Leaving Jersey in February, 1782, the thanks of the Commander of the forces at that station were conveyed to the officers and soldiers of the EIGHTEENTH, for their conduct while under his command. The regiment was afterwards stationed at Guernsey, where an alarming mutiny occurred among the soldiers of the 104th regiment, who fired upon their officers, and took possession of the fort. They were invested by the ROYAL IRISH regiment, commanded by Major Mawby, and a battalion of militia, and were forced to submit. The lieut.-governor thanked the ROYAL IRISH regiment, in orders, for its loyal and spirited conduct on this occasion, in the strongest terms, and promised to take the earliest opportunity of bringing its meritorious conduct before the King. The States of the island also conveyed the expression of their thanks and approbation of the excellent behaviour of the EIGHTEENTH regiment, accompanied by a vote of 100 guineas, to be divided among the non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
1783
In July, 1783, the regiment proceeded to Portsmouth, and in October it embarked for the fortress of Gibraltar.
1793
While the ROYAL IRISH regiment was employed in protecting the important fortress of Gibraltar, a revolution occurred in France; Louis XVI. was beheaded by his subjects in 1793; and while anarchy and bloodshed prevailed in France, the republicans of that country sought to involve other nations in the same calamities. War was the result. A powerful party favourable to monarchy still existed in France, many patriots stood forward in the cause of royalty, and the inhabitants of Toulon joined with Admiral Turgot in delivering up that port to the British, who took possession of the place in the name of Louis XVII. A numerous republican army advanced against Toulon, and the allies made exertions to procure troops for the defence of the town and harbour. Some corps of French loyalists were embodied; detachments of Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians were procured, and the ROYAL IRISH regiment was withdrawn from Gibraltar to aid in the protection of this important place.
The regiment arrived at Toulon in November, and was actively employed in the defence of the place upwards of a month, during which period it was frequently engaged with the republican troops of France.
A battery having been erected by the enemy on the heights of Arenes, which much annoyed one of the principal outposts, a party of the EIGHTEENTH joined the troops under Major-General David Dundas, which issued from Toulon on the morning of the 30th of November, crossed the river, traversed olive-grounds, intersected with stone walls, ascended a height cut into vine-terraces, and, surprising the French on their post, drove them from the battery with signal gallantry. The object in view was thus accomplished, but the impetuosity of the soldiers could not be restrained; they pursued the enemy too far, and, encountering fresh adversaries, were forced to retire with loss. The ROYAL IRISH regiment had seven men killed on this occasion, twenty-four wounded, four serjeants, one drummer, and twenty-nine rank and file missing.
Much difficulty was experienced in defending Toulon with twelve thousand men, of five different nations, against thirty to forty thousand French troops; a circumference of fifteen miles having to be occupied by a number of posts which required nine thousand men for their protection, so that three-fourths of the men were constantly on duty. On the 17th of December, the French attacked the British quarter under Captain William Conolly of the EIGHTEENTH, who defended his post with great gallantry until the enemy had forced the Spanish side, when he fell back fighting to another position. The regiment lost Ensign George Minchin and two rank and file on this occasion. The enemy afterwards attacked the posts on the mountain of Pharou, where another party of the EIGHTEENTH was engaged, and lost one serjeant and five rank and file.
The line of posts being forced, it was found impossible to preserve the town and harbour, and the French shipping, arsenal, and magazines were set on fire, and the troops of the several nations embarked on board of the fleet on the 19th of December.
1794