FOOTNOTES:
[1] A company of 200 men would appear thus:—
 | |||||||||
| 20 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 20 | |
| Harquebuses. | Muskets. | Halberds. | Muskets. | Harquebuses. | |||||
| Archers. | Pikes. | Pikes. | Archers. | ||||||
The musket carried a ball which weighed 1/10th of a pound; and the harquebus a ball which weighed 1/25th of a pound.
[2] The 30th, 31st, and 32nd Regiments were formed as Marine corps in 1702, and were employed as such during the wars in the reign of Queen Anne. The Marine corps were embarked in the Fleet under Admiral Sir George Rooke, and were at the taking of Gibraltar, and in its subsequent defence in 1704; they were afterwards employed at the siege of Barcelona in 1705.
[3] The brave Sir Roger Williams, in his Discourse on War, printed in 1590, observes:—"I persuade myself ten thousand of our nation would beat thirty thousand of theirs (the Spaniards) out of the field, let them be chosen where they list." Yet at this time the Spanish infantry was allowed to be the best disciplined in Europe. For instances of valour displayed by the British Infantry during the Seventy Years' War, see the Historical Record of the Third Foot, or Buffs.
[4] Vide the Historical Record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot.
[5] "Under the blessing of Divine Providence, His Majesty ascribes the successes which have attended the exertions of his troops in Egypt to that determined bravery which is inherent in Britons; but His Majesty desires it may be most solemnly and forcibly impressed on the consideration of every part of the army, that it has been a strict observance of order, discipline, and military system, which has given the full energy to the native valour of the troops, and has enabled them proudly to assert the superiority of the national military character, in situations uncommonly arduous, and under circumstances of peculiar difficulty."—General Orders in 1801.
In the General Orders issued by Lieut.-General Sir John Hope (afterwards Lord Hopetoun), congratulating the army upon the successful result of the Battle of Corunna, on the 16th of January, 1809, it is stated:—"On no occasion has the undaunted valour of British troops ever been more manifest. At the termination of a severe and harassing march, rendered necessary by the superiority which the enemy had acquired, and which had materially impaired the efficiency of the troops, many disadvantages were to be encountered. These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves: and the enemy has been taught, that whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, 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 FORTY-SIXTH,
OR
THE SOUTH DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT,
BEARS ON THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR AND APPOINTMENTS
THE WORD "DOMINICA,"
AS A DISTINGUISHING MARK
OF THE GOOD CONDUCT AND EXEMPLARY VALOUR
DISPLAYED BY THE REGIMENT
IN THE DEFENCE OF
THE ISLAND OF DOMINICA,
AGAINST A VERY SUPERIOR FRENCH FORCE,
ON THE 22nd OF FEBRUARY, 1805.
THE
FORTY-SIXTH,
OR,
THE SOUTH DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT,
ORIGINALLY
THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
CONTENTS
OF THE
HISTORICAL RECORD.
| Year | Page | |
| 1739 | Introduction | [1] |
| —— | War declared against Spain | – |
| 1741 | Formation of the regiment | – |
| —— | Colonel John Price appointed to the colonelcy. | – |
| —— | Numbered the 57th regiment | – |
| 1742 | Stationed at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, proceeded to Berwick, and thence to Scotland | [3] |
| 1743 | Appointment of Colonel Hon. Thomas Murray to the colonelcy in succession to Colonel Price, removed to the 14th foot | – |
| 1744 | War declared between Great Britain and France | – |
| 1745 | Battle of Fontenoy | – |
| —— | Prince Charles Edward, the eldest son of the Pretender, landed in the Highlands of Scotland | [4] |
| 1745 | The King's forces, under Lieut.-General Sir John Cope, assembled at Stirling, and advanced to Inverness | [4] |
| —— | The rebel forces, under Prince Charles, proceeded to Perth and Dundee, and thence to Edinburgh, which surrendered to him | [5] |
| —— | The Prince, James Francis Edward, proclaimed at the High Cross, Edinburgh, as King of Great Britain and Ireland | – |
| —— | The Royal forces marched from Inverness to Aberdeen, embarked for Dunbar, advanced towards Edinburgh, and encamped near Preston-Pans | – |
| —— | Regiments which composed the Royal Army | [6] |
| —— | Defeat of the Royal forces by the Highland Insurgents | – |
| —— | Loss sustained by the Royal forces, including the 57th regiment, in killed, wounded, and prisoners | [7] |
| —— | The Duke of Cumberland returned from the continent, and assumed the command of the Royal army | – |
| —— | The Prince Charles captured Carlisle, and proceeded as far as Derby, from whence he afterwards retreated to Scotland | – |
| —— | The Duke of Cumberland, after capturing the rebel garrison of Carlisle, returned to London, leaving the command of the army to Lieut.-General Hawley | – |
| 1746 | The Prince Charles invested Stirling, and Lieut.-General Hawley marched to its relief | – |
| —— | Action at Falkirk | – |
| —— | The Duke of Cumberland resumed the command of the army, and entered Stirling | – |
| 1746 | The Duke of Cumberland obtained a complete victory over the Rebel forces at Culloden, four miles from Inverness | [8] |
| —— | The 57th regiment marched from Berwick towards London | – |
| —— | Strength of the Royal army at the battle of Culloden | – |
| 1747 | The rebellion suppressed, and the Prince Charles escaped to France | [9] |
| —— | The 57th regiment embarked for Jersey | – |
| —— | Several regiments, which had been brought from the continent to aid in suppressing the rebellion, returned to Flanders | – |
| —— | The Duke of Cumberland returned to Flanders and engaged the French at Laffeld, or Val | – |
| 1748 | The Allies took the field in the summer, but hostilities were terminated by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in October | – |
| —— | Disbandment of the 43rd regiment, and of ten marine regiments, from the 44th to the 53rd regiment | [10] |
| —— | The numerical title of the 57th regiment changed to the FORTY-SIXTH regiment | — |
| 1749 | The FORTY-SIXTH regiment proceeded to Ireland | — |
| 1751 | Royal Warrant of 1st July issued for regulating the clothing, standards, and colours, and the numerical titles and rank of regiments | — |
| 1756 | Capture of the Island of Minorca by the French | [11] |
| —— | War declared against France | — |
| 1757 | The FORTY-SIXTH regiment embarked from Cork for Nova Scotia | — |
| 1758 | Expedition under Major-General James Abercromby against Ticonderoga | — |
| —— | Brigadier-General the Viscount Howe (55th Regiment) killed at Ticonderoga | — |
| 1758 | Attack on Fort Ticonderoga abandoned | [12] |
| —— | Loss of officers sustained by the FORTY-SIXTH regiment | — |
| 1759 | Plan of the campaign in Canada | [13] |
| —— | Brigadier-General Prideaux (55th regiment) killed at Fort Niagara | — |
| —— | Capture of Fort Niagara | [15] |
| —— | Operations of the troops under Lieut.-General Amherst and Major-General Wolfe | — |
| —— | Siege of Ticonderoga | — |
| —— | Occupation of Crown Point | — |
| —— | Battle on the Heights of Abraham; death of Major-Gen. Wolfe; and capture of Quebec | — |
| 1760 | The French attempted to regain Quebec, and the battle of Sillery was fought | [16] |
| —— | Surrender of Fort Levi on L'Isle Royale | — |
| —— | Attack and surrender of the garrison of Montreal | [17] |
| —— | The conquest of Canada completed | — |
| 1761 | The regiment embarked for Barbadoes | — |
| 1762 | Proceeded with an armament against the Island of Martinique, which surrendered to the British Crown | — |
| —— | The surrender of Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent | [18] |
| —— | War declared against Spain | — |
| —— | The regiment joined the armament against the Havannah | — |
| —— | Capture of the Moro Fort, and town of Havannah | [19] |
| —— | Negotiations for peace signed at Fontainebleau | — |
| 1763 | The Treaty of Fontainebleau concluded at Paris, and peace proclaimed in London | — |
| —— | Conditions of the treaty of peace between Great Britain, France, and Spain | — |
| —— | The regiment returned to North America | — |
| 1764 | Colonel Hon. William Howe appointed to the colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-General Hon. Thomas Murray, deceased | [20] |
| 1767 | Regiment returned from North America and stationed in Ireland | — |
| —— | Disputes arose between the colonists of North America and the British Government | — |
| 1775 | Hostilities commenced with the colonists in North America by the action at Lexington | — |
| —— | Appointment of Colonel Hon. John Vaughan to the colonelcy in succession to Major-General Hon. William Howe | — |
| —— | The battle of Bunker's Hill | — |
| 1776 | The regiment embarked from Ireland for North America | [21] |
| —— | Joined the expedition against Charleston | — |
| —— | Proceeded to Staten Island | — |
| —— | The declaration of Independence by the American Congress | — |
| —— | The regiment landed on Long Island | — |
| —— | Action at Brooklyn | [22] |
| —— | The reduction of Long Island accomplished | — |
| —— | The capture of New York took place | — |
| —— | Action at White Plains | — |
| —— | The reduction of Fort Washington | — |
| —— | The regiment occupied winter-quarters at Amboy | — |
| 1777 | Proceeded with a body of troops from New York, and destroyed magazines, barracks, &c., at Peek's Hill, and returned to New York | [23] |
| —— | Joined an expedition against the city of Philadelphia | — |
| —— | Battle at Brandywine | — |
| —— | The American troops, under General Wayne surprised by the British, under Major-Gen. Grey | [24] |
| 1777 | The FORTY-SIXTH regiment gained the distinction of wearing Red Feathers for its conduct in this action | [24] |
| —— | The British army took possession of Philadelphia, and occupied a position at Germantown | [25] |
| —— | Action at Germantown | — |
| 1778 | General Hon. Sir William Howe returned to England, and General Sir Henry Clinton assumed the command of the army | — |
| —— | Action at Monmouth Court-House | — |
| —— | The British army marched from Philadelphia to New York, the King of France having engaged to aid the Americans | — |
| —— | A powerful French armament arrived off the Port of New York and proceeded against Rhode Island | — |
| —— | Expedition against Bedford, on the Accushnet river, and against Martha's Vineyard | [26] |
| —— | Returned to New York | — |
| —— | Proceeded with other regiments to the West Indies | — |
| —— | Attack upon the island of St. Lucia | [27] |
| —— | Repelled several attacks made by the French | — |
| —— | The flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH regiment distinguished themselves at La Vigie, and received the thanks of Major-General James Grant commanding the troops | [28] |
| —— | Surrender of the Island of St. Lucia to the British troops | — |
| 1779 | The courts of Spain and Holland joined in hostilities against Great Britain | — |
| 1782 | The regiment returned to England | [29] |
| —— | County titles conferred upon the regiments of Infantry, and the FORTY-SIXTH directed to assume the designation of South Devonshire regiment | — |
| 1782 | Treaty of peace signed at Paris between Great Britain and the United States of America | [29] |
| 1783 | Treaties of peace between England, France, Spain, and Holland | — |
| 1784 | The regiment proceeded from Plymouth to Ireland | [30] |
| 1792 | Embarked for Gibraltar | — |
| 1794 | Proceeded from Gibraltar to the West Indies | — |
| 1795 | Engaged in suppressing the insurrection of the Caribs in the Island of St. Vincent | — |
| —— | Actions at Dorsetshire Hill | [32] |
| —— | Loss sustained by the regiment | — |
| —— | Assault and capture of the post of the Caribs on the Vigie | [33] |
| —— | Major-General James Henry Craig appointed to the colonelcy of the regiment in succession to Lieut.-General Hon. Sir John Vaughan, K.B. deceased | — |
| —— | Reinforcements arrived from England in order to assist in the suppression of the Caribs | — |
| 1796 | Further reinforcements arrived under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B. | — |
| —— | After a conflict of some hours the Caribs surrendered prisoners of war | [34] |
| —— | Several hundreds of Caribs escaped to the woods, but were afterwards forced to submit, and were removed from St. Vincent | — |
| —— | The FORTY-SIXTH regiment having sustained considerable loss by their numerous engagements with the Caribs, returned to England | — |
| 1799 | The regiment embarked for Ireland | — |
| 1802 | Treaty of peace with France concluded at Amiens | — |
| 1803 | War renewed with France | — |
| 1804 | Appointment of Lieut.-General John White to the colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir James Henry Craig | [35] |
| 1804 | Embarked from Cork for the West Indies, and proceeded to Dominica | [35] |
| 1805 | Defence of Dominica against an attack of a numerous French force | — |
| —— | Official Reports from Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, and Brigadier-General George Prevost of the conduct of the troops engaged in the defence of Dominica | — |
| —— | The Royal authority granted for the FORTY-SIXTH regiment to bear the word "Dominica" on the regimental colour and appointments. | [44] |
| 1806 | Detachments embarked for the capture of two French vessels | [45] |
| —— | The officers and men received the thanks of the Commander of the Forces in the West Indies, and of the Major-General commanding in the Island of Dominica | — |
| 1809 | Capture of the French island of Martinique | [46] |
| 1810 | Capture of the French island of Guadaloupe | — |
| 1811 | The regiment returned to England and marched into Devonshire | [47] |
| 1812 | The regiment proceeded from Plymouth to Jersey | [48] |
| 1813 | Embarked from Jersey for Portsmouth, and proceeded to the Isle of Wight | — |
| —— | Embarked for New South Wales | [49] |
| 1814 | Arrived at New South Wales, and inspected by Major-General Macquarie | — |
| 1815 | Certain non-commissioned officers and privates received pecuniary rewards for having suppressed gangs of bushrangers | [50] |
| 1816 | Appointment of Lieut.-General Henry Wynyard to the colonelcy in succession to General Whyte, deceased | — |
| —— | Detachments employed against the hostile black natives, and received an expression of thanks for their conduct on this duty | [51] |
| 1817 | Embarked at Sydney Cove for Madras | [52] |
| 1818 | Arrived at Vellore, and proceeded thence to Fort St. George | — |
| —— | Received the approbation of the Commanding Officer of the Troops at Vellore for its interior arrangement and discipline | — |
| 1820 | Marched to Bellary, and thence to the Mahratta country | [53] |
| 1824 | Engaged in suppressing an insurrection at the Fort of Kittoor | — |
| —— | Inspected by Major-General Hall commanding at Bellary, and received his approbation for its very efficient state | [54] |
| 1825 | Proceeded to Cannanore | [55] |
| 1826 | Marched from Cannanore to Secunderabad | [56] |
| 1829 | Reduction of the Establishment | — |
| 1832 | Proceeded to Masulipatam, and received orders to prepare for embarkation for England | [57] |
| 1833 | Received the approbation of its conduct during the period of its service in India, from the Right Hon. the Governor in Council | — |
| —— | Embarked at Madras, arrived at Margate, and marched to Canterbury | [58] |
| —— | Received official intimation respecting the continuance of the use of the Red ball tuft by the Light Company for its gallant conduct in the surprise of Gen. Wayne in America in 1777 | [59] |
| 1834 | Embarked for Ireland | — |
| 1837 | Formed into six service, and four depôt companies; the service companies embarked for Gibraltar | [60] |
| 1838 | Appointment of Lieut.-General Sir John Keane, K.C.B., to the colonelcy, in succession to General Wynyard, deceased | — |
| —— | Depôt companies embarked from Ireland for Plymouth | — |
| 1839 | Appointment of Lieut.-General John Ross to the colonelcy, in succession to Lieut.-General Sir John Keane | [60] |
| —— | Depôt companies embarked at Plymouth for Jersey | — |
| 1841 | Depôt companies proceeded to Ireland | — |
| 1842 | Service companies embarked at Gibraltar for Barbadoes | — |
| 1843 | Appointment of General the Earl of Stair to the colonelcy in succession to Lieut.-General Ross, deceased | [61] |
| 1845 | The service companies collected at Barbadoes, and embarked for Nova Scotia | — |
| —— | Embarked for Canada | — |
| 1847 | Proceeded from Quebec to Nova Scotia | [62] |
| 1848 | Embarked for England | — |
| —— | Arrived at Dover, and joined by the depôt companies from Guernsey | — |
| 1850 | Proceeded from Liverpool to Hull | — |
| 1851 | The Conclusion | [63] |
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF
THE FORTY-SIXTH,
OR
THE SOUTH DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT OF FOOT:
ORIGINALLY NUMBERED
THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
| Year | Page | |
| 1741 | John Price | [67] |
| 1743 | Honorable Thomas Murray | [68] |
| 1764 | William Viscount Howe, K.B. | — |
| 1775 | Honorable Sir John Vaughan, K.B. | [69] |
| 1795 | Sir James Henry Craig, K.B. | [70] |
| 1804 | John Whyte | [71] |
| 1816 | Henry Wynyard | — |
| 1838 | Sir John (afterwards Lord) Keane, G.C.B. & G.C.H. | [73] |
| 1839 | John Ross, C.B. | [75] |
| 1843 | John, Earl of Stair, K.T. | [76] |
PLATES.
| Costume of the Regiment | to face | [1] |
| Colours of the Regiment | [66] |
FORTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
For Cannons Military Records
Madeley lith 3 Wellington St Strand