1790
Both battalions remained in England until the autumn of 1783, when, peace having been concluded, the second battalion embarked for Ireland, from whence it proceeded, in the following year, to Gibraltar to relieve the Hanoverian corps, which had been performing duty in that garrison during the war. At the same time the first battalion proceeded from England to Ireland, where it remained until January, 1790, when it embarked for the West Indies to relieve the 3rd Foot, and on its arrival at its destination it was stationed at Jamaica.
2nd Batt.
1793
Meanwhile a revolution had broken out in France; and in 1793 the French Monarch, Louis XVI., was beheaded by his subjects. Anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed prevailed in that kingdom, and the revolutionary party sought to involve other nations in the like horrors. War was the result. A powerful party, with principles favourable to monarchy, still existed in France; and, although the kingdom was governed by republicans, who maintained their authority by the terrors of the guillotine, yet many patriots stood forward with boldness in the cause of royalty; and a union took place between the cities of Marseilles, Lyons, and Toulon, in favour of Louis XVII., which alarmed the ruling powers. A republican army was sent against them, and Marseilles immediately surrendered. At the same time the inhabitants of the celebrated port of Toulon, the principal station of the French navy, joined with Admiral Turgot in proposing a negotiation with Admiral Lord Hood, who commanded a British naval force in the Mediterranean, and the port was taken possession of in August, 1793, by the British, in the name of Louis XVII. The French general had no sooner obtained possession of Marseilles than he advanced against Toulon. Strenuous exertions were made to procure troops to defend the place: besides French loyalists and a few British troops, detachments of Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians, were procured, and the second battalion of the Royal Regiment embarked from Gibraltar to take part in this service.
The battalion landed at Toulon towards the end of October, and marched on the evening of the same day to an out-post called Les Sablettes, where it was partially engaged with the enemy. Three companies were afterwards detached to Fort Mulgrave, an important post on the heights of Balaguier, which covered the town and harbour. This post was attacked on the evening of the 15th of November by a strong body of French republicans, who were repulsed and driven back. Lieut.-General O'Hara stated in his despatch on this subject:—"I have particular pleasure in mentioning that, on this occasion, the very spirited exertions of the British troops stationed in Fort Mulgrave, consisting of a detachment of the second battalion of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot, commanded by Captain Duncan Campbell, and of a detachment of the Royal Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Lemoine, were the principal means of repulsing the enemy, and of saving that important post. Our loss, including Spaniards, Neapolitans, and Sardinians, amounted only to 61. Among the wounded were Captain Duncan Campbell, of the Royals, and Lieutenant Lemoine, of the Artillery."
The enemy afterwards erected a battery on the heights of Arenes, which much annoyed one of the principal out-posts; and a detachment of the Royals formed part of the force, consisting of 400 British, 300 Sardinians, 600 Neapolitans, 600 Spaniards, and 400 French, commanded by Major-General David Dundas, which issued from Toulon on the morning of the 30th of November, crossed the river, traversed the olive-grounds, ascended the heights of Arenes, and carried the battery with signal gallantry. British valour was conspicuous on this occasion; but, unfortunately, an excess of ardour led to a disastrous result. The French fled in dismay down the hill; the British and other troops, following in full career, passed the valley, and ascended other heights at a considerable distance; and when out of breath, and exhausted with the chase, they encountered a superior body of fresh adversaries, and were forced to retreat, and Lieut.-General O'Hara was taken prisoner. Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart., who was an eye-witness, observed, in a letter to the Secretary of State:—"It is a real consolation to know that the courage of the British was conspicuous from the beginning of the action to the end; and that an excess of that good quality was the true and only cause of the miscarriage." The Royals lost, on this occasion Lieutenant M'Kellar, 1 serjeant, and 9 rank and file, killed; Lieutenants Mackenzie and Colin M'Donald, with 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 32 rank and file, wounded; Captains Reeves and Finnay wounded, and taken prisoners; Lieutenant Bird, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, and 17 rank and file, missing.
The defence of Toulon with only 12,000 men of five different nations, against an army of between 30,000 and 40,000 men, was found a difficult service. The garrison had to occupy a circumference of fifteen miles, by a number of posts, which required 9000 men for their protection. In the middle of December the republican army attacked the line of posts with great fury, and forced a passage at several places. The Royals were engaged in the defence of Fort Mulgrave, and lost 1 serjeant, 1 drummer, and 18 rank and file. After the line of posts was forced it was found impossible to maintain the town; the French shipping, magazines, and arsenal, were consequently set on fire, and the men of the several nations embarked on board the fleet on the 19th of December. Detachments of the troops took part with the seamen in the work of destruction; and Lieutenant Ironmonger, of the Royals, is stated to have been the last officer who quitted the dock-yard gates. With the republican army which attacked Toulon was an officer of artillery, named Napoleon Bonaparte, who afterwards arrived at the dignity of Emperor of France.
1794
After the evacuation of Toulon the fleet remained five weeks in the bay of Hieres, during which time arrangements were made for attacking the island of Corsica: the fleet weighed anchor on the 24th of January, 1794, but was dispersed by a gale of wind, and the Royals were driven to one of the ports in the island of Elba, where they remained several days. On the 5th of February they again put to sea, and on the evening of the 7th landed, with the 11th, 25th, 30th, 50th, 51st, and 69th Regiments, in an open bay in the Gulf of Fiorenzo, in the island of Corsica. On the following day the Royals and 51st were detached, under Lieut.-Colonel (afterwards Sir John) Moore, with a small howitzer and a six-pounder carried on the shoulders of a party of seamen, against Fornelli Tower, and after traversing eight miles of rocky mountainous country, destitute of roads, arrived at the heights above the tower, but found the distance too great for the light artillery to reach it; and the two battalions afterwards retired. Batteries were subsequently erected against Convention Redoubt, which was considered the key to the works on this part of the island; and, the fire of the artillery having produced some effect, the Royals, commanded by Captain Mackenzie, and 51st Regiment, moved from their camp-ground on the morning of the 17th of February to attack the advanced point of the redoubt; at the same time the 50th Regiment marched against the centre of the work, and the 21st proceeded along the sea-shore; the whole commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Moore. After traversing some rocky grounds covered with myrtle-bushes with great caution, the troops arrived in the vicinity of the redoubt unperceived by the enemy; then, rushing forward, entered the works, and with their bayonets drove the French and Corsicans down the steep hill in the rear. The enemy soon afterwards evacuated the town of Fiorenzo, with the towers and batteries in the gulf, and retreated to the Tower of Tichine, situated on a high mountain between Fiorenzo and Bastia, an important sea-port and the capital of the island. Speaking of this event, Lieut.-General Dundas observed in his despatch,—"The conduct of Lieut.-Colonel Moore, of the several commanding officers, and of the officers and soldiers under his orders, was firm and judicious, and merits every commendation."