In July of this year the regiment pitched its tents near Blandford, where an encampment was formed of six regiments of foot and two of dragoons under Lieut.-General Sir Charles Howard.
1757
Numerous encampments were formed also in the following year, and the troops held in readiness to repel a threatened invasion of the French. The Fifteenth foot, and four other corps, pitched their tents on Barham-downs, under Charles Duke of Marlborough.
From Barham-downs the regiment proceeded to the Isle of Wight, in order to form part of an expedition against the French naval station of Rochfort, on the river Charente. The Fifteenth, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Honorable Sir James Murray, was formed in brigade with the fifth, twenty-fourth, thirtieth, and fifty-first regiments; the land forces were under Lieut.-General Sir John Mordaunt, and the navy under Admiral Sir Edward Hawke. The fleet sailed in the early part of September; on the 23rd of that month the Isle of Aix was captured, and the forts were afterwards destroyed. Owing to unfavourable weather, a landing could not be effected near Rochfort before the enemy was alarmed and prepared for a vigorous resistance. The troops were repeatedly in readiness to land, and on one occasion the first division was in the boats; but the weather, and other causes, prevented a debarkation taking place. The expedition afterwards returned to England.
1758
Early in the following year, the Fifteenth regiment, mustering eight hundred and fifty officers and soldiers, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Honorable James Murray, embarked for North America, to take part in the attack of the French possessions in that part of the world. It proceeded to Halifax, in Nova Scotia, where the expedition was prepared against Louisburg, the capital of the island of Cape Breton,[11] in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, under the orders of its colonel, Lieut.-General Sir Jeffery Amherst, K.B., the naval force being under Admiral Boscawen. The expedition sailed from Halifax on the 28th of May, and approached Louisburg, on the 2nd of June; but the weather was so unfavourable that a landing could not be effected before the 8th of June. On that occasion, the grenadier company of the Fifteenth formed part of the centre division under the gallant Brigadier-General James Wolfe, designed to force a landing; and the regiment formed part of the left division, under Brigadier-General Lawrence, designed to make a show of landing at Fresh-water Cove, to divert the enemy's attention from the main attack. The division under Brigadier-General Wolfe approached the shore under a heavy fire, and the surf being high, several boats were overset. One boat, containing part of the grenadier company of the Fifteenth, was overset, when Lieutenant Kennedy, two serjeants, and thirteen rank and file, were drowned. The regiment had also Lieutenant Nicholson and eight men killed by the enemy's fire. The survivors, however, jumped into the water with great gallantry, formed on the beach, and being animated by their chivalrous leader, the heroic Wolfe, they rushed upon their opponents with fixed bayonets, and carried the enemy's works in a manner which excited great admiration. The other divisions followed, and before night the army was on shore.
The siege of Louisburg was afterwards commenced; and the Fifteenth regiment took part in this service. In carrying on the approaches, and in making the attacks, the troops underwent great fatigues with a cheerful alacrity, which redounded to their honor. The enemy's sallies were repulsed: the fire of the British artillery destroyed their shipping, silenced their batteries, and damaged their works to so great an extent, that, on the 26th of July, the garrison surrendered prisoners of war; the whole island was also delivered up; and two other small islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence surrendered. Eleven stand of colours were captured on this occasion, and sent to England.
Besides the officers and soldiers killed in effecting a landing, the regiment had also Lieutenant Campbell killed; Lieutenant Hamilton, Lieutenant and Adjutant Mukens, and Ensign Moneypenny, wounded during the siege of Louisburg. The regiment had also a considerable number of private soldiers killed and wounded.
The arrival of the news of this gallant exploit produced great sensation in England; the captured colours were presented to the King, and conducted by a splendid cavalcade from Kensington Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral. The meritorious conduct of the officers and soldiers of the expedition was rewarded with the approbation of their Sovereign and the thanks of Parliament.
The Fifteenth were stationed at Louisburg during the remainder of the year.