The Americans having vowed vengeance for the above attack, and that they would give no quarter, the soldiers of the light battalion on this declared, that to prevent any one not engaged in the action from suffering on their account, they had stained their feathers red, as a distinguishing mark.
The British army advanced upon Philadelphia, took possession of that city, and occupied a position at Germantown. The Americans attempted to surprise the British troops early on the morning of the 4th of October, and at first gained some advantage, but were speedily repulsed with severe loss.
1778
The regiment passed the winter in quarters at Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1778, it furnished several detachments, which ranged the country in various directions to open communications for obtaining provisions. At this period General the Honorable Sir William Howe had returned to England, and resigned the command of the army to General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. The regiment also took part in the fatigues and difficulties of the march of the army from Philadelphia, through the Jerseys, in order to return to New York, and the flank companies were engaged on the 28th of June in repulsing the attack of the enemy on the rear of the column at Monmouth Court-House, near Freehold, in New Jersey.
The army had marched from Philadelphia to New York in consequence of the King of France having engaged to aid the Americans, which circumstance changed the character of the war. Shortly after the arrival of the British army at New York a powerful French armament appeared off that port. The enemy had a great superiority of numbers; but the enthusiasm in the British navy and army was unbounded, and the hour of contest was looked forward to with sanguine expectations. The enemy did not, however, venture to hazard an attack; but proceeded against Rhode Island; a numerous body of Americans co-operated in the enterprise, and besieged Newport. The British fleet put to sea, and the thirty-third, forty-second, FORTY-SIXTH, and sixty-fourth regiments embarked, under Major-General Grey, to join the fleet at the east end of Long Island.
When the transports were about to sail, information was received of the departure of the French fleet from Rhode Island, and while at sea, news arrived of the Americans having raised the siege of Newport. The troops were then directed to proceed against Bedford, on the Accushnet river, a noted place for American privateers. On the evening of the 5th of September the troops landed,—overcame all opposition,—destroyed seventy privateers and other ships,—demolished the fort and artillery,—blew up the magazine,—destroyed an immense quantity of naval stores, &c., and returned on board the transports at noon on the following day. The troops afterwards proceeded against Martha's Vineyard,—destroyed the defences,—took three hundred and eighty-eight stand of arms from the militia,—obliged the inhabitants to deliver up three hundred oxen, ten thousand sheep, and a thousand pounds sterling collected by the Congress. After this success the regiment returned to New York.
A powerful French armament menacing the British possessions in the West Indies, the FORTY-SIXTH, and other regiments, sailed from North America, early in November, for Barbadoes, under Major-General James Grant.
Upon the arrival of the reinforcements at Barbadoes, the British naval and military commanders resolved to attack the French island of St. Lucia. On this occasion the FORTY-SIXTH regiment was formed in brigade with the fifteenth, twenty-eighth, and fifty-fifth regiments, 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, on the 18th of December, stormed the post of La Vigie, which was occupied by the grenadiers and light infantry (of which the flank companies of the FORTY-SIXTH formed part), and the fifth regiment, under Brigadier-General Medows. The enemy amounted to nine thousand men, commanded by Monsieur D'Estaing, the Marquis de Bouillé, and M. Lavendahl, and advanced in three columns; their first two attacks were made, to quote the words of Major-General Grant's despatch, "with the impetuosity of Frenchmen, and repulsed with the determined bravery of Britons." The French made a third attempt, but were soon broken, and were forced to re-embark, leaving the ground covered with killed and wounded.[14]