Battles, Sieges, and other Military operations in which this Company has been engaged.
1812-13Second American War. Engaged in nearly every operation on the American frontier, repeatedly mentioned in Orders, and by General Order was permitted to wear the designation "Niagara."
1815-16Present with the Duke of Wellington's Army, but took no active part, remaining in garrison at Tournay.
1855Crimea.
N.B.—No. 8 Battery, 12th Brigade, R. A., was nominally reduced on 1st Feb., 1871: but as No. 5 Battery of that Brigade was really reduced, and the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, of No. 8 Battery were transferred to No. 5, it seems just to perpetuate No. 8 Battery. The arms, books, &c., of No. 8 were also transferred to No. 5.
List of Captains who have successively commanded the Company, as far back as can be traced, down to introduction of Brigade System, in 1859.
1783Captain W. Godwin.
1787Captain B. Marlow.
1794Captain William Borthwick.
1794Captain George Glasgow.
1800Captain R. Dickinson.
1806Captain E. Curry.
1808Captain William Holcroft.
1816Captain Joseph Brome.
Reduced in 1819.
Reformed in 1848.
1848Captain H. S. Rowan.
Became 6th Company 12th Battalion in November, 1848.
1854Captain Hamley.
1858Captain Macdougal.
1859Captain Boothby.

[25]. At the capture of St. Sebastian, ten men of this Company volunteered for the storming party, and were instrumental in deciding the fate of the attack by the gallant style in which they turned two of the enemy's guns upon the garrison, driving the defenders from the works.

CHAPTER XXIV.
The Journal of a Few Years.

For a few years after the formation of the Fourth Battalion, the History of the Regiment contains little that possesses more than domestic interest. It was the stillness which precedes a storm.

In 1775, the Titanic contest commenced, in which England found herself pitted against France, Spain, and her own children.

From that year, until 1783, the student of her military history finds his labour incessant. America and Europe alike claim his attention; the War of Independence, and the Sieges of Gibraltar and Port Mahon, furnish a wealth of material for his examination.

But before entering on these, the ground must be cleared and the regimental gossip between 1771 and 1775 must be chronicled.

During that time, the relief of the battalion serving in America—by the 4th—took place, and on the latter fell all Artillery duties performed at the commencement of hostilities in that country. As the war developed, the 4th Battalion was reinforced by four companies of the 3rd, whose men—and also the Lieutenant-Fireworkers—were gradually absorbed into the 4th Battalion. At the same time, four companies of the 1st and 3rd Battalions, under the gallant Phillips, were ordered to America, and formed part of the force commanded by the ill-fated Burgoyne. During this decade, between 1770 and 1779, five companies of the 2nd Battalion relieved those at Gibraltar, and were the only Artillery present at that memorable siege, which sheds a lustre over this unhappy period in the national history.