“St. John’s, May 19, 1815.
“No men having deserted from Major Green’s artillery, or from the Eighty-Eighth regiment, they will not be required to attend at Chambly for the purpose of witnessing the execution of the sentence of a General Court Martial on several deserters.”
The subject was again honourably adverted to by Major-General Brisbane, in a letter addressed to the regiment in Brigade Orders, when, in consequence of the escape of Napoleon from Elba, and the prospect of renewed and active warfare in Europe, it had been ordered to return to England.
“B. O.
“Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane was much pleased this day with the general appearance and movements of the Eighty-Eighth Regiment. He cannot refrain from expressing how much, and how sincerely he regrets losing a regiment with which he has so long served, and which has conducted itself so creditably since its arrival in this country; but he confidently looks forward to have it again in his brigade. The circumstance of the regiment never having lost a man by desertion is highly honourable to it, and can never be forgotten by the Major-General.
(Signed) “J. Campbell,
“Brigade-Major.
“St. John’s, May 26, 1815.”
On the 29th of May the regiment marched from St. John’s, reached William Henry on the 1st of June, where it embarked in small craft, and arrived at Trois Rivieres on the 4th. At Trois Rivieres it was shifted into transports, reached Quebec on the 8th, sailed again on the 10th, and arrived at Spithead on the 15th of July.
The battle of Waterloo had decided the contest in Europe before the arrival of the Eighty-Eighth; nevertheless the regiment was ordered to proceed, without disembarking, to Flanders. After two days’ stay, therefore, at Spithead, it sailed again on the 17th, and landed at Ostend on the 21st of July. From thence it proceeded towards Paris, and on the 12th of August took up its quarters at St. Denis, and was once more attached to Sir Thomas Brisbane’s brigade. In December following it was removed to that of Sir John Keane, on which occasion Major-General Brisbane caused the following letter to be addressed to Colonel Wallace, who had again taken command of the regiment.
“Paris, Dec. 17, 1815.