HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT,
OR
THE ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS.
1793.
The disturbed state of affairs on the continent of Europe in 1793, particularly in France, arising from the principles of the Revolution in that country, which threatened surrounding nations with universal anarchy, occasioned preparations to be made throughout the several countries, in order to oppose the dangerous doctrines which were then diffused under the specious terms of “Liberty and Equality.”
On the 1st of February 1793, the National Convention of France, after the decapitation of King Louis XVI. on the 21st of the previous month, declared war against Great Britain and Holland. Augmentations were immediately made to the regular army, the militia was embodied, and the British people evinced their loyalty and patriotism by forming volunteer associations, and by making every exertion for the maintenance of monarchical principles, and for the defence of those institutions which had raised their country to a high position among the nations of Europe.
Upwards of fifty regiments of infantry were authorised to be raised, on this emergency, in the several parts of Great Britain and Ireland, by officers and gentlemen possessing local influence, sixteen of which regiments, viz. from the Seventy-eighth to the Ninety-third, continue at this period on the establishment of the army.
Of the officers thus honored with the confidence of their Sovereign and his Government, Lieut.-Colonel John Doyle (afterwards General Sir John Doyle, Bart., and G.C.B.) was selected, to whom a letter of service was addressed on the 18th of September 1793, authorising him to raise a regiment, to consist of ten companies of sixty rank and file in each company. The corps was speedily completed, and was designated the Eighty-seventh, or The Prince of Wales’s Irish Regiment.
The following is a copy of the Letter of Service, addressed by the Secretary-at-War to Major John Doyle, on the half-pay of the late One hundred and fifth regiment, dated
“War Office,
“18th September 1793.
“Sir,
“I am commanded to acquaint you, that His Majesty approves of your raising a regiment of foot, without any allowance of levy money, to be completed within three months, upon the following terms, viz.:
“The corps is to consist of one company of Grenadiers, one of Light Infantry, and eight battalion companies. The Grenadier company is to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, three serjeants, three corporals, two drummers, two fifers, and fifty-seven private men. The Light Infantry company of one captain, two lieutenants, three serjeants, three corporals, two drummers, and fifty-seven men; and each battalion company of one captain, one lieutenant, and one ensign, three serjeants, three corporals, two drummers, and fifty-seven private men, together with the usual staff officers, and with a serjeant-major and quartermaster-serjeant, exclusive of the serjeants above specified. The captain-lieutenant is (as usual) included in the number of lieutenants above mentioned.
“The corps is to have one major with a company, and is to be under your command as major, with a company.
“The pay of the officers is to commence from the dates of their commissions, and that of the non-commissioned officers and privates from the dates of their attestations.
“His Majesty is pleased to leave to you the nomination of the officers of the regiment; but the lieut.-colonel and major are to be taken from the list of lieut.-colonels or majors on half-pay, or the major from a captain on full pay. Six of the captains are to be taken from the half-pay, and the other captain and the captain-lieutenant from the list of captains or captain-lieutenants on full pay. All the lieutenants are to be taken from the half-pay; and the gentlemen recommended for ensigns are not to be under sixteen years of age.
“No officer, however, is to be taken from the half-pay who received the difference on going upon the half-pay, nor is any officer coming from the half-pay to contribute any money towards the levy, but he may be required to raise such a quota of men as you may agree upon with him.
“The person to be recommended for quartermaster must not be proposed for any other commission.
“In case the corps should be reduced after it has been once established, the officers will be entitled to half-pay.
“No man is to be enlisted above thirty-five years of age, nor under five feet five inches high. Well-made, growing lads, between sixteen and eighteen years of age, may be taken at five feet four inches.
“The recruits are to be engaged without limitation as to the period or place of their service.
“The non-commissioned officers and privates are to be inspected by a general officer, who will reject all such as are unfit for service, or not enlisted in conformity to the terms of this letter.
“In the execution of this service, I take leave to assure you of every assistance which my office can afford.
“I have, &c., &c.,
(Signed) “George Yonge.
“To Major John Doyle, on the half-pay of the late
One hundred and fifth regiment.”
The following officers were appointed to commissions in the Eighty-seventh regiment, viz.:—
1794.
Lieut.-Colonel Commandant—John Doyle.
Lieut.-Colonel—Edward Viscount Dungarvan
(afterwards Earl of Cork).
Major—Walter Hovenden.
Captains.
Honorable George Napier.
Nathaniel Cookman.
Honorable Robert Mead.
Percy Freke.
Richard Thompson.
Howe Hadfield.
Captain-Lieutenant—James Magrath.
Lieutenants.
John Thompson.
William Aug. Blakeney.
John Wilson.
Thomas Clarke.
James Henry Fitz Simon.
William Warren.
William Magrath.
Barton Lodge.
Ensigns.
Fleming Kells.
William Murray.
John Carrol.
—— Walker.
Benjamin Johnson.
—— Salmon.
Adjutant—John L. Brock.
Surgeon— —— Hill.
Quartermaster—Wm. Thomson.
Chaplain—Edw. Berwick.
The effective numbers were quickly recruited, and the regiment was so far formed as to be considered fit to be employed on active continental service. It was consequently embarked in the summer of 1794, as part of a force under Major-General the Earl Moira, and was sent to join the British army in Flanders, under the command of His Royal Highness the Duke of York. While on the march the Eighty-seventh regiment was attacked on the 15th of July 1794, at the outpost of Alost, by a strong corps of the enemy’s cavalry, which it repulsed, and for which act of bravery it received the thanks of the general officer in public orders. It is a circumstance worthy of being recorded in the regimental history, that the first individual of the regiment who was wounded, was the Lieut.-Colonel by whom it was raised. In the general orders of the Earl of Moira upon this occasion, “he expressed his admiration of the cool intrepidity with which the Eighty-seventh regiment repulsed an attack from the enemy’s cavalry, at the bridge of Alost, where its commander, Lieut.-Colonel Doyle, received two severe wounds, but would not quit his regiment, until the enemy had given up the attack.” The Duke of York, in his public letter, thus mentioned the affair:—
“Head-quarters, Cortyke,
“15th July 1794.
“Lord Moira speaks highly of the conduct of the officers and men of the Eighty-seventh regiment on this occasion, particularly of Lieut.-Colonel Doyle, commanding the corps, who was severely wounded.
(Signed) “Frederick.”
1795.
In 1795 the Eighty-seventh regiment was sent into Bergen-op-Zoom to be drilled; but soon after its arrival, the Dutch garrison revolted against the government, opened the gates, and joined the French, who entered with twenty thousand men, and made a capitulation with the Eighty-seventh, the only British corps in the town, then commanded by Lord Dungarvan (afterwards Earl of Cork), Lieut.-Colonel Doyle having been sent to England for the recovery of his wounds. The capitulation was however broken by the French, and the Eighty-seventh were marched prisoners of war into France.
1796.
The regiment was again filled up, and, with the Tenth foot, and some marines, was sent upon a secret expedition to the North Sea, under the command of Brigadier-General John Doyle, who had been promoted Colonel of the Eighty-seventh, on the 3rd of May 1796, to co-operate with Admiral (the late Lord) Duncan; but, having been delayed in England until the end of September, the tempestuous weather, usual at that season of the year in those seas, dispersed the ships and small craft by which the troops were to be landed, and put an end to the object of the expedition. The troops returned to England in the ships of war, in which they embarked under the orders of Admiral Sir Richard Bickerton.
On the 14th of October 1796, the regiment embarked for the West Indies.
Spain having united with France in hostility to Great Britain, an expedition under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., proceeded against the Spanish island of Trinidad, which capitulated on the 18th of February 1797. No men were killed or wounded. Lieutenant R—— Villeneuve, of the Eighth foot, major of brigade to Brigadier-General Hompesch, was the only officer wounded, and he died of his wounds.
1797.
After the reduction of Trinidad, the force (of which the Eighty-seventh formed part) destined for the expedition against Porto Rico, being assembled, the fleet sailed from Martinique on the 8th of April 1797, and on the 10th arrived at St. Kitt’s, where it remained for a few days. On the 17th the fleet anchored off Congrejos Point, and a landing was effected on the island of Porto Rico on the following day. The troops advanced, when it was perceived that the only point on which the town could be attacked was on the eastern side, where it was defended by the Castle and Lines of St. Christopher, to approach which it was necessary to force a way over the lagoon which formed that side of the island. This passage was strongly defended by two redoubts and gun-boats, and the enemy had destroyed the bridge connecting, in the narrowest channel, the island with the main land. After every effort the British could never sufficiently silence the fire of the enemy, who was likewise entrenched in the rear of these redoubts, to hazard forcing the passage with so small a number of troops. It was next endeavoured to bombard the town from a point to the southward of it, near to a large magazine abandoned by the enemy. This was tried for several days without any great effect, on account of the distance. Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, seeing that no act of vigour, or any combined operation between the sea and land services, could in any manner avail, determined to re-embark the troops, which was effected during the night of the 30th of April. Four Spanish field-pieces were brought off, but not a sick or wounded soldier was left behind, and nothing of any value fell into the hands of the enemy. Sir Ralph Abercromby in his despatch alluded to the troops in the following terms: “The behaviour of the troops has been meritorious; they were patient under labour, regular and orderly in their conduct, and spirited when an opportunity to show it occurred.” The Eighty-seventh had two rank and file killed, three wounded, and thirteen missing.
The regiment subsequently proceeded to St. Lucia, which had been captured from the French in May 1796.
1798.
During the year 1798, the regiment remained at St. Lucia.
1799.
In December 1799, the regiment proceeded from St. Lucia to Martinique.
1800.
The regiment was removed, in April 1800, from Martinique to Dominica.
1801.
In April 1801 the regiment embarked from Dominica for Barbadoes, and in August following proceeded to Curaçoa.
1802.
The preliminaries of peace, which had been agreed upon between Great Britain and France in the previous year, were ratified on the 27th of March 1802; but the peace which had been thus concluded was but of short duration. Napoleon Bonaparte, who had been elected First Consul of the French Republic, showed, on several occasions, that he continued to entertain strong feelings of hostility against Great Britain.
During the year 1802, the regiment continued to be stationed at Curaçoa.
1803.
After a few months, during which further provocations took place between the two countries, war was declared against France on the 18th of May 1803. The preparations which had been making in the French ports, the assembling of large bodies of troops on the coast, and the forming of numerous flotillas of gun-boats, justified the British government in adopting the strongest measures of defence, and in calling upon the people for their aid and services. Numerous volunteer associations were formed in all parts of the kingdom in defence of the Sovereign, the laws, and the institutions of the country. The militia was re-embodied, and the regular army was considerably augmented, under the “Army of Reserve Act,” as shown in the Appendix, page 97.
The Eighty-seventh regiment embarked from the island of Curaçoa for England on the 12th of January 1803, on board of the ship “De Ruyter,” which, meeting with tempestuous weather, was obliged to put into Jamaica, from whence it proceeded to Antigua, where it arrived in April 1803. The regiment proceeded to St. Kitt’s in June following.
1804.
On the 28th of July 1804 the regiment embarked from St. Kitt’s, and on the 28th of September following it landed at Plymouth, after a service of eight years in the West Indies, having lost during that period, by the diseases incident to the climate, many officers, and between seven and eight hundred men.
On the 31st of October the regiment embarked, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Sir Edward Butler, from Plymouth, for Guernsey, of which island Major-General Doyle had been appointed to the command and to the Lieutenant-Governorship.
The British Government, having ascertained that the King of Spain had engaged to furnish powerful aid to France, felt itself compelled to consider Spain as an enemy, and accordingly issued orders for intercepting some frigates off Cadiz, which were on their way to France with cargoes of treasure: a declaration of war was consequently issued by the Court of Madrid against Great Britain on the 12th of December 1804.
The establishment of the Eighty-seventh regiment, which had been authorised to receive men raised in certain counties of Ireland, under the Act of Parliament, dated 14th July 1804, termed the “Additional Force Act,” was augmented by a second battalion, of which a distinct account is commenced at page 41.[6]
1805.
On the 10th of March 1805, a detachment, consisting of twenty-eight serjeants, fifteen drummers, and five hundred and twenty-eight rank and file, being drafts from the levy then raising in the county of Mayo by the Honorable H. E. Browne, embarked from Ireland for Guernsey, and joined the first battalion on the 15th of April following, thus considerably augmenting the effective strength of the Eighty-seventh regiment.
1806.
On the 2nd of November 1805, the first battalion embarked from Guernsey, and proceeded to Portsmouth.
The first battalion of the Eighty-seventh regiment embarked at Portsmouth on the 23rd of July 1806, and proceeded to Plymouth, where it disembarked on the 6th of September following. On the 12th of that month it embarked for South America, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Sir Edward Butler; the effective numbers were, fifty-three serjeants, eighteen drummers, and eight hundred and five rank and file.[7]
1807.
The first battalion arrived in the Rio de la Plata in January 1807, and disembarked on the 16th of that month near Monte Video, where it took up a position in advance, protecting the breaching batteries, it having been arranged between Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty and Rear-Admiral Stirling to lay siege to the place. The piquets of the Eighty-seventh, under Major Miller, were attacked by the Spaniards, who were defeated with great loss. On the 3rd of February, a practicable breach being made, the troops proceeded to storm the town, which was carried, and the citadel soon afterwards surrendered.
The Eighty-seventh, under Lieut.-Colonel Sir Edward Butler, had three officers and sixty men killed, and three officers and eighty men wounded: total, one hundred and forty-six; strength in the field, seven hundred and eighty-eight.
| Killed. | Wounded. |
| Captain—Charles Beaumont. | Captain—John Evans. |
| Lieutenant—Hugh Irwine. | ” R. McCrea. |
| Surgeon—Wilde. | Lieutenant—W. Boucher. |
In the public thanks issued by Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty, the regiment is thus mentioned:—
“The Eighty-seventh, under Lieut.-Colonel Sir Edward Butler, were equally forward; and to their credit, it must be noticed, that they were posted under the great gate, to rush into the town when it should be opened by the troops, who entered at the breach; but their ardour would not allow them to wait; they scaled the walls, and opened themselves a passage.
(Signed) “T. Bradford,
“Dep. Adjutant-General.”
The Eighty-seventh subsequently received the royal authority to bear the words “Monte Video” on the regimental colour and appointments in commemoration of the gallantry evinced in the capture of that place on the 3rd of February 1807.
On the 10th of May, Lieut.-General Whitelocke having arrived from England with reinforcements, proceeded as Commander-in-chief to prepare for the attack of Buenos Ayres. In a brilliant affair at Colonia on the 7th of June, the light company of the battalion was creditably engaged. On the 18th of June the troops embarked at Monte Video, and on the 28th of the same month landed at Ensenada da Barragon, about twenty-eight miles from Buenos Ayres, without firing a shot. Major-General John Levison Gower was the second in command to Lieut.-General Whitelocke, and the Eighty-seventh were posted in the right brigade under Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty.
In the assault of Buenos Ayres on the morning of the 5th of July 1807, the Eighty-seventh were formed by wings, the right commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Sir Edward Butler, and the left by Major Miller. The orders were to pierce by the two streets to the right of the Retiro, in performing which (in company with the Thirty-eighth regiment) they suffered very severely. In the course of this service, Lieutenant William Hutchinson, in command of Captain Frederick Desbarres’s company, took two of the enemy’s guns, turned them on the Plazo del Toro, and, after a few rounds, the enemy, to the number of fifteen hundred, surrendered to him. The thanks of Sir Samuel Auchmuty were given to Lieutenant Hutchinson for his gallant conduct upon this occasion. Serjeant Byrne also distinguished himself by his bravery. Twenty-nine pieces of artillery, with a quantity of military stores, were taken. The light company, which was detached from the regiment, was taken prisoners in the convent of St. Domingo, and remained for three days, when it was restored agreeably to the articles of the treaty.
The loss of the Eighty-seventh on this occasion was seven officers and eighty men killed, and ten officers and three hundred and twenty men wounded: total, four hundred and seventeen; strength in the field, six hundred and forty-two; remained, two hundred and twenty-five.
| Killed. | Wounded. |
| Capt.—David Considine. | Major—Francis Miller. |
| ” Noblet Johnston. | Capt.—Alexander Rose. |
| ” Peter Gordon. | ” Frederick Desbarres. |
| ” Henry Blake. | |
| Lieut.—Robert Hamilton. | Lieut.—James O’Brien. |
| ” Michael Barry. | ” Edward Fitzgerald. |
| Quartermr.—Wm. Buchanan. | ” William Crowe. |
| Assist.-Surgeon—Buxton. | ” Hen. Taylor Budd. |
| ” Robert John Love. | |
| Ensign—Godfrey Green. |
The evening before this attack, there was an order that the great coats and kits of the regiment should be left in the house which the commanding officer had occupied, under the charge of the Quartermaster; or, in his absence, of a subaltern officer, with the sick or lame men who could not march, as a guard for this baggage. The Quartermaster was employed on the general staff as an assistant engineer, and the tour of duty fell upon Lieutenant Michael Barry, of the grenadier company; but this high-spirited young man earnestly solicited, and obtained permission, to accompany his regiment, and was the first officer who fell the next day. No other subaltern being found willing to remain behind, the charge was entrusted to Quartermaster-Serjeant William Grady. He was the first man who joined the corps on its formation, and had been distinguished for his bravery, intelligence, and trustworthiness; his guard, inefficient as it must be, mustered somewhat more than twenty men. In front of the house there was a thick orchard, with a narrow path leading to it; upon this he placed double sentries during the night, and a piquet of half his force in the day-time. It appeared that at the further end of this orchard a mounted body of the enemy was concealed; these men had been posted in advance of the town, but being unable to return, in consequence of the British troops having got between it and their position, they determined to get into the country by this narrow pass; but when they rushed out of the orchard, they were fired upon by Serjeant Grady’s sentries, and, their leader falling, they retreated into their cover, and after several ineffectual attempts to escape in that direction, the party, consisting of two officers and seventy men, well mounted and armed, surrendered to the Quartermaster-Serjeant’s small force. Having secured their arms and ammunition, he marched the prisoners to head-quarters, and delivered them up to Major-General Gower. Two hours after he received written orders from Lieut.-General Whitelocke to return the arms, &c. to the prisoners, who were released, and not to fire upon or stop any party, whether armed or not, going into or coming out of the town. At nine o’clock the next night, upwards of five hundred mounted men came out of the town and surrounded the house, the owner of which was an officer of the party, who, in addition to national hostility, was in a state of great irritation at his house having been taken from him, and, as he stated, plundered by the advanced guard of the British army. They surrounded and made prisoners Serjeant Grady and his party, who had orders not to fire upon any armed body. They were marched into the town, and thrust into loathsome dungeons. The Serjeant was a peculiar object of revenge, because he refused to accept a commission in their service, and to drill their troops. This brave and excellent soldier was subsequently rewarded for his exemplary conduct by being appointed Quartermaster to the second battalion of the regiment. After the capture of Serjeant Grady and his party, the stores were plundered, and the baggage carried off or destroyed.
Notwithstanding the intrepidity displayed by the troops, the enterprise failed. On the morning of the 6th of July the Governor-General Liniers sent a letter to Lieut.-General Whitelocke, offering to restore the prisoners taken in the action of the preceding day, and also those made with Brigadier-General Beresford, on condition that the whole of the British forces should be withdrawn from South America, which proposals were accepted. The Lieutenant-General’s conduct subsequently became the subject of inquiry by a court-martial, and he was cashiered.
During the attack upon Buenos Ayres, a number of the Spanish and native soldiers were seen in the uniform of the Eighty-seventh regiment; this was accounted for by a ship with the clothing for that regiment, which had been sent out from England to Monte Video, having been captured and carried into Buenos Ayres by a Spanish privateer, and the clothing had thus been distributed to the armed populace.
Subsequently to the assault on Buenos Ayres, the Commander of the Forces issued the following general order:—
“Buenos Ayres, 8th July 1807.
“General Order.
“Volunteer Peter Benson Husband, of the Eighty-seventh regiment, is appointed Ensign in that corps, in consequence of his very gallant behaviour on the morning of the 5th instant.
(Signed) “T. Bradford,
“Deputy-Adjutant-General.”
The Eighty-seventh returned to Monte Video, after the cessation of hostilities, and was completed by volunteers from the different corps returning to Europe. On the 2nd of August the regiment embarked for the Cape of Good Hope; and on the 4th of September following it landed at Simon’s Bay, and marched to Cape Town, where it formed part of the garrison.
1808.
1809.
During the years 1808 and 1809, the first battalion continued to be stationed at the Cape of Good Hope.
1810.
On the 23rd of October 1810, the first battalion embarked from the Cape, having been selected to form part of an expedition designed to co-operate with troops from India, under the command of Lieut.-General John Abercromby, in the capture of the Mauritius. A landing of the troops from India had taken place a few days before the division from the Cape, under Major-General William Cockell, had arrived. Its appearance off the island was, however, particularly opportune, as the French governor had previously resolved to defend his lines before Port Louis; but when he saw the force from the Cape approach the island, he relinquished the hope of being able to make effectual resistance, and surrendered this valuable colony to the British. The battalion disembarked at Port Louis on the 1st of December, where it remained on duty, after the other regiments composing the expedition returned to their respective quarters. Captain Henry C. Streatfeild with two officers and one hundred men were embarked on board a ship of war, in advance of the expedition, and landed before the force from the Cape.
1811 to
1814.
The first battalion continued to form part of the garrison of the island during the four following years.
1815.
In May 1815, the first battalion at the Mauritius was directed to hold itself in readiness for active service in India, and embarked on board of transports on the 16th of June, and landed at Fort William, in Bengal, on the 3rd of August.
The light company embarked in an Arab ship, with the flank companies of the Twelfth and Twenty-second regiments, and were carried into the Gulf of Manaar; the ship being there weather-bound, the troops were landed, with the assistance of country-boats, at Calpenterre, in Ceylon, and having remained fourteen days at Point de Galle, embarked again in the Arab ship for Calcutta, where they arrived, and rejoined the regiment on the 25th of September.
On the 1st of October 1815, the first battalion of the Eighty-seventh regiment embarked in boats, and sailed for Berhampore, where it arrived on the 14th, and again embarked and sailed for Dinapore on the 13th of November, at which place it disembarked on the 18th of December.
1816.
The Rajah of Nepaul having broken the terms of treaty made by him with the Honorable East India Company, the battalion marched for his territories on the 15th of January 1816, and arrived at Bullvee Camp on the 24th, where it joined the army under the command of Major-General Sir David Ochterlony, K.C.B., who commanded the forces assembled on the frontiers of Nepaul; on the 3rd of February the brigades advanced by their respective routes into Nepaul, Sir David Ochterlony remaining in company with the third and fourth brigades (to the former of which the Eighty-seventh belonged), and marched through the forest at the foot of the Nepaul Hills on the 9th. The light company of the battalion with those of the native infantry of the brigade with two guns under the command of Lieut. John Fenton, formed the advanced guard, and had a very arduous duty to perform, in carrying the guns through the forest, which was accomplished by the personal exertions of each individual. On the 10th, the third brigade arrived at Semul Cassa Pass, and at nine o’clock A. M. the light company of the Eighty-seventh, commanded by Lieutenant Fenton, accompanied by Sir David Ochterlony, was drawn up the pass, a height of thirty feet, by the officers’ sashes, the brigade then about five miles from the pass; on the 19th it reached the village of Etoundah on the banks of the Rapti. The advanced guard again exerted themselves in opening a communication between the third and fourth brigades through the Cheria Ghanty Pass.
On the 27th of February it arrived at Muckwanpore, and on the 28th the brigade was ordered to take possession of the heights of Sierapore, and reconnoitre the position of the enemy. Lieutenant Thomas Lee, with a piquet of forty men of the Eighty-seventh, and strong piquets of native infantry, under their own officers, was directed to take possession of the deserted height of Sierapore. Captain Pickersgill, acting Quartermaster-General, conducted them to their ground, where having planted them, Lieutenant Lee and twenty men of the Eighty-seventh proceeded to reconnoitre the ground in advance: the enemy advanced to recover his position; the piquet retired, and the reconnoitering party, in danger of being cut off; had to descend a hill covered with jungle, pursued by a strong party (nearly four hundred) of the enemy, and would not have escaped but for the gallantry of two soldiers of the Eighty-seventh, Corporal James Orr of No. 5. company, and Private Patrick Boyle of the Grenadier company, who seeing the danger of the officers, placed themselves on the pathway, and by their steadiness and fire, checked the advance of the enemy. On the officers making good their retreat, these gallant fellows retired uninjured: the corporal was promoted to the rank of serjeant at the particular desire of Major-General Sir David Ochterlony; the unfortunate habit of drinking alone prevented the promotion of the private. An action afterwards took place, in which the light company, under the command of Captain Fenton, suffered considerably. The action commenced about noon, and ceased at six o’clock P. M., leaving the British in possession of the heights for a considerable distance from Sierapore, and of one field-piece.
In this affair Lieut.-Colonel Francis Miller commanding the battalion, and Lieutenant Fenton[8] in the command of the light company (detached in the advance), particularly distinguished themselves, and received the public thanks of Major-General Sir David Ochterlony, and also of the Marquis of Hastings, the Commander-in-chief and Governor-General of India. The regiment had ten men killed, and above thirty wounded, many of whom died; the loss of the enemy was very considerable.
The Rajah, perceiving that resistance was unavailing, sued for peace, and a treaty was concluded on the 4th of March; on the 9th of that month the battalion commenced its return to Bengal, and arrived at Amowah on the 22nd of March, where it was cantoned until the 30th of June, on which day it commenced its march to Govingunge on the river Gonduck, and embarked in boats in progress to Cawnpore; on the 17th of August, the battalion arrived at Jangemowe, within a few miles of Cawnpore, but did not disembark at the latter station, until the 10th of September. About this period the battalion became very sickly from being so long confined in boats; the hospital list amounted to about four hundred and eighty, exclusive of numbers who could not be admitted for want of room. Not less than one hundred and fifty men died in this and the following month, when the cold weather coming on, in a great measure, renovated the corps.
1817.
On the 6th of February 1817, the regiment marched from Cawnpore towards Hattrass, which fortress the Commander-in-chief had given instructions to Major-General Marshall to besiege: the division from Cawnpore arrived before Hattrass, and joined the field army, on the 20th of February.
The pettah of the fort of Hattrass having been breached, it was resolved to storm on the evening of the 25th of February, and accordingly his Majesty’s Fourteenth regiment was appointed for that duty, and the Eighty-seventh to cover; however, the breach being found impracticable, the troops returned to their lines, but the pettah was evacuated during the night, and taken possession of on the following morning by the British troops; batteries were immediately erected against the fort, which was heavily bombarded with shells and rockets: at length the principal magazine blew up on the 2nd of March, the explosion of which was said to be distinctly heard at Meerut, nearly two hundred miles distant.
Dya Ram, Rajah of the fortress, having determined on abandoning it, most gallantly cut his way through some of the piquets of the besieging army, and effected his escape. On the morning of the 3rd of March, the right wing of the Eighty-seventh marched into and took possession of the fortress of Hattrass, which was reduced to a mass of ruins. On the 8th of March the regiment commenced its return to Cawnpore.
In July and August the Eighty-seventh regiment, in Bengal, was increased by a detachment of thirteen serjeants, three drummers, and two hundred and sixty-nine rank and file, men who had been transferred on the second battalion being disbanded on the 1st of February 1817.
The regiment remained at Cawnpore until the 15th of October, when it received orders to march to Secundra, where the grand army was formed under the command of the Marquis of Hastings, against the Pindaree hordes, and having remained there until a bridge of boats was completed over the Jumna, it crossed that river on the 27th, and marched to the banks of the Sind, opposite Gualior; but the grand army being, about this time, attacked by that fatal disease, the cholera morbus, compelled the Marquis, with his troops, to retire to Erich on the Bettwah: the mortality for four or five days was very great, particularly among the natives, who died in vast numbers on the road and in the villages through which the army passed. The Eighty-seventh lost one subaltern (Lieutenant John Coghlan), three serjeants, and forty rank and file; total, forty-four, in three days. The army having in some measure recovered, his Lordship returned to the banks of the Sind, and took up a position at Lonaree, within twenty-one miles of Gualior, where Scindiah, with a powerful force, was ready to take the field, to support the Mahratta States, which had revolted.
1818.
On the 14th of February 1818, the different divisions of the army were broken up, in consequence of peace being concluded, and the Eighty-seventh returned to Cawnpore, at which station it arrived on the 26th of that month.
1820.
On the 21st of October 1820, the regiment marched from Cawnpore for Fort William, by the new road, and arrived in that garrison on the 21st of December, a distance of six hundred and sixty miles.
1821.
On the night of the 6th of September 1821, a very alarming fire broke out in the Honorable Company’s Dispensary, situated in Calcutta, and surrounded by many valuable houses. As soon as intelligence reached the fort, two captains and ten subalterns, with about three hundred men, immediately marched to the spot, and, by the greatest exertions, prevented the fire from spreading to the neighbouring houses. The strictness with which the armed party protected the property of the inhabitants, called forth their admiration, which was followed by the annexed letter from the Governor-General, the Marquis of Hastings.
“Council Chamber, 17th Sept. 1821.
“My dear Sir,
“It was a great satisfaction to me, though no surprise, to learn the zealous and meritorious conduct of the detachment of the Eighty-seventh, employed in the endeavour to stop the fire last night. As some of the men have suffered in articles of dress, to repair that damage, as well as to reward the activity of the party, the Council has directed that five hundred rupees be paid to you, which you will please to distribute according to your opinion of claims.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “Hastings.
“Lieut.-Colonel Miller,
Eighty-seventh regiment.”
This mark of approbation from the Governor-General in Council, towards the party in general, was followed by one to the officers employed, each being presented with a piece of plate, accompanied by the following letter:
“Council Chamber, 18th December 1821.
“Sir,
“The Most Noble the Governor-General in Council, being desirous to evince the sense which Government entertains of the laudable exertions of those officers of his Majesty’s Eighty-seventh regiment, who were present with the detachment sent from Fort William on the occasion of the fire at the Honorable Company’s dispensary, has commanded me to transmit to you the accompanying silver cups, with a request that you will, on the part of his Lordship in Council, present one to each of the several officers named below, who are understood to have accompanied the troops on the night of the 6th of September last.”
Captain—George Rodney Bell.
” W. G. Cavanagh.
Lieutenant and Adjutant—James Bowes.
Lieutenant—John G. Baylee.
” Richard Irvine.
” Henry Gough Baylee.
” Alexander Irwin.
” George Tolfrey.
” Edmund Cox.
” John Shipp.
” Henry Spaight.
Ensign—Lawrence Halstead.
A very handsome piece of plate, which is now in the mess, was likewise presented to the above officers by Doctor McWhirter, whose house adjoined the Dispensary, and which was saved by great exertion.
1822.
In April 1822, another alarming fire occurred in Calcutta, at the cotton stores of Mr. Laprimaudage, in which a detachment of the Eighty-seventh exerted itself in a very laudable manner, and a letter of thanks was received by Lieut.-Colonel Miller, from that gentleman, for the service rendered by the officers and men on this occasion.
In 1822 the arrival of regiments from Europe, caused the Eighty-seventh to embark (by wings) in boats for the Upper Provinces, and on the 11th of July the right wing sailed for Dinapore, the left following on the 22nd of that month.
The right wing experienced bad weather and lost a number of boats, by which one serjeant, two drummers, five women, and four children were drowned. On the 19th of August the right wing landed at Dinapore, and the left on the 25th, having made a very prosperous voyage, not meeting with a single accident in the passage: on the 1st of November, the regiment marched to Ghazeepore.
1823.
On the 17th of May 1823, Lieut.-Colonel Francis M. Miller, C.B., died, after having served his Majesty upwards of thirty-four years, during which he had commanded the Eighty-seventh regiment at different periods for sixteen years. He was deeply and most deservedly regretted by every officer and soldier who had served with him, and had invariably received the marked approbation of every general officer under whom he had been placed. The command of the regiment subsequently devolved on Lieut.-Colonel Matthew Shawe, C.B.
1824.
Serjeant Stephen Carr was appointed quartermaster on the 24th of June 1824, as a reward for his distinguished gallantry and honorable trustworthy conduct: he was present in every action in which the second battalion was employed during the Peninsular war.
In consequence of the Forty-seventh regiment having embarked at Calcutta for Ava, the Eighty-seventh left Ghazeepore in boats oh the 9th of June 1824, and reached Berhampore on the 29th of the same month.
1825.
On the 14th of January 1825, the regiment proceeded towards Calcutta to replace the second battalion of the Royals on its departure for Ava; the left wing moved by land, the right by water, and were reunited on the 29th in Fort William, of which garrison Lieut.-Colonel Shawe became commandant.
On the 6th of June, the regiment performed the melancholy duty of attending to the grave the remains of its beloved and lamented commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Henry Browne. He had entered the regiment in 1800 as an ensign, when sixteen years of age, and had never belonged to any other: his qualities as a man and a soldier endeared him to all. In the meantime hostilities had commenced between the British and the Burmese, and on the 5th of October the regiment embarked for Ava, to reinforce the army in that country, in four divisions, which landed at Rangoon between the 3rd and 10th of November, and immediately proceeded in boats towards Prome, the head-quarters of the army. During the passage, Major William Slade Gully’s division was attacked from the bank of the river, on the 25th of November, by a strong party of Burmese, which was immediately repulsed on the troops being landed. Lieutenant and Adjutant James Bowes, in command of the advanced guard, was wounded, and two privates killed.
Six companies of the regiment, with Major Gully, Captains Charles Lucas and George Rodney Bell, and John Day; Lieutenants John Baylee, William Bateman, Robert Joseph Kerr, William Lenox Stafford, with Assistant Surgeons William Brown, M.D., and William Peter Birmingham, reached Prome in time to share in the operations of the 1st and 2nd of December, which terminated in the entire discomfiture of the enemy. On this occasion the regiment maintained its unvarying reputation for cool and distinguished gallantry: Lieutenant Baylee and two men were killed; Major Gully and twenty-one men were wounded.
1826.
On the 8th of January 1826, Lieut.-Colonel Hunter Blair joined the regiment, and was appointed a Brigadier, the Eighty-seventh being in his brigade.
On the 19th of January Brigadier Thomas Hunter Blair, Lieut.-Colonel of the regiment, commanded the right column of attack at the capture of Melloone, consisting of the Eighty-ninth regiment and the flank companies of the Forty-seventh and Eighty-seventh with Captain James Moore (major of brigade), Brevet Captain James Kennelly, Lieutenants Henry Gough Baylee, Edmund Cox, George Mainwaring, William Lenox Stafford, and Joseph Thomas, and Assistant Surgeon Birmingham. No loss was sustained.
The day after the fall of Melloone, the Bengal division, under Brigadier Shawe, made a flank movement from the river Irrawaddy, and entered a well-cultivated country abounding in cattle, eight hundred head of which were secured, and they proved a most seasonable supply to the army.
On the 28th of January the Eighty-seventh, with the flank companies of the Twenty-eighth native infantry, and detachments of the Governor-General’s body-guard and artillery, under Brigadier Hunter Blair, were sent from Tongwyn, to attack the position of Moulmein, eleven miles distant. The flank companies of the Eighty-seventh had one man killed and five wounded in forcing a piquet half way to Moulmein, which had been in part evacuated the preceding day. The position, being a great annoyance to the surrounding country, was destroyed, and the troops returned to camp the same evening.
On the 21st of February, the Bengal division rejoined head-quarters at Yandaboo; and on the 24th of February a royal salute announced the termination of the Burmese war.
The constancy and valour of the British troops had thus forced the monarch of an Eastern empire, with its myriads of inhabitants, to sue for peace; and their conduct is thus alluded to in the order issued by the Governor-General of India.
“While the Governor-General in Council enumerates, with sentiments of unfeigned admiration, the achievements of the First or Royals, the Thirteenth, Thirty-eighth, Forty-first, Forty-fifth, Forty-seventh, Eighty-seventh, and Eighty-ninth regiments, the Honorable Company’s Madras European regiment, and the Bengal and Madras European artillery, as the European troops which have had the honor of establishing the renown of the British arms in a new and distant region, his Lordship in Council feels that higher and more justly-merited praise cannot be bestowed on those brave troops than that, amidst the barbarous hosts which they have fought and conquered, they have eminently displayed the virtues and sustained the character of the British soldier.”
In commemoration of the meritorious conduct of the Eighty-seventh and other corps, the royal authority was subsequently granted for the word “Ava” to be borne on the regimental colour and appointments.
Brigadier Shawe, on the 1st of March, was compelled to proceed to Rangoon, in consequence of ill health.
On the 8th of March, the portion of the army that was ordered to return by land, marched from Yandaboo, under the command of Brigadier Hunter Blair. It consisted of the Eighty-seventh, the Governor-General’s body-guard, the Horse artillery, the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-eighth, and Forty-third Madras native infantry, and a battalion of the Madras pioneers. The column reached Prome, a distance of two hundred and ninety miles, on the 3rd of April, having had only one halting day, which was St. Patrick’s.
The Eighty-seventh remained at Prome, as the rear-guard of the army, until the arrangements for the final evacuation of the province was completed; on the 15th of April it embarked in the flotilla, and reached Rangoon on the 21st of that month.
On the 27th of April was received the melancholy intelligence of the death of Lieut.-Colonel Matthew Shawe, C.B., which lamented event took place on board His Majesty’s sloop, “Slany,” Captain Thornton, on the 10th of that month, within one day’s sail of Penang, where he was buried with all military honors. He was much regretted as an excellent man, and an officer of conspicuous gallantry. His life was sacrificed to his zeal for active service, for such was the state of his health, on leaving Calcutta, that his medical advisers used every endeavour to dissuade him from proceeding to Ava.[9]
Lieut.-Colonel Hunter Blair, became senior Lieut.-Colonel of the regiment, of which he assumed the command on the 1st of June, on the reduction of the staff in Ava.
On the 1st of September, Lieutenant Edmund Cox, with twenty-eight flankers, proceeded to Ava, as escort to the envoy, they being the first British soldiers who had visited that capital.
An order was received at Rangoon, on the 16th of October, directing that in consequence of the intended return of the Eighty-seventh to England, the men should be permitted to volunteer for the Forty-fifth regiment, also in garrison: one hundred and twenty-three men availed themselves of this offer.
On the 22nd of October, the head-quarters embarked for Calcutta, which they reached on the 16th of November, and were joined by the rest of the regiment on the 24th of that month.
Besides those already named, the regiment had to regret the death (in Ava) of two old and much valued officers, Captain Peter Benson Husband and Surgeon Alexander Leslie; and of Lieutenant Nicholas Milley Doyle, and Ensign Richard Loveday, two most promising young men, who were drowned in the Irrawaddy, and of above one hundred and eighty non-commissioned officers and soldiers, chiefly from dysentery.
After the return of the regiment from Ava, it had the honor of being reviewed at Calcutta by General Lord Combermere, G.C.B., Commander-in-chief in India, and inspected by Major-General Robert Alexander Dalzell, afterwards the Earl of Carnwath.
On the 13th of November, the volunteering re-commenced, and continued, with intervals, to the 27th of December, during which two hundred and fifty-nine men turned out, for the Sixteenth lancers, Thirteenth, Thirty-first, Thirty-eighth, and Forty-fourth regiments and East India Company’s service, reducing the regiment in India to two hundred and eighty men.
1827.
On the 1st of February the head-quarters, with nine companies, sailed from Calcutta in the free trader “Lord Lynedoch,” leaving the remainder of the regiment to follow in the “Cornwall.”
It may be remarked, as a singular circumstance, that the regiment should return to England in a ship bearing the name of the hero under whom it gained the decoration of the eagle at Barrosa, and still more remarkable, that its actual commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Hunter Blair, had proceeded to India in the “Barrosa.”
The following general order, dated the 29th of January, was published by his Excellency General Lord Combermere, on the embarkation of the regiment.
“The Commander-in-Chief having directed the embarkation of the Eighty-seventh regiment, on its return home, his Lordship cannot allow the corps to leave India, without expressing his high approbation of its services. Of the conduct of this corps, during its services in Ava, his Lordship has had the most favourable reports; and he has every confidence that, wherever its future destinies may lead it, the Eighty-seventh regiment will always add to its spirited and distinguished military reputation.”
On the 27th of April the head-quarters reached St. Helena, and remained there four days.
On the 23rd of June 1827 the Eighty-seventh landed in England, and was placed on the British establishment from that day inclusive, and marched into Chatham Barracks; from thence, after being inspected, and the invalids discharged, the regiment was moved by water on the 7th of July to Albany Barracks, Isle of Wight, the effective strength at head-quarters being two hundred and eighty rank and file.
In consequence of the continued career of brilliant services which has distinguished the regiment from its first taking the field, to its return to England, a period of thirty-three years, General Sir John Doyle felt it an imperative duty, as its Colonel, to bring those services under the notice of its revered and beloved Sovereign, and humbly to solicit for the corps some mark of His Majesty’s royal favour.
The gracious manner in which the King had condescended to view the conduct of his Eighty-seventh regiment, and the encouraging expressions with which His Majesty has been pleased to convey his approbation of its services, must be so cheering to the hearts of every member of the corps, that the circumstance naturally claims a place in the records of the regiment.
On the 20th of June 1827, the Colonel addressed the following letter to the Adjutant-General of the Forces, Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, K.C.B.:
“4. Somerset Street, Portman Square,
“20th June 1827.
“Sir,
“I have the honor to represent to you that the Eighty-seventh regiment, under my command, has arrived in England, after a service of twenty-one years in tropical climates.
“It has just returned from the Burmese campaign, where it has obtained additional honors to those it had formerly won.
“To you, Sir, who so well know the character of every corps in the army, it is unnecessary to detail the services of the Eighty-seventh. It is now thirty-three years since I had the honor to raise it, thirty-one years of which period it has been upon foreign service; on the continent of Europe, the Peninsula, South America, and the East and West Indies. In all the well-fought actions where it bore a part in both hemispheres, it has been distinguished in general orders. My authority is the Government Gazette.
“Under these circumstances, may I be permitted to hope that you will do me the favour to lay at His Majesty’s feet my humble petition that the Eighty-seventh regiment may be appointed a light infantry corps, which, as being a mark of His Majesty’s approbation, would be most gratifying to those brave men, who have so freely bled, and would lay down their lives, to manifest their devoted attachment to their gracious and beloved Sovereign. Perhaps, Sir, you will have the less difficulty in complying with my request, when I mention that, immediately after the action of Barrosa, I received the following note from Lord Lynedoch, written from the field of battle:
“My dear Doyle,
“Your regiment has covered itself with glory. Recommend it and its commander to the notice of its illustrious patron, the Prince Regent. Too much cannot be done for the corps.”
“I presented it to his Royal Highness, who graciously said, ‘It is very true, and I will do any thing you wish for the regiment; will you have it made Royal?’ I respectfully declined the honor, for reasons his Royal Highness did not disapprove.
“For the correctness of this statement I humbly appeal to His Majesty, who never forgets any circumstance relating to those who have faithfully and zealously served him.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “I. Doyle,
“Colonel of the Eighty-seventh,
or Prince of Wales’s Own Irish
Regiment, and General.
“Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, K.C.B., Adjutant-General
of the Forces, Horse Guards.”
To which letter the following answer was returned:
“Horse Guards,
“6th July 1827.
“Sir,
“I have had the honor to lay before the King your letter of the 20th instant, requesting that the Eighty-seventh, or Prince of Wales’s Own Irish regiment, of which you are colonel, may be made a corps of Light Infantry.
“On this occasion His Majesty has commanded me to express to you the perfect sense he entertains of the high and meritorious character of the Eighty-seventh regiment, and of the long course of brilliant services which have distinguished its career,—services which, the King has condescended to observe, have been impressed upon his memory by the recollection of more than one trophy captured from the enemy, and by the interest His Majesty must always take in a regiment which possesses, from its title, an early and peculiar claim to his protection.
“But with every disposition to accede to your wishes, the King laments that it is out of his power to grant your request without inconvenience to the public service, as well as a deviation from the principle that has guided His Majesty’s refusal on similar occasions. I am at the same time instructed to accompany this expression of the King’s regret, with the assurance of the gracious sense which His Majesty entertains of the services of the Prince of Wales’s Own Irish regiment, and of the personal interest he must always take in its welfare and honor.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “H. Torrens,
“Adjutant-General.
“General Sir John Doyle, Bart., G.C.B., Colonel
of the Eighty-seventh Regiment.”
In his reply to the above communication, in a letter dated the 11th of July 1827, General Sir John Doyle preferred a request, that the Eighty-seventh might be styled the “Prince of Wales’s Own Irish Regiment of Fusiliers,” in the following terms:—
“England, Scotland, and Wales, have each their national fusilier regiments; Ireland alone is without one. The prayer of my petition is, that the blank may be filled up by the Prince of Wales’s Own Irish regiment, to be honored by the title of the Prince of Wales’s Own Irish Fusiliers. Thus shall we preserve the endearing title we so highly prize; retain the national colours under which we have so long fought; and avoid collision with any regiment that might have been honored with the name of Royal.”
This request was complied with, and the result was communicated to General Sir John Doyle in the following letter from the Adjutant-General:
“Horse Guards,
“16th July, 1827.
“Sir,
“In reply to your letter of the 11th instant, I have the honor to acquaint you, that the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the Eighty-seventh regiment, of which you are Colonel, receiving the title of the Prince of Wales’s Own Irish Fusiliers, as a mark of His Majesty’s most gracious favour, and in consideration of the extraordinary distinction that has marked the career of the corps on all occasions.
“I have, &c.
(Signed) “H. Torrens,
“Adjutant-General.
“General Sir John Doyle, Bart. G.C.B.,
Colonel of the Eighty-seventh Regiment, &c. &c.”
It was directed that the Eighty-seventh should wear blue facings, instead of green, in order to render it uniform with the other fusilier regiments.
A further communication was made by the Adjutant-General to General Sir John Doyle, of which the following is an extract:—
“Horse Guards,
“17th November 1827.
“Sir,
“I have the honor to acquaint you, that the King has been pleased to approve of the Eighty-seventh regiment assuming the title “Royal,” and its being in future styled the Eighty-seventh or Royal Irish Fusiliers, instead of the Prince of Wales’s Own Irish Fusiliers.
“His Majesty has further been pleased to approve the patterns of facings and lace proposed by you for the uniform of the officers, non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates of the Eighty-seventh or Royal Irish Fusiliers, and to command that the same be adopted from the 25th of December 1829, when the clothing now in possession of the regiment shall be worn out.
“I have, &c.
(Signed) “H. Torrens,
“Adjutant-General.
“General Sir John Doyle, Bart., G.C.B., Colonel
of the Eighty-seventh, or Royal Irish Fusiliers.”
The regiment was inspected on the 2nd of November by Major-General Sir James Lyon, K.C.B. and G.C.H., who was pleased to express his unqualified approbation of the progress made during four months in the formation of a corps nearly composed of recruits, and which he declared to have surpassed his most sanguine expectation.
1828.
On the 19th of May 1828 the regiment was reviewed by General Lord Hill, commanding in chief, who expressed himself highly pleased with its evolutions and general appearance; and his Lordship also alluded to the favorable opinion entertained of the corps by the inhabitants of the Isle of Wight, in consequence of its quiet and orderly conduct in quarters.
The regiment was inspected on the 5th of June by Major-General Sir Colin Campbell, K.C.B., and had the gratification of obtaining his approbation.
The regiment, which, upon its arrival at Albany Barracks eleven months previously, had only two hundred and eighty rank and file present, was now within thirty-four of its establishment (seven hundred and forty), the recruits having been chiefly enlisted in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Galway.
The regiment quitted Albany Barracks on the 7th of July, where it had been stationed one year, and marched by Portsmouth and Maidstone to Chatham, which it reached on the 15th of that month.
On the 24th July, a route was received directing the regiment to march immediately for London, thence to proceed by the Paddington Canal to such destination as might be ordered. It was mustered, and marched in three hours after the receipt of the route, and arrived in Lambeth on the third day.
The regiment was reviewed on the 28th of July by General Sir John Doyle, Bart., attended by Major-General Sir Henry Torrens, K.C.B., Adjutant-General of the forces, and numerous other officers, when its appearance elicited unqualified approbation.
On the 29th of July the regiment embarked in seventeen boats on the Paddington Canal, landed at Northwich and Middlewich on the 2nd, and marched into Chester Castle on the 4th of August.
Towards the end of September two alarming fires broke out in the city of Chester: the very serious consequences that threatened were chiefly counteracted by the bold and active intrepidity displayed by the soldiers of the regiment in extinguishing the conflagration, and by the exertions of the officers to secure the property of the inhabitants.
These services were acknowledged in a vote of thanks from the Commissioners of Police to Lieut.-Colonel Blair, the officers, and soldiers of the regiment.
Various letters of thanks to the regiment also appeared in the Chester newspapers, from those inhabitants whose property was chiefly endangered.
On the 11th of October the regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, K.C.B., who was pleased to express himself much pleased with its appearance, movements, and interior economy.
A circular from the Horse Guards, dated the 5th of December, was received, which directed regiments not to recruit beyond six hundred and ninety rank and file, being fifty short of the nominal establishment of seven hundred and forty rank and file.
1829.
On the 19th of April 1829, under instruction from the Secretary of State, three companies, commanded by Major Gully, marched towards Abergelly, in Denbighshire, forty miles distant, in order to prevent a riot, expected on the ejection by the high sheriff, at the suit of the Bishop of St. Asaph, of a body of miners, from an extensive lime quarry, of which they refused to give up possession, in consequence of having enjoyed the privilege of working it for many years. The miners having submitted, the detachment rejoined head-quarters in four days, and fortunately without its interference being required.
On the 14th of May the regiment was again inspected by Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, and received his entire approbation.
The regiment moved from Chester on the 19th of May, where it had been quartered between nine and ten months. Previously to its departure, the following letter was received from the mayor of Chester.
“Town Clerk’s Office,
“Chester, 16th May 1829.
“Sir,
“Understanding that the Eighty-seventh Royal Irish Fusiliers are about to quit Chester, the mayor and magistrates of this city cannot allow you to leave without expressing the very high sense entertained of the general urbanity of yourself and brother officers; and the prompt exertions of the officers, and good conduct of the privates upon several trying occasions, when the safety and property of the city were threatened by fire.
“For the Magistrates of the City,
(Signed) “Robert Morris,
“Mayor.
“Lieut.-Colonel Hunter Blair, &c.”
On the 20th of May the regiment occupied the following stations: head-quarters and four companies at Stockport; two companies at Macclesfield; two at Oldham; one company at Hyde, and one at Ashton-under-Lyne.
The following highly gratifying letter was received on the 14th of June:—
“Head Quarters, Rotherham,
“11th June 1829.
“Sir,
“It is with great pleasure that I obey the orders of the General Commanding in chief, to express to you the satisfaction he has felt at the favorable report which I was enabled to make in my half-yearly confidential report upon the state of the Eighty-seventh regiment under your command; and it is his Lordship’s desire that you make this expression of his sentiments known to the regiment.
(Signed) “H. F. Bouverie,
“Major-General.
“Lieut.-Colonel Hunter Blair,
Commanding Eighty-seventh Regiment.”
On the 7th of July, the regiment left Salford Barracks, Manchester, and occupied the following stations. Head-quarters and four companies at Bolton in Lancashire; four companies at Blackburn, and two companies at Oldham. Prior to quitting Manchester a letter was received from Robert Sharpe, Esq., constable of Manchester, expressive of the regret of his colleagues, the inhabitants of the place, and himself, at the sudden departure of the regiment, and in which a marked tribute was paid by the authorities to its “exemplary conduct” while stationed in that town.
1830.
On the 25th of December 1830, the regiment commenced wearing the royal uniform and appointments, in compliance with the Adjutant-General’s letter of the 15th of October 1827: also Oxford-mixture pantaloons, which were introduced into the army by circular, dated 10th of February 1829.
By circular letter from the Adjutant-General, dated the 18th of March, a red fatigue jacket was substituted for the infantry of the army, in lieu of the white jacket formerly in wear.
By a circular letter from the Adjutant-General, dated the 22nd of April, regiments were directed not to recruit beyond six hundred and sixty rank and file, being eighty under the nominal establishment of seven hundred and forty.
The regiment was twice inspected at Manchester by Major-General Sir Henry Bouverie, on the 21st of November 1829, and the 28th of May 1830, on which last occasion the Major-General declared that it had gained, in all respects, his most unqualified approbation.
The regiment remained at Manchester until July 1830, when it was removed to Bolton-le-Moors: it embarked for Ireland in September following, and was stationed at Newry until November, when it returned to England, and was quartered at Plymouth.
1831.
On the 1st of January 1831, an orderly-room clerk was authorised to be borne on the establishment.
In the early part of the year 1831, directions were given for the formation of the regiment into six service and four depôt companies, and on the 23rd of February the service companies embarked for the Mauritius, where they arrived in June following: the depôt companies were left at Devonport.
1833.
1834.
The depôt companies remained at Devonport until October 1833, when they proceeded to Fort Cumberland; from thence to Gosport in December following, and to Portsmouth in February 1834.
On the 15th of August 1834, Major-General Sir Thomas Reynell, Bart., K.C.B., was removed from the colonelcy of the Ninety-ninth to that of the Eighty-seventh regiment, in succession to General Sir John Doyle, Bart., G.C.B., deceased.
1835.
1839.
The depôt companies remained at Portsmouth until August 1835, when they were moved to Chatham: they embarked for Ireland in August 1836, and were stationed at Nenagh; proceeded to Birr in September 1837, to Longford in December, and Castlebar in May following, where they remained until April 1839, when they were removed to Boyle: they proceeded to Virginia in July, to Drogheda in August, and to Dublin in September 1839.
On the 12th of August 1839, the establishment of the Eighty-seventh Royal Irish Fusiliers was increased to forty-seven serjeants, fourteen drummers, forty corporals, and seven hundred and sixty privates.
1840.
1841.
1842.
The depôt companies of the regiment returned to England in June 1840, and were stationed at Carlisle: they were removed to Tynemouth in May, and to Hull in June 1841: they remained at the latter station until August 1842, when they proceeded to Airdrie, and in the following month they marched to Paisley.
On the 15th of March 1841, Major-General Sir Hugh (now Viscount) Gough, K.C.B., was removed from the colonelcy of the Ninety-ninth to that of the Eighty-seventh regiment, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Reynell, Bart., K.C.B., appointed to the Seventy-first light infantry.
1843.
The number of drummers on the establishment of the regiment was increased from fourteen to seventeen, on the 1st of April 1843.
The service companies had continued at the Mauritius from June 1831 to the 20th of June 1843, when they embarked for the United Kingdom on board Her Majesty’s ship “Thunderer,” and disembarked at Devonport on the 30th of September 1843.
On the 29th of September 1843, the depôt companies marched from Paisley en route to Fort George.
The head-quarters of the regiment were embarked for Scotland on the 2nd, and arrived at Glasgow on the 4th of October 1843; and on the 29th the depôt companies were taken on the strength, and amalgamated with the regiment.
1844 to
1847.
The regiment remained at Glasgow until August 1844, when it marched for Edinburgh, and in July 1845 it moved to Aberdeen: in September 1846 the regiment proceeded to Newport in Monmouthshire, and in September 1847 it marched for Weedon.
1848.
On the 1st of April 1848, the regiment was augmented to fifty-seven serjeants, twenty-one drummers, fifty corporals, and nine hundred and fifty privates, and another serjeant was added in the following year, to raise it to the India establishment.
1849.
The regiment proceeded to Gravesend in April 1849, and on the 20th of that month it embarked for the East Indies, and arrived at Calcutta on the 31st of July 1849, and is at present serving in the Bengal presidency.
1853.
The depôt company was moved, in March 1849, from Weedon to Chatham, where it now continues a part of the provisional battalion.
1853.
Madeley lith 3, Wellington St. Strand