1776
These events caused several regiments to be embarked for America early in the year 1776; the FORTY-SIXTH embarked from Ireland at this period, and arrived on the coast of North Carolina early in April, when Major-General Henry Clinton, who was serving with the local rank of General in America, assumed the command. The men landed at Cape Fear to refresh themselves after the voyage, and returning on board the transports, sailed on the 1st of June with the expedition against Charleston. After passing Charleston bar, the troops landed on one of the islands; but the armament proved of insufficient strength for the capture of the capital of South Carolina, and the troops re-embarked and proceeded to Staten Island, where the main body of the British forces had assembled under Major-General the Honorable Sir William Howe, K.B., who was serving with the local rank of General in America. The seventeenth, fortieth, FORTY-SIXTH, and fifty-fifth regiments were here formed in brigade under Major-General James Grant.
On the 4th of July, 1776, the American Congress issued their declaration of independence, abjuring their allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain, and all hope of accommodation failed.
A landing was effected by the British on Long Island on the 22nd of August, and in the evening of the 26th the army was put in motion to pass a range of woody heights, which intersect the island, and to attack the American force in position beyond the hills. The column under Major-General Grant, of which the FORTY-SIXTH formed part, was directed to advance along the coast, with ten pieces of cannon, to draw the enemy's attention to that quarter. Moving forward at the appointed hour, this column fell in with the advanced parties of the Americans about midnight, and at daybreak on the following morning, encountered a large body of troops formed in an advantageous position, defended by artillery. Skirmishing and cannonading ensued, and were continued until the Americans discovered by the firing at Brooklyn, that the left of their army had been turned and forced, when they retreated in great confusion through a morass. The American army, being driven from its positions with severe loss, made a precipitate retreat to their fortified lines at Brooklyn.
The Americans quitted their fortified lines during the night of the 28th of August, and retired across the East River, in boats, to New York; the reduction of Long Island was accomplished in a few days, with little loss.
The regiment shared in the operations by which the capture of New York was accomplished: also in the movements by which the Americans were driven from White Plains, and in the reduction of Fort Washington.
After the reduction of Fort Washington, and of Fort Lee on the opposite side of the North, or Hudson's River, the regiment continued the pursuit of the enemy across the Jerseys, by Elizabeth Town, Raway, &c. towards Philadelphia, and remained during the following winter at Amboy.
The FORTY-SIXTH regiment occupied an old transport ship as a barrack, and being actively employed during the winter in constant escorts of ammunition, was continually attacked between that place and New Brunswick, on the way to Trenton, Princetown, and Burlington, where the advance of the British army had taken up winter quarters.
During the winter, General Washington suddenly passed the Delaware river, and succeeded in surprising and making prisoners a corps of Hessians at Trenton, but he afterwards made a precipitate retreat. Being reinforced, he again crossed the river, and took up a position at Trenton.