“Oh, were I Queen of France, or still better, Pope of Rome,
I would have no fighting men abroad, or weeping maids at home.
All the world should be at peace, or if kings would show their might,
I’d have those that make the quarrels be the only ones to fight.”
BLENHEIM. DRAWN FROM NATURE BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MʻNIVEN.
Unhappily, it is not so, and perhaps, however beautiful the idea, it is better it should be otherwise. In 1702 the war of the Spanish Succession broke out, which was destined to witness the splendid successes of a renowned soldier—the Duke of Marlborough. Brigaded with the second battalion of the Royals, the Tenth, the Sixteenth, and the Twenty-sixth regiments, our Fusiliers were present at the siege of Huy, and, detached from the army, took part in the enterprise which resulted in the capture of Limburg. But these events, however glorious, sink into insignificance when compared with the marvellous achievements which shed a flood of glory upon our national history, as recorded in the memorable year of 1704. Then the plains of Germany for the first time owned the tread not of a mere band of island adventurers, as in the ancient days of our veteran Royals, but now these plains resounded with the martial tramp of a British army. In the attack upon the heights of Schellenberg our Fusiliers bore an honourable part, but that was but the prelude to the grander victory of Blenheim, wherein the confederate might of France and Bavaria succumbed before the allied arms of Britain and Germany. But this signal triumph was not accomplished save by the most desperate bravery. “Brigadier-General Row, (Colonel of the Royal North British Fusiliers,) who charged on foot at the head of his own regiment with unparalleled intrepidity, assaulted the village of Blenheim, advancing to the very muzzles of the enemy’s muskets, and some of the officers exchanged thrusts of swords through the palisades; but the avenues of the village were found strongly fortified, and defended by a force of superior numbers. Brigadier-General Row led the North British Fusiliers up to the palisades before he gave the word ‘Fire,’ and the next moment he fell mortally wounded; Lieutenant-Colonel Dalyel and Major Campbell, being on the spot, stepped forward to raise their colonel, and were both instantly pierced by musket-balls; the soldiers, exasperated at seeing the three field-officers of the regiment fall, made a gallant effort to force their way into the village, but this was found impossible, and the regiment was ordered to retire. The moment the soldiers faced about, thirteen squadrons of French cavalry galloped forward to charge them, and one of the colours of the regiment was captured by the enemy; but the French horsemen were repulsed by the fire of a brigade of Hessians, and the colour was recovered.” A second assault failed likewise, so resolute was the defence of the enemy, but a third attempt, with additional forces, was crowned with success; the French being driven out of the village with great loss. There is no more treasured illustration of the worth of our British soldiers than is recorded in this famous battle, and no more distinguished honour than belongs to the regiments who have won a title, by their presence and brave deeds on the occasion, to share its glory or bear upon their colours the proud and envied word “Blenheim.” But this mode of commemorating battles was not adopted until a later period,—Minden, borne by the Twenty-fifth King’s Own Borderers, and other corps,—being the earliest instance of a battle thus emblazoned.[[A]] Throughout the remaining years of the war, graced by the victories of Ramilies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet, and the capture of many of the strong fortresses of the Netherlands, our Fusiliers maintained their character for bravery and steadiness, proving themselves in every way worthy the honours their valour had hitherto won. During this period they were successively commanded by Viscount Mordaunt, Brigadier-General De Lalo—a distinguished French Protestant officer, who fell whilst gallantly leading his regiment at the battle of Malplaquet—Major-General Meredith, and the Earl of Orrery. Peace at length terminated the struggle, and our heroes returned home in 1714. Shortly afterwards a rebellion broke out in Scotland, under the Earl of Mar, son of the Earl of Mar who first commanded our Fusiliers. Supported largely by the clans, presenting a formidable array, he advanced into the Lowlands, proclaiming the Pretender—the son of James II.—to be the rightful sovereign. His vacillating policy—notwithstanding the uncertain issues of the battle of Sheriffmuir, where the royal troops, including our Fusiliers, led by the Duke of Argyle, encountered the rebels—ruined the cause he had assumed to maintain; so that when the Pretender joined his partizans, he found them reduced to such desperate straits, that whilst prudence counselled, cowardice sought the earliest opportunity to effect an escape, leaving his friends to suffer alone the vengeance of the Government. The clans dispersing or submitting, the rebellion died out in 1716.
[A]. Vide “Curiosities of War,” page 225.
In 1743 the war of the Austrian Succession once more stirred up the wrathful passions of man, and plunged the European continent into all the horrors of war. The combatants were much the same as on previous occasions—France and Bavaria pitted against Austria and Britain. The Scots Greys, the Third or Scots Foot Guards, (first battalion,) the First or Royal Scots, (first battalion,) the Twenty-first or Royal North British Fusiliers, the Twenty-fifth or King’s Own Borderers, and the Forty-second or Royal Highlanders, formed the Scottish regiments embraced in the British army. Under the eye of their chivalric monarch, George II., who in person commanded, our Fusiliers were greatly distinguished by their good conduct, especially at the victory of Dettingen. Subsequently, under Marshal Wade, the regiment was with the army which penetrated into France in 1744. In the following year, under the Duke of Cumberland, present at the disastrous battle of Fontenoy, the regiment lost 285 officers and men. The valour of our troops, and the successes they had achieved, were negatived, and the battle lost, by the failure of the Dutch in other parts of the field. So severe had been the losses of our Fusiliers on this occasion, that, for the sake of being recruited, the regiment was removed from the army to garrison Ostend, where, assailed by a very superior French force, it was compelled to surrender. At this crisis in our country’s history, the King of France, aiding and abetting the Jacobites, succeeded but too well in inciting the clans to rebellion under Prince Charles Edward. These troubles at home occasioned the recall of the major part of the British army, and amongst others, our Fusiliers, who, advancing from Edinburgh, were engaged in the pursuit and ultimate overthrow of the rebels at Culloden. Thereafter returning to the continent, the regiment was engaged at the unavailing battle of Val in 1747, which led to the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle.