HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE SERVICES OF THE
SECOND BATTALION
OF
THE FIFTY-THIRD,
OR
THE SHROPSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT.
1803
A short interval from war was ceded to Europe by the peace of Amiens, and during that period the First Consul of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, was secretly making hostile preparations for accomplishing his ambitious purposes; he assumed the position of a dictator to Europe, and when the British government refused to submit to his domination, he assembled an army for the invasion of England, that he might, by one mighty effort, destroy the power of the British people, who appeared as a barrier to his schemes of aggrandizement. The spirit of the nation was aroused by the menace of invasion; patriotic enthusiasm pervaded all ranks; and the "Army of Reserve Act" having been passed for raising men for home service by ballot, the FIFTY-THIRD regiment marched into Yorkshire to receive part of the men raised in that extensive county. The numbers received being considerable, a second battalion was added to the establishment in October, 1803, and was formed at Sunderland under the superintendence of Lieut.-Colonel Scrogs; it speedily mustered one thousand rank and file.
1804
A number of the men, raised under the provision of the Army of Reserve Act, having voluntarily extended their services, they were added to the first battalion in February, 1804; the others, being only liable to serve in the United Kingdom, remained in the second battalion, which embarked from Whitehaven for Dublin, where it arrived on the 3rd of March, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Lightburn. In August it encamped on the Curragh of Kildare, and in September returned to Dublin.
1805
The battalion was conspicuous for its good conduct while at Dublin; in July of this year it marched to Galway, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bingham. The Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart, proceeding with a body of troops to Hanover, he was so highly esteemed by the FIFTY-THIRD, that the men solicited their commanding officer to forward a memorial to head-quarters, requesting permission to extend their services to the Continent, and to accompany his Lordship. They were thanked for their spirited offer; but the circumstances of the service did not require their presence on the Continent at this period. During the winter the battalion marched to Limerick.
1806
In March, 1806, the head-quarters were removed to Rathkeale: in April two hundred men proceeded to join the first battalion in India: they were followed by a further number of three hundred in October: as this detachment was proceeding to the Isle of Wight, one transport was boarded by a French privateer; the soldiers were without arms, otherwise they could have overpowered their enemies: Captain Classen and sixty-five men were taken to France, where the captain died.
1807
During the winter of 1807 the limited-service men of the second battalion were transferred to a garrison battalion, which greatly reduced its numbers; the few remaining men marched to Dublin in January, 1807, embarked from thence for Liverpool, and afterward proceeded to Shrewsbury.
1808
The second battalion proceeded from Shrewsbury to Weymouth, where it arrived in October, and was joined by a number of volunteers from the militia.
In the spring of 1808 the second battalion marched to Bletchington; in May was removed to Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland, and after landing at Cork, it proceeded from thence to Limerick, and in the autumn to Fermoy.
1809
At this period the second battalion received orders to proceed from Ireland, to take part in the deliverance of the Peninsula from the power of Napoleon, Emperor of France, whose attempts to subvert the liberties of Europe were strenuously opposed by Great Britain. The battalion embarked at Cork on the 12th of March, landed in Portugal, at a small town opposite Lisbon, on the 6th of April; and proceeded up the river Tagus in boats a few days afterwards to Villa Franca, from whence it marched to Rio Mayor. The seventh Royal fusiliers, and the FIFTY-THIRD, were formed in brigade under Brigadier-General A. Campbell; and the officers and soldiers were highly gratified by the arrival of Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley to assume the command of the army.
The FIFTY-THIRD had the honor of taking part in the operations by which the French army under Marshal Soult was driven from Oporto: they were not engaged in forcing the passage of the Douro on the 12th of May; they had completed a short march and were going into billets at Cavalhos, when the order to advance arrived, and the soldiers evinced their ardour by cheerfully performing a long march at double quick time, and they were speedily across the river; but the action had ceased, and they went into quarters in the city of Oporto, after a march of twenty-eight miles.
After taking part in the pursuit of the French army through mountainous districts to the confines of Portugal, the FIFTY-THIRD retired to Oporto, where they halted one day; they afterwards proceeded to Coimbra, and in the early part of June to Abrantes.
Advancing into Spain, the FIFTY-THIRD shared in the operations which preceded the battle of Talavera, and suffered, in common with other corps, great privation from the want of supplies, the soldiers having no food, on many occasions, excepting corn gathered from the fields. In the action on the 28th of July, two companies of the FIFTY-THIRD particularly distinguished themselves: the other companies of the battalion were in reserve in the first instance; but they were brought forward, and assailing one of the enemy's columns of attack in flank, they greatly contributed to its discomfiture and overthrow, when thirteen pieces of artillery were captured. Sir Arthur Wellesley saw, from a hill at a short distance, the fighting at this part of the field, and sent twice to testify his approbation of the conduct of the brigade. The French were repulsed at all points; and the word "Talavera," on the colours of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, commemorates the gallantry of the second battalion on this occasion: its loss was six soldiers killed; Major Kingscote, Captain Stawell, and twenty-nine rank and file wounded.
The following officers were at the battle of Talavera, on the 27th and 28th of July, 1809:—
Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Bingham. Majors W. Thursby and N. Kingscote. Captains H. Parker, John Robinson, O. G. Fehrszen, and J. L. Stawell. Lieutenants J. B. Glew, Charles Ribs, F. H. Fuller, D. Beatty, P. Hovenden, and C. Williams. Ensigns Edward Barlow, George Langton, G. C. Goff, Joseph Nicholson, J. Christie, J. J. C. Harrison, H. Brown, and J. Devenish. Adjutant John Carss. Surgeon J. Sandall. Assistant-Surgeon J. Dunn. Quarter-Master—Blackie.
The immense superiority of numbers which the French were enabled to bring forward at this period, prevented those decisive results following the victory at Talavera which might have been anticipated: the army withdrew behind the Tagus, and subsequently occupied a position on the Guadiana river, where many soldiers, whose strength had been exhausted by long marches under a hot sun and a scanty supply of provisions, died. In the autumn the battalion went into quarters at Olivença, and in December commenced its march across the country to Guarda in Portugal, where it arrived on the 11th of January, 1810.
1810
In the beginning of March, 1810, the second battalion was removed from Guarda to several pleasant villages in the valley of the Mondego, where the health of the men quickly improved. A numerous French army, under Marshal Massena, advanced and besieged Ciudad Rodrigo; and on the 1st of July the FIFTY-THIRD proceeded to the Coa river, to support the light division, observe the bridge of Castel Bom, and the ford of Juan Miguel. The enemy, having captured Ciudad Rodrigo, advanced in great force to invade Portugal; Lord Wellington, not having an army sufficiently numerous to oppose the French in the field, retired: the FIFTY-THIRD fell back from the Coa upon Guarda, and afterwards withdrew gradually before the enemy, until it arrived at the rugged rocks of Busaco, where the French legions found their advance impeded by a formidable line of British bayonets. The FIFTY-THIRD were detached a short distance to the left, to observe a small mountain road which came round that flank of the position, and during the action on the 27th of September their post was not attacked. The French, being unable to force the position, turned it by a flank movement; and the British retreated to the fortified lines of Torres Vedras, where they opposed a front of battle which the French did not venture to attack; but, after reconnoitring the lines fell back to Santarem, where they remained during the winter.
1811
In Portugal the opposing armies confronted each other until the 5th of March, when the French, having lost many men, and being unable to procure provisions, made a sudden retreat towards the frontiers of Portugal. The FIFTY-THIRD followed the retreating enemy—several skirmishes occurred; and towards the end of March the battalion went into quarters at the hamlet of Romilioza, in the valley of the Mondego.
Again advancing on the 2nd of April, the battalion approached the river Coa on the following day, when the French were driven from the vicinity of Sabugal. Four days afterwards it proceeded to Castel Bom; and on the 9th of April covered a reconnoissance, made by Colonel Fletcher of the Royal Engineers, on the fortress of Almeida, which was invested two days afterwards, when the FIFTY-THIRD took post on the east side of the town. They afterwards moved to San Pedro, and furnished piquets before the fortress.
When Marshal Massena advanced to raise the blockade of Almeida, the FIFTY-THIRD quitted San Pedro and took their station in the position near Fuentes d'Onor. The attacks of the enemy on the 3rd of May were repulsed; on the 5th they were renewed, and the FIFTY-THIRD advanced to support the piquets, which were engaged among some stone fences to the left of the village. As it advanced, the battalion was exposed to the fire of a French battery, but did not sustain any loss: it took post at the foot of a hill, and supported the piquets until the action ceased: the French being repulsed, they afterwards retreated.
The FIFTY-THIRD resumed their post before Almeida; but the French garrison contrived to destroy the works and guns of the fortress, and to effect its escape during the night of the 11th of May.
When the siege of Badajoz occasioned the advance of Marshal Marmont with the French army to Spanish Estremadura, the FIFTY-THIRD, and other corps left on the Agueda, made a corresponding movement, and joined the army under Lord Wellington in the Alemtejo. The French armies separating again, the FIFTY-THIRD returned, with the sixth division, of which they formed part, to the northern frontiers of Portugal. On the 11th of September the battalion crossed the Agueda river to the small village of Felicio Chico, to protect the inhabitants from the depredations of the garrison of Ciudad Rodrigo. A numerous French army advancing to throw a supply into that fortress, the FIFTY-THIRD withdrew across the river, and proceeded to Fuentes d'Onor; from whence they moved to the vicinity of Espejo. The French forces advancing, the allies, being much inferior in numbers, withdrew a few stages; the enemy soon retired again, and the FIFTY-THIRD went into village cantonments.
Major-General Campbell, being appointed to the staff of the army in India, took leave of the sixth division, in an order dated the 5th of November, and after expressing his thanks to the general officers commanding brigades, and officers commanding regiments, he adverted "to his feelings of regret at being about to separate from that brigade which it was so long his pride to command, and especially from the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, the only remaining corps of his original brigade, whose undaunted steadiness and gallantry, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bingham, gained them the admiration of the army the first time they were under fire."
1812
In January, 1812, when Lord Wellington besieged and captured Ciudad Rodrigo, the sixth division was at Penna Verde; but it advanced to the frontiers on the approach of the French army: when the enemy withdrew, the FIFTY-THIRD fell back to Grajal. They subsequently traversed the country to Elvas, and formed part of the covering army during the siege of Badajoz, which fortress was captured by storm on the 6th of April. After taking an active part in the operations of the covering army, the FIFTY-THIRD again marched northward, and halted at Castel de Vide on the 2nd of May.
The services of the second battalion in Portugal and Spain, had been equally meritorious with those of the first battalion in India. After returning from Spanish Estremadura, it reposed a short period in quarters: in May it moved forward to support the troops under Lieut.-General Hill in their attack on the French bridge at Almaraz, and afterwards returned to Castel de Vide.
In June the army passed the Agueda river and advanced to Salamanca, the French retiring upon Toro, but leaving a body of troops in two fortified convents. The FIFTY-THIRD were employed in the siege of these convents, and on the 18th of June Lieutenant J. H. Devenish was severely wounded in the trenches; he died on the 24th, and was buried in the church near the great square of the city. Marshal Marmont advancing to relieve the besieged convents, the regiment was twice removed from the siege to confront the French army; but the enemy did not hazard an attack. On the 23rd of June, when an unsuccessful attempt was made by the light infantry to capture the smaller convent by escalade, the regiment had three men killed; Lieutenant James Hamilton, and seven men, wounded. The progress of the siege was delayed by a scarcity of ammunition, but a supply was received. The smaller convent was captured by storm on the 27th of June; and the attack on the larger one had commenced, when the commandant surrendered.
Advancing from Salamanca the army proceeded to the banks of the Douro; but the French having been considerably reinforced, and having crossed that river, the allies fell back to the vicinity of Salamanca, where the two armies manœuvred on the 22nd of July, and the enemy, having weakened his centre in his attempt to turn the right flank of the allied army, Lord Wellington seized the favourable opportunity to commence the battle. The FIFTY-THIRD, with the other corps of the sixth division, supported the fourth division in its attack on the French army, and circumstances occurred which occasioned the regiment to be brought into action before the other corps of its division. The FIFTY-THIRD supported the twenty-third Portuguese regiment; and this corps giving way, the FIFTY-THIRD had to sustain the attack of a superior body of infantry supported by cavalry in front, at the same time they were exposed to the flank fire of the French posted on one of the hills called the Arapiles. The regiment withdrew from this unequal contest in good order, and forming square, resisted the charge of the French cavalry with great steadiness, thus affording an example of what can be effected by a small body of infantry, when charged by very superior numbers of cavalry. The officer at the head of the French dragoons having been wounded close to the bayonets of the square, and the success of the attack of the other regiments of the brigade to which the FIFTY-THIRD belonged becoming evident, the French cavalry retired, taking with them Captain Fehrszen and nine wounded men as prisoners. Lieut.-Colonel Bingham having been severely wounded, the command of the regiment devolved on Brevet Lieut.-Colonel John Mansel.
After resisting the charge of the French cavalry, the FIFTY-THIRD again advanced, and were engaged in the attack of the last position occupied by the enemy on that memorable day. This was a desperate musketry action in the dark, and the difficulties of the ascent of the mountain gave the French division, under General Maucune, formed on the summit, a decided advantage. The FIFTY-THIRD were on the left of the sixth division on this occasion, and the British gallantly won their way upwards, and finally forced the enemy to make a precipitate retreat.
Colonel Napier has given the following spirited description of this last attack, in his History of the Peninsular War:—"Assisted by a brigade of the fourth division, the troops then rushed up, and in the darkness of the night the fire showed from afar how the battle went. On the side of the British a sheet of flame was seen, sometimes advancing with an even front, sometimes pricking forth in spear heads, now falling back in waving lines, and anon darting upwards in one vast pyramid, the apex of which often approached, yet never gained, the actual summit of the mountain; but the French musketry, rapid as lightning, sparkled along the brow of the height with unvarying fulness, and with what desperate effects, the dark gaps and changing shapes of the adverse fire showed too plainly. Yet, when Pakenham had again turned the enemy's left, and Foy's division had glided into the forest, Maucune's task was completed, the effulgent crest of the ridge became black and silent, and the French army vanished, as it were, into darkness."
The French army was overpowered and driven from the field with severe loss: and the Royal authority was afterwards given for the FIFTY-THIRD regiment to bear the word "Salamanca" on its colours, to commemorate the distinguished conduct of the second battalion on this memorable occasion: Lieut.-Colonel Bingham and Lieut.-Colonel Mansel received gold medals.
Nineteen men were killed. Captain A. K. Blackhall died of his wounds, much regretted; Lieut.-Colonel Bingham, Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Robertson, Captains O. G. Fehrszen, J. W. Poppleton, D. M'Dougall, and John Fernandez, Lieutenants J. B. Hunter, and Joseph Nicholson, Ensign Peter Bunworth, Adjutant John Carss, Volunteer Munro Morphet, and seventy-six men were wounded; nine men wounded and prisoners. Captain Fehrszen was taken prisoner, but was left by the enemy at Alba de Tormes. The total loss amounted to nearly half the soldiers under arms on this occasion.
The following officers were in the field, and escaped uninjured:—Lieut.-Colonel John Mansel. Lieutenants P. Hovenden, and John Fraser. Ensigns W. Harrison, W. Baxter, George Fitzgerald, Robert Hilliard, J. W. Moir, and Michael Nagle. Surgeon T. Sandell; Assistant-Surgeon Charles MacLean.
On the day after the battle, Major-General Hulse was nominated to command the fifth division, when the command of the brigade devolved on Lieut.-Colonel Mansel of the FIFTY-THIRD, and that of the second battalion of the regiment on Lieutenant Hovenden. In August Lieut.-Colonel Bingham was sufficiently recovered of his wounds to resume his duty, when he took the command of the brigade, and Lieut.-Colonel Mansel that of the second battalion of the regiment.
Advancing in pursuit of the enemy, the army entered the city of Valladolid amidst the rejoicings of the people. The FIFTY-THIRD were afterwards left, with the sixth division, at the small town of Cuellar, in the province of Segovia, while Lord Wellington advanced with the army to Madrid. General Clauzel returning with the re-organized French army, the sixth division withdrew to Arevalo. Lord Wellington returning from Madrid, the French again retreated, and the allied army advanced up the beautiful Pisuerga and Arlanzan valleys, turning the enemy's positions and forcing him to continue his retreat beyond Burgos. The FIFTY-THIRD were employed in the siege of the castle of Burgos, in which service they had four men killed, Ensign Nagle, one serjeant, and several men wounded. Lieutenant Fraser distinguished himself at the attack of one of the out-works. The concentration of the enemy's numerous forces having rendered a retrograde movement necessary, the FIFTY-THIRD shared in the fatigues, privations, and sufferings of the retreat from Burgos to the frontiers of Portugal, where they went into winter-quarters; they were removed from the sixth to the fourth division, and formed in brigade with the third battalion of the twenty-seventh, and the first battalions of the fortieth and forty-eighth regiments, under Major-General William Anson.
1813
The second battalion having become considerably reduced in numbers by its arduous services in Spain and Portugal, the effective and efficient soldiers were formed into four companies, for service in the Peninsula; and the officers of the other six companies, with the remaining non-commissioned officers and soldiers, were ordered to proceed to England, under the command of Captain Poppleton. The four service companies marched to join the head-quarters of the fourth division, at St. Jaō de Pesquira, where they arrived on the 6th of January, and were formed with four companies of the second, or the Queen's Royal, into the second provisional battalion, which was commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Bingham of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment.
Taking the field under a superior organization strengthened by reinforcements, and proudly confident in the skill and resources of its commander, the allied army penetrated Spain in May, to turn the French positions on the Douro. The FIFTY-THIRD formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham (afterwards Lord Lynedoch), which proceeded through the mountainous regions of the Tras-os-Montes, and passed the Esla river, the French falling back on Toro. Pressing forward upon their numerous enemies, the British forced them to quit one position after another, until the legions of France were concentrated in the plain of Vittoria, under Joseph Bonaparte, titular King of Spain, where they prepared to oppose the victorious career of the allied army. In the battle of the 21st of June the FIFTY-THIRD formed part of the centre column, under the immediate command of Lord Wellington, and their bearing throughout the day, which ended in the complete overthrow and discomfiture of the French army, was afterwards rewarded with the Royal authority to bear the word "Vittoria" on the colours of the regiment. Their loss was four men killed and six wounded.
The following officers served at the battle of Vittoria,—viz.:
Colonel G. R. Bingham. Captains O. G. Fehrszen and James Mackay. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter, Thomas Impett, James Hamilton, Thomas Dowker, and John Fraser. Ensigns George Fitzgerald, Michael Nagle, and John Wilton. Adjutant John Carss. Surgeon Thomas Sandell; Assistant-Surgeon Charles MacLean. Volunteer John Fernandez.
From the field of battle the FIFTY-THIRD followed the rear of the defeated French army to the vicinity of Pampeluna, and were afterwards employed in the attempt to intercept General Clauzel's French division, which had not been at the battle of Vittoria: this body of troops having escaped by the pass of Jaca, the FIFTY-THIRD were employed in the blockade of Pampeluna; but were relieved by the Spaniards in the middle of July, and advanced into the Pyrenean mountains, where they were stationed in support of the troops occupying the head of the pass of Roncesvalles.
When the French army under Marshal Soult advanced to resume offensive operations, the allied army retired to a position in the Pyrenees in front of Pampeluna, where some severe fighting took place, and the repeated attacks of the French were repulsed. Speaking of the action on the 28th of July, Lord Wellington stated—"In the course of this contest, the fourth division, which has so frequently been distinguished in this army, surpassed its former good conduct." On the 30th of July the FIFTY-THIRD regiment had an opportunity of distinguishing itself, during the severely contested action in the mountains; and the light infantry, commanded by Captain Fehrszen, of the FIFTY-THIRD, signalized themselves in a particular manner. The meritorious conduct of Captain Fehrszen was rewarded with the rank of major. The French were driven from their post, and pursued to their own frontiers: and the word "Pyrenees" on the colours of the regiment commemorates the heroic conduct of the officers and soldiers of the second battalion on this occasion. Their loss was three men killed and twenty-one wounded.
The following officers served at the battle of the Pyrenees:—
Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Bingham. Captains O. G. Fehrszen and James Mackay. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter, Thomas Impett, James Hamilton, and Thos. Dowker. Ensigns George Fitzgerald, Michael Nagle, and John Wilton. Pay-Master J. MacLean. Adjutant John Carss. Quarter-Master R. Blackie. Surgeon T. Sandall. Assistant-Surgeon C. MacLean.
Pursuing the French army through the mountains, the FIFTY-THIRD captured some prisoners and baggage, and arrived at Puerto de Echalar on the 2nd of August, when Major-General Barnes's brigade was engaged with two French divisions, which it drove from the heights. Five days afterwards the FIFTY-THIRD were removed to the vicinity of Lezaca, where the head-quarters of the allied army were established; from this place a few volunteers of the FIFTY-THIRD proceeded to St. Sebastian, and were engaged in storming that fortress on the 31st of August, when two men of the regiment were killed and two wounded. On the same day the French crossed the Bidassoa in considerable force, and attacked the Spanish troops on the heights of San Marcial. On this occasion the FIFTY-THIRD were engaged in extended order in the pass of St. Antonio, where they had one man killed and twenty wounded. The French were repulsed, and giving up all hope of being able to relieve St. Sebastian, they re-crossed the river.
At the passage of the Bidassoa on the 7th of October, the FIFTY-THIRD supported the light division; and during the action on the following day they were in reserve.
Looking down from the lofty Pyrenees on the well guarded territory of France, the British Commander prepared to carry the war into the heart of that kingdom, and on the morning of the 10th of November his conquering divisions traversed the mountain passes by moonlight, to attack the enemy's fortified position on the Nivelle. The FIFTY-THIRD carried bags filled with fern, to fill up the ditch, and small ladders to mount the rampart of a redoubt, which they were directed to take. Advancing under the cover of a heavy cannonade, the soldiers raised a loud and confident shout, as they approached the redoubt, when the French fired a few shots and fled. The redoubt was taken possession of, and about thirty of the enemy, who had not time to escape, were made prisoners. The British were successful at every point, and the French made a retreat. During the action Major Fehrszen had an opportunity of making a sudden dash with a few men, and he succeeded in capturing a field gun. For their gallant services on this occasion the FIFTY-THIRD were rewarded with the Royal authority to bear the word "Nivelle" on their colours, in addition to the other inscriptions previously acquired.
One serjeant and three private soldiers were killed; Major Fehrszen, Captain Mackay, Lieutenant Hamilton, and a few private soldiers wounded.
Names of officers who served at the battle of Nivelle:—
Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Bingham. Major O. G. Fehrszen. Captains James Mackay and John Carss. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter, Tho. Impett, Tho. Dowker, James Hamilton, and John Fraser. Ensigns George Fitzgerald and M. Nagle. Adjutant John Wilton. Assistant-Surgeons James Dunn and Charles MacLean.
At the passage of the Nive river, on the 9th of December, and in the actions which followed, the FIFTY-THIRD were in reserve, and did not sustain any loss: they subsequently went into cantonments during the severe weather which followed.
Some movements were made by the FIFTY-THIRD in the early part of January, 1814; and on the 6th of that month they advanced to attack a body of French troops; but were prevented engaging by a brook, the stream of which was so swollen by the rains as to be impassable. The battalion was afterwards stationed at Ustaritz, where it remained until the middle of February, when active operations were commenced against the French army. After taking part in several movements, the FIFTY-THIRD marched to St. Jean de Luz, where they arrived on the 22nd of February, and were supplied with new clothing at that place.
On the 25th of February the FIFTY-THIRD commenced their march to re-join the army; but were not in time to take part in the battle of Orthes on the 27th of that month. They passed the Adour at St. Sever on the 3rd of March, and joined the fourth division at Grenade, where they remained a week, and afterwards marched in the direction of Bordeaux, which city was taken possession of by the troops under Marshal Beresford; the population renounced their allegiance to the Emperor Napoleon, and declared themselves in favour of the Bourbon dynasty.
1814
In the meantime the six companies which returned to England in January, 1813, had been so successful in recruiting, and in obtaining volunteers from the militia, that they were reported fit for service, and embarked at Portsmouth on the 1st of March, 1814, to join the allied army; they landed at Passages in Spain under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Mansel, and advancing through the mountains into France, continued their march to Tarbes, where they arrived on the 30th of March, and were halted for the purpose of carrying on operations against the castle of L'Ourde, which remained in the possession of the enemy. Lieut.-Colonel Mansel joined the army and took the command of the second provisional battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Bingham having returned to England on leave of absence about two months previously.
The four companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, forming part of the second provisional battalion, had been withdrawn from the road to Bordeaux, and proceeded to the vicinity of Toulouse, where Marshal Soult had assembled the French army to arrest the progress of the allies, who did not receive the news of the abdication of Napoleon until the 12th of April. Marshal Soult's position was attacked on the 10th of April, on which occasion the four companies formed part of the force which turned the enemy's right, and carried the heights on that flank. On ascending the heights, the second provisional battalion encountered a French brigade, in column, which was soon routed. The enemy was driven from his positions; and the word "Toulouse" on the colours of the regiment commemorates the gallant bearing of the officers and soldiers of the FIFTY-THIRD on this occasion. The four companies had a few men killed and wounded; Lieutenant Hamilton died of his wounds, much regretted, being an officer of great promise. Captains Mackay and Mansel, and Lieutenant Impett, were wounded, and recovered.
Names of officers who served at the battle of Toulouse. Lieut.-Colonel J. Mansel. Major O. G. Fehrszen. Captains J. Giles (Major), James Mackay, and R. C. Mansel. Lieutenants C. F. Hunter, J. Hamilton, Thomas Impett, J. Fraser, and G. Fitzgerald. Adjutant J. Wilton. Assistant-Surgeons J. Dunn and C. MacLean.
Marshal Soult having retired from Toulouse, the allied army advanced a short distance beyond the town; and the six companies of the FIFTY-THIRD, from England, arrived and joined the fourth division.
Hostilities were soon afterwards terminated; the island of Elba was ceded to Napoleon Bonaparte in full sovereignty, with the imperial title for life; the Bourbon family was restored to the throne of France; and the victorious soldiers of the allied army were thus rewarded with a complete triumph over the enemies of their country. The Royal authority was afterwards given for the word "Peninsula" to be added to the honorary inscriptions on the colours of the FIFTY-THIRD, to commemorate their meritorious services in Portugal, Spain, and the south of France, where they had fought and conquered for the welfare of Europe.
After reposing a few weeks in convenient quarters, the FIFTY-THIRD marched to the vicinity of Bordeaux, where they were encamped a short period, and received the thanks of Lieut.-General Sir Lowry Cole, commanding the fourth division, in orders;—Colonel Bingham and Lieut.-Colonel Mansel being particularly mentioned. They were also reviewed by the Marquis of Wellington, whose congratulations and expressions of approbation were communicated to the army in general orders, and they afterwards embarked for Ireland. They landed at Monkstown on the 7th of July, and marched to Kinsale, but re-embarked on the 23rd of that month, for England, and landing at Portsmouth, proceeded from thence to Hilsea barracks, where Colonel Bingham joined and assumed the command.
1815
During this period Napoleon Bonaparte had returned to France, his army had been overthrown at Waterloo, and he had surrendered himself to Captain Maitland, commanding the Bellerophon ship of war: the island of St. Helena was afterwards appointed for his future residence. The second battalion of the FIFTY-THIRD regiment, having been very successful in recruiting, was selected to accompany Bonaparte to the island named as the place of exile for this extraordinary man. The battalion embarked from Portsmouth on the 1st of August, under the command of Major Fehrszen; Colonel Sir George Bingham[13] commanding the troops employed in this service. It arrived at St. Helena in October, and after occupying the barracks at James Town a few days, proceeded to the interior of the island, where new barracks were constructed, and it furnished the requisite guards, piquets, and sentries for the cordon of General Bonaparte.
At this period the serjeants of the battalion, who had distinguished themselves in the Peninsula, were presented with medals to be worn on their left breasts. The medals were issued by Colonel Sir George Bingham, in compliance with directions from the colonel of the regiment, Lieut.-General Sir John Abercromby, G.C.B., and were delivered to the following serjeants:—
1816
During this year the second battalion remained on duty at St. Helena, where it received the thanks of the Governor, Lieut.-General Sir Hudson Lowe: in May Lieut.-Colonel Mansel arrived and assumed the command.
1817
The second battalion of the FIFTY-THIRD remained on duty at St. Helena until July of this year, when the continued peace of Europe occasioning a considerable reduction in the army, it was ordered to return to England to be disbanded. It transferred thirteen serjeants, one drummer, and two hundred and eighty-eight rank and file to the first battalion in India; and embarking from St. Helena in the middle of July, received, previous to going on board of the ship "Baring," the expression, in general orders, of the Governor's approbation and admiration of its conduct while at St. Helena. Previous to the officers of the FIFTY-THIRD quitting the island, Napoleon Bonaparte expressed a wish for them to wait on him, and the Governor having consented, they attended at the residence of Napoleon. He expressed his thankfulness for the manner in which the corps had performed the duties on which it had been employed, and for the attention and respect he had always experienced from every individual belonging to it; and also expressed his wishes for the prosperity and happiness of every member of the corps.[14]
On the 14th of September the second battalion arrived at Portsmouth, from whence it proceeded to join the depôt at Canterbury, where it was disbanded on the 20th of October.
1817.