Historical Record of the Forty-sixth or South Devonshire Regiment of Foot / Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1741 and of Its Subsequent Services to 1851

by Richard Cannon

CONCLUSION.

The scene of the principal active services of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment, from its formation in 1741, until the present period, has been limited to North America and the West India Islands.

After the unsuccessful attach on Fort Ticonderago in July, 1758, the regiment shared in the capture of Fort Niagara on the 25th of July, 1759, and of other forts in Canada, which led to the surrender of Montreal on the 8th of September, 1760; and thus completed the conquest of that country,—Quebec having been acquired, in September of the preceding year, by the troops detached under Major-General Wolfe.

In February, 1762, the regiment shared in the capture of Martinique, which was followed by the reduction of Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent; and in August following was present at the conquest of the Havannah, which last acquisition was restored to Spain at the Peace of 1763.

The regiment embarked in 1776, for North America, and shared in several actions of the war with the United States until November, 1778, when it proceeded to the West Indies, and participated in the capture of St. Lucia in December following.

During the years 1795 and 1796, the regiment was employed in the campaign against the Caribs in St. Vincent, a severe and harassing service.

While other regiments had the opportunity of encountering the French legions in other parts of the world, the FORTY-SIXTH was employed in protecting the colonial possessions of Great Britain; how efficiently this duty was performed is testified by the word "Dominica," conferred by Royal authority, for the gallant defence made by the regiment against a very superior French force on the 22nd of February, 1805. The language of Lieut.-General Sir John Hope, when reporting the battle of Corunna, is alike applicable to the conduct of the troops at Dominica, for there, as at the former place,—

"The enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position, or of numbers he may employ, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers, a bravery that knows not how to yield,—that no circumstances can appal,—and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means."

The flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH formed part of the troops which reduced Martinique in February, 1809, and thus the services of the regiment were a second time connected with the conquest of that island.

In 1810, the flank companies of the regiment shared in the reduction of Guadaloupe, and were honorably mentioned in the despatches.

In 1811, the regiment arrived in England from the West Indies, and in 1813 embarked for New South Wales, from which country it proceeded, in 1817, to the East Indies, and returned to Great Britain in 1833.

The regiment embarked for Gibraltar in 1837; proceeded to the West Indies in 1842, and to North Americain 1845, whence it returned, in 1848, to England.

Services of the foregoing description, combined with excellent conduct in quarters at home and abroad, during a period of upwards of a century, have deservedly acquired for the regiment the approbation of the Sovereign, and the confidence of the Nation.

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1851
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