
[7] Majors A. Du Vernet, S. D. Edwards, F. L. Deruvijnes, J. Smith; Captains J. Arbuthnot, J. Rogers, L. Newton, M. Pattison, Suckling, H. Deruvijnes; Lieutenants Mackenzie, Concannon, Brooke Young, Le Geyt, Pritchard, William Caddy, Stackpoole, Bingham, Baker, Robinson, Ommaney, Carterell, Worth, Arthur, Davers.
[8] The detail of the Chestnut Troop, as it actually embarked, exclusive of officers, officers’ horses, and the attached men from the Driver Corps, included above, was as follows:—
| A | Staff-sergeants. |
| B | Sergeants. |
| C | Corporals. |
| D | Bombardiers. |
| E | Mounted. |
| F | Dismounted. |
| G | Drivers. |
| H | Artificers and Trumpeters. |
| I | Riding. |
| J | Draught. |
| Gunners. | Horses. | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | Total. | ||
| 4 | Two 12-pounders and two ammunition waggons | ·· | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 10 | ·· | 16 | 20 | 36 |
| 4 | Two Royal howitzers and two ammunition waggons | ·· | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 8 | ·· | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| 6 | Three 6-pounders and three ammunition waggons | ·· | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 12 | 12 | ·· | 24 | 24 | 48 |
| 1 | One field-officer’s waggon | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 2 | ·· | ·· | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Four tilted baggage waggons | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 4 | ·· | ·· | 8 | 8 |
| 2 | Two forges | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 8 | ·· | ·· | 16 | 16 |
| Staff-serjeants | 2 | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 2 | ·· | 2 | |
| Artificers and trumpeters, as per margin | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 8 | 6 | ·· | 6 | |
| Officers’ servants | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 6 | 1 | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | |
| 3 | Spare limbers, with ammunition | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 3 | ·· | ·· | 6 | 6 |
| Number required | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 41 | 34 | 48 | 8 | 64 | 94 | 158 | |
| Spare | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 4 | 4 | 6 | ·· | 6 | 10 | 16 | |
| 24 | Total of one troop | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 48 | 38 | 54 | 8 | 70 | 104 | 174 |
N.B. Artificers and trumpeters for seven guns:—3 farriers—2 mounted, 1 dismounted. 1 carriage smith mounted. 2 collar-makers: 1 mounted, 1 dismounted. 1 wheeler mounted. 1 trumpeter mounted.
[9] Afterwards Sir Edmund Curry.
[10] This Company’s Peninsular services were very distinguished.
[11] Although anticipating matters somewhat, the Author cannot resist adding a few words with reference to the very distinguished services of this—unhappily defunct—company during the Indian Mutiny. No. 3 Company, 8th Battalion, left Ceylon for India on the 11th June, 1857. It was commanded by the 2nd Captain, Maude: Lieutenants Maitland and Dadson were the other officers. After remaining a week in Calcutta, it proceeded on the 20th June to join the force then being formed at Allahabad under General Havelock. The strength of the company had been reduced by cholera, &c., to 51. It marched with Havelock’s column to Cawnpore, fighting on the way at Futtehpore, Pandu Nuddy, Avung, and before Cawnpore. After remaining at Cawnpore a short time to recruit the energies of his force, Havelock marched across the Ganges into Oude, hoping to penetrate to Lucknow. He fought four actions, viz.: (1) Onao; (2) Basarat Gunj; (3) Basarat Gunj; (4) Boorbeaki Choki, close to Basarat Gunj, having to fall back from Basarat Gunj each time from weakness. These four actions were fought on three successive Wednesdays—the two first on the same day. He then returned to Cawnpore. Reinforcements under Generals Neill and Outram began to arrive, and during the end of August and beginning of September the force increased to 3000 men. They therefore left Cawnpore on the 18th September (leaving a small garrison), fighting at Mangalwarra and at Alumbagh, close to Lucknow, and then prepared for the great struggle of entering the city. After coming out of Lucknow, the company was reinforced by some Artillerymen from England, and by Lieutenants A. Ford and S. Brown, and remained at Alumbagh under Sir James Outram to hold the swarms of natives in Lucknow in check. During this time frequent skirmishes and two real actions took place, all ending in the natives being repulsed with loss. In March, Lord Clyde came up with a large force, and the company went to take Lucknow, forming part of the siege train, and being told off to 18-pounders, 8-inch howitzers, and 5½-inch mortars. After this, the company was engaged in a few affairs of minor importance in Oude, until the country was pacified.
If it should be the Author’s privilege to write the History of the Royal Artillery during the Indian Mutiny, he is fortunately in a position to amplify the above sketch with instances of individual heroism and suffering.
[12] The General Order referred to was issued by Sir John Stuart on the 6th July, 1806, and contains the following passage: “The Artillery were well provided, and most effectually served, under the directions of Major Lemoine, the Commandant of that corps.”
[13] The Bishop was a leading member of the Royal Council.
[14] The force had originally been destined for South America.
[15] Afterwards 8 Battery, 13 Brigade, but reduced on 1 Feb. 1871.
[16] Captain Wilmot was in command of the Company which is now D Battery, 4th Brigade.
| The Infantry force with the Expedition numbered | 33,096 |
| The Cavalry | 3,015 |
Sir J. T. Jones, from whose work these numbers are taken, gives only the field and not also the siege Artillery companies.
[18] The armament and numbering of these batteries differ from those given in Sir J. T. Jones’s ‘Sieges;’ but as they are taken from Captain Gardiner’s MS. diary—written in his own hand—they must be correct. Probably they show the armament of the batteries when the bombardment commenced; and Sir J. Jones may give the armament when at its maximum.
[19] From MS. return found among Sir A. Dickson’s papers.
[20] The Dutch Mayor’s French petition is peculiar; but it is given as in the original.
[21] The officers of the Chestnut Troop on its arrival in the Peninsula, were Captain—afterwards Sir H. D.—Ross, 2nd Captain G. Jenkinson, Lieutenants G. J. Belson, J. Macdonald, and Smith, and Assistant-Surgeon O’Brien. The following is a copy of the Embarkation Returns. See next page.
[22] The gallant Norman Ramsay was 2nd Captain of Bull’s troop.
[23] It will be observed that, as before stated, the Regiment had, before the end of 1810, fallen below the establishment shown at pages 263-265.
[24] The Artillery of the Allies at Fuentes d’Onor was as follows:—
| Royal Horse Artillery | 12 | guns. |
| Royal Artillery | 12 | ” |
| Portuguese Artillery | 18 | ” |
| __ | ||
| 42 | ||
| __ |
Sir A. Dickson’s MSS.
[25] In his notes on the various sieges in the Peninsula, Sir A. Dickson frequently differs from Sir J. Jones’s well-known work. But as the latter had more to do with engineering details, and as Sir A. Dickson’s MSS. contain occasional marginal notes of later date, saying that his statement is correct, and Sir J. Jones’s wrong, it has been decided to accept his account, when differing from the latter work.
[26] Vide note at Table B, p. 299.
[27] In answer to an inquiry from General Macleod about these guns, Major Dickson, writing from Oporto, on 27 Aug. 1811, said: “They were brass Portuguese guns of the time of John IV. and his son Alfonso, bearing dates 1646, 1652, and 1653, &c.; also some Spanish guns of Philips III. and IV.—dates 1620, 1636, &c.”
[28] This battering train consisted of 78 pieces, according to Sir J. T. Jones, but, as will be seen presently, only 64 pieces went up the country with Major Dickson from Oporto.
[29] Captain Thompson’s company—now D Battery, 11th Brigade—was afterwards employed in the operations on the east of Spain.
[30] According to Sir J. Jones, the guns in action on the 19th were 29 24-prs. and 1 18-pr.; but Sir A. Dickson, who was in charge of the Artillery, says as above. The difference is, however, infinitesimal.
[31] Sir J. Jones’s statement includes the Portuguese Artillery.
[32] Now No. 7 Battery, 17th Brigade R.A., Captain Gardiner having been posted vice Raynsford.
[33] These numbers, which differ from those given by Napier, are taken from the official MS. Regimental Returns prepared immediately after the siege, which include all, even slightly wounded. Doubtless many such were not included in the Army returns.
[34] The rank of Lieut.-Colonel had at first been conferred on him by the Portuguese government. He received the same—by brevet—from the English Government on 27th April, 1812.
[35] Appointed Brevet Lieut.-Colonel on 27th April, 1812.
[36] “A few days after the battle of Salamanca, the troop of Horse Artillery, under Captains Lefebure and Whinyates (which was on the Tagus with Hill’s force), distinguished itself in a brilliant affair, resulting in the total defeat of the French cavalry at Ribera. Major-General Long, who commanded, spoke in the highest terms of all the troops under his command, particularly the Horse Artillery, who displayed great activity in their movements, and rapidity in their fire.”—Browne.
[37] “On the 10th August an engagement took place with a body of the enemy’s cavalry which had been sent forward to watch the movements of the Allies. This force was driven in by General D’Urban, but made another attack. General D’Urban ordered the Portuguese cavalry, with which was Captain Macdonald’s troop of Horse Artillery, to charge. Before reaching the enemy they were seized with panic and fled, leaving Macdonald’s guns, which had been moved forward in support, utterly unprotected. The exertions of the troop got the guns moved off, but owing to the state of the ground, three got damaged and fell with Captain Dynely and their detachments into the enemy’s hands.”—Browne.
[38] “The total expenditure of ammunition during the siege was as follows:—
| 920 | 24-pr. round shot. |
| 1854 | 18-pr. round shot. |
| 333 | French 8-pr. round shot. |
| 90 | French 6-pr. round shot. |
| 288 | French 4-pr. round shot. |
| 203 | 24-pr. common shell. |
| 182 | 24-pr. spherical case. |
| 192 | French 6-pr. shot.” |
—Jones’s ‘Peninsular Sieges.’
[39] As will be seen, on reference to the chapter on the Old Tenth Battalion, Captain Cairnes had also to give up to the pontoon train his second supply of horses in the end of this year.
[40] It would appear from Sir A. Frazer’s letters that Webber Smith’s troop was for a time attached to the Hussars, but ultimately to the 7th Division, in lieu of Captain Gardiner’s troop, which joined the Hussar Brigade.
[41] Passages de la Calçada.
[42] Jones’s ‘Peninsular Sieges’ would appear to err here:—and to show one gun less than the real number in No. 4 Battery.
[43] “The number of rounds expended during the second operation was 43,112. The strength of the Artillery (including 187 Portuguese) was 681. The casualties amounted to 7 killed and 31 wounded.”—Jones’s ‘Peninsular Sieges.’
[44] In the end of January 1814, after giving over the horses to the pontoons, 460 were deficient for the Artillery, and 200 others were sick or worn out. To meet this deficiency, 500 had been promised, and were to leave England in February.
[45] Sir A. Dickson, being only regimentally a 1st Captain, had been appointed to the command of G Troop, on Sir A. Frazer’s promotion; and in his absence in America, Captain Mercer held the command. At Waterloo, Sir A. Dickson was otherwise employed.
Communicated by Sir D. E. Wood, K.C.B., &c. &c.
In recent times, the most remarkable march made by Artillery was on one occasion during the Indian Mutiny, when a battery of R.H.A. marched 78 miles in 24 hours, and continued marching, elephants carrying the forage.
[47] Many of the guns at Waterloo actually became unserviceable from incessant firing.
[48] The casualties at Waterloo promoted Captain Mercer to the rank of 1st Captain.
[49] Although a Colonel in the army, Sir George Wood was only a Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel in 1815.
[50] This seems the must probable solution of the difficulty.
[51] At this time, according to the Duke’s letter, he had nothing but his reserve Artillery, the rest having quitted the field!