From Wouterghem, the regiment marched towards Namur, to take part in the siege of that important fortress, which was deemed nearly impregnable, and was defended by a numerous garrison, under the celebrated Marshal Boufflers. On arriving before Namur the regiment pitched its tents at Templeux, from whence it advanced and took its turn of duty in the trenches.
On the 8th of July, the regiment was on duty before Namur, and it was ordered to support the attacks to be made that evening on the covered-way near the hill of Bouge: the storming party was commanded by Major-General Ramsay. About seven o'clock in the evening, the signal for the attack was given, and the storming party rushed forward with the most distinguished heroism. The Fourteenth moved forward to support the attack, and mingling with the combatants evinced signal intrepidity. The soldiers rushed up to the enemy's palisades, and placing the muzzles of their muskets between the staves, fired a volley, which put the French into some confusion. The palisades were afterwards broken;—the supporting corps joined in the assault,—the second covered-way was carried, and the French overpowered, driven from their works, pursued among the batteries on the brow of the hill, and many of them were killed in the stone pits in which they took refuge. This post having been thus captured, the Fourteenth Regiment retired, and being relieved from duty in the trenches, it returned to its camp at Templeux, a league and a half from Namur. Its loss was severe:—Lieutenant Ravisson was killed; Captain Carew and Ensign Perott died of their wounds; Captains Pope, Jackson, and Forbes, and Ensign Cormach, were wounded, but afterwards recovered.
The regiment quitted its post at Templeux, took its station in the lines of circumvallation, and mounted guard in the trenches, on the 10th of July; it was again on duty in the trenches on the 16th of July, when it had Captain Forbes and several private soldiers killed.
A detachment of the grenadiers of the regiment was engaged, on the 17th of July, in an attack upon the counterscarp; the assault was made about five o'clock in the evening; the French disputed the post with great bravery, defending the glacis for some time; but they could not withstand the prowess of the British grenadiers, who effected a lodgment, and obliged the enemy to abandon the counterscarp. Lieutenant Williams of the grenadier company of the regiment was killed, and Captain Devaux was wounded with the working party.
The regiment was again on duty in the trenches on the 19th and 24th of July. On the following day the town surrendered, the garrison retiring to the castle.
After the surrender of the town of Namur, the regiment quitted the lines of circumvallation, and joined the covering army under the Prince of Vaudemont, which encamped, on the 8th of August, near the village of Waterloo, and afterwards took up a position near Namur. A numerous French army commanded by Marshal Villeroy advanced to raise the siege of the castle, but the covering army occupied a position which was deemed too formidable to be attacked, and the French Marshal withdrew without hazarding an engagement.
A detachment from the grenadier company of the regiment quitted the covering army, and was engaged, on the 20th of August, in assaulting the breaches of the Terra Nova and Coharne, under the command of Lord Cutts. This proved a desperate service, particularly the assault of the Terra Nova, where the British grenadiers were engaged, and a serious loss was sustained in consequence of the regiments ordered to support the attack not advancing in time. The Fourteenth Foot had several men killed and wounded, and Lieutenant Sewell, who commanded the detachment from the grenadier company, was also wounded.
Preparations were made for a second assault, when Marshal Boufflers agreed to surrender on honorable terms, which were granted. Thus was captured this important fortress, which the French had boasted might be restored, but could not be taken; and the achievement reflected great credit on the confederate arms; it was the most important event of the war.
After the surrender of the castle of Namur, the regiment remained a short time in the field, and subsequently marched into cantonments in the villages near the Bruges canal.
1696