Although the army under the Duke of York was victorious in its engagements, yet the Dutch people were not stimulated, by these spirited exertions, to rise in arms against their oppressors; and several circumstances having occurred which indicated that the expedition was not likely to be eventually successful, the Duke of York resolved to evacuate the country.
The regiment embarked from North Holland on the 18th of November, landed at Yarmouth on the 20th, and marched to Chelmsford. In December it proceeded to Horsham.
1800
Leaving Horsham on the 26th of January, 1800, the regiment proceeded to Portsmouth, where it embarked for Ireland, and landing on the 25th of February, marched to Kilkenny, from whence it afterwards proceeded to Clonmel, Fermoy, &c. Two companies, of one hundred rank and file each, were added to the establishment.
While at these stations, the regiment was conspicuous for its correct discipline and efficiency, and after the usual inspection, on the 29th of October, the following garrison order was issued:—“Major-General Sir Charles Ross is happy to have this opportunity of expressing his approbation of the steadiness and appearance of the Fifty-sixth Regiment this day, and returns his thanks to the officers and men for the zeal and attention which they have displayed on all occasions since he has had the honor of commanding them.”
1801
The regiment, after its return from the West Indies, in the early part of 1799, had been recruited with men for limited service in Europe; but when the glorious triumphs of the British army in Egypt, under General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B., were made known to the corps in general orders, this announcement of splendid victories, gained by English troops, created so lively an interest in the regiment, that the soldiers instantly responded with a tender of service in any quarter of the globe, which was communicated to the general officer of the district, Brigadier-General Champagne, by Major H. S. Keating, commanding the regiment at the time, in the following terms:
“Sir,—I have the honor to inclose you the offer of the Fifty-sixth Regiment, of serving in any part of the world, where His Majesty may deem it necessary; which I beg you will have the goodness to lay before his Excellency the Commander-in-chief. I should consider myself acting with injustice, were I not to notice the very enthusiastic manner in which the orders of the 16th May, 1801[4], of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, were received, and the consequent tender of those services excited by a contemplation of the animated conduct of our gallant army in Egypt; and I feel a confidence in adding, that should they be accepted, I have every reliance, that the spirit and energy of the regiment, will support with honor the interest of its king and country.”
The commander of the forces in Ireland directed the adjutant-general to convey to the non-commissioned officers and privates of the regiment, “his thanks and approbation of their spirited offer of general service, which is transmitted to His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief, to be laid before the King.” The Duke of York also communicated “his thanks to the corps for their spirited and loyal offer to extend their service to any part of the world.”