“I have the honor to report, that when I minutely inspected the second battalion of the Eighty-seventh regiment two months after their arrival in this island, I found every thing in a state of perfection that would have done credit to an old established regiment, and which could not have been expected in a battalion so lately formed. The flank companies are uncommonly fine. The battalion men are in general of good size, young and stout, and the whole appear healthy and well fed: they march well, are steady under arms, and perfect in their discipline. The interior regulations are excellent, barracks and hospital clean, books regular, women and children decent in their appearance, and every thing to be commended. The appointments are in good order, the clothing is very good and well fitted, gaiters, shoes, &c. good without exception. There have been very few courts martial, very few non-commissioned officers reduced, and not one punished man in the battalion.
“The officers are well dressed and very attentive to their duty. Since their arrival here, the Eighty-seventh have occupied the town district, where I have had daily opportunities of seeing them, and I have always found them attentive on duty, well dressed in the streets, quiet and regular, no complaints, no drunkenness, even at the monthly settlements.
“I am of opinion that the second battalion of the Eighty-seventh is fit for any service, and very likely to be distinguished, especially while commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Doyle, who appears one of the best and most attentive officers I have ever seen, and who is to be particularly commended for keeping up very strict discipline without the least appearance of severity.
“I have, &c.,
(Signed) “John Fraser,
“Brigadier-General.
“To Lieut.-General Sir John Doyle, Bart., commanding
His Majesty’s Forces in Guernsey and Alderney.”
The above report of Brigadier-General Fraser was highly gratifying to His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, whose approbation thereof was signified to Lieut.-Colonel Doyle, and to the second battalion, through Lieut.-General Sir John Doyle, by the Adjutant-General on the 10th of July 1807.
1808.
Important events had in the meantime occurred on the continent of Europe. Napoleon having reduced Germany to submission to his will, and forced Russia to accede to his decrees, next attempted the subjugation of Spain and Portugal. The Spaniards and Portuguese rose in arms to assert their national rights, the French emperor having conferred the crown of Spain on his brother Joseph, who relinquished the throne of Naples in favour of Marshal Murat. In the summer of 1808 Portugal was delivered by a British army under Lieut.-General Sir Arthur Wellesley, and in the autumn Lieut.-General Sir John Moore received orders to advance with a body of British troops from Portugal into the heart of Spain; several regiments were embarked from the United Kingdom to co-operate in the enterprise.
On the 4th of June 1808, the battalion embarked from Guernsey, proceeded to Harwich, and from thence to Ramsgate, having previously occupied Weely Barracks and Danbury Camp.