After passing the winter at the capital of Pennsylvania, the regiment furnished several parties, in the spring of 1778, to range the country, and open communications for bringing in supplies.
The regiment also shared in the fatigues and difficulties of the march of the army from Philadelphia to New York, under Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton, rendered necessary by the French monarch having united with the revolted British provinces, and thus changed the character of the war. As the army pursued its journey, crossing rivers, and traversing a wild and woody country, the enemy menaced the flanks and rear with an attack in force; and on the 28th of June, some sharp fighting took place, near Freehold in New Jersey, when the grenadier company of the Fifteenth distinguished itself, and the enemy was repulsed. Captain Cathcart, of the regiment, was wounded; and also Captain Ditmas, who was attached to the second grenadier battalion.
The army afterwards continued its route, and arrived at New York in July.
A powerful French armament menacing the British possessions in the West Indies, the Fifteenth, and several other corps, sailed from North America, early in November, for Barbadoes, under Major-General Grant.
While the regiment was at sea, its colonel, Major-General the Earl of Cavan, died at Dublin, and was succeeded by Major-General William Fawcett, deputy adjutant-general to the forces.
On the arrival of the reinforcements at Barbadoes, the British naval and military commanders resolved to act offensively, and attack the French island of St. Lucia. On this occasion the regiment was formed in brigade with the twenty-eighth, forty-sixth, and fifty-fifth, under Major-General Prescott. The expedition sailed from Carlisle-bay on the 12th of December, a landing was effected at St. Lucia on the following day, and on the 14th, the French troops were driven from several important posts. In the meantime a French armament of very superior numbers approached the island, and the British took up positions to repel the enemy. The French fleet made a desperate attack on the British naval force, but was repulsed. A numerous body of the enemy landed, and stormed the post of La Vigie, which was occupied by the grenadiers, light infantry, and fifth regiment, under Brigadier-General Medows; when the determined bravery of the British proved triumphant over very superior numbers, and the French were repulsed and forced to re-embark, leaving the ground covered with killed and wounded. The flank companies of the Fifteenth had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves on this occasion. The governor surrendered the island to the British arms immediately after the departure of the French armament.
1779
1780
The Fifteenth remained at St. Lucia several months. In the meantime, the French possessed a great superiority of numbers, both of naval and land force, in the West Indies; and in June, 1779, they attacked the island of St. Vincent, and in July Grenada; the regiment embarked from St. Lucia, for the relief of these islands; but they were captured before any force could arrive to their assistance. While the regiment was at sea, some sharp fighting occurred between the hostile fleets, without decisive results, and the regiment was afterwards landed at the island of St. Christopher's, where it was stationed during the year 1780.
1781