1794
Early in 1794 the regiment left Oudenarde for Wevelghem, and remained on outpost duty until April, when the army assembled, and was reviewed by the Emperor of Germany, on the heights of Cateau, where His Royal Highness William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, was nominated to the command of the brigade composed of the Fourteenth, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Regiments.
In the general attack on the enemy's positions, on the 17th of April, the regiment formed part of the column under Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, and took part in the attack on the village of Prêmont, and the wood on its left.
The French having been driven from their positions, the siege of Landrécies was commenced, and the Fourteenth Regiment formed part of the covering army encamped on the heights of Cateau; this post was attacked on the 26th of April, by the French under General Chapuy, who were repulsed, with great slaughter, by the British cavalry, with the loss of many guns. On this occasion the light company of the regiment behaved with much gallantry, and, having advanced to a wood on the left, kept in check a considerable body of the enemy, who meditated an attack on the batteries.
On the fall of Landrécies, the British troops moved to the vicinity of Tournay, where they were attacked on the 10th of May by a numerous body of French, who were defeated with severe loss. The Fourteenth Foot lost only one man on this occasion.
At length a combined attack was made on the French positions, with the view of forcing them to evacuate Flanders, in which the Fourteenth Regiment had another opportunity of distinguishing itself; it left Tournay on the evening of the 16th of May,—took part in forcing the points of the French position it was destined to attack in the direction of Lisle, on the 17th of May, and was successful; but several Austrian columns failed to accomplish their part in the combined movements. The British troops, having penetrated the French position, and being left unsupported, became exposed to the attack of the enemy's very superior numbers. Early on the 18th of May the Fourteenth Regiment was environed and attacked by an overwhelming force, but it stood its ground, and by firing by wings and platoons with as much steadiness and regularity as on parade, held its assailants in check. Its veteran commanding officer, Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Browne, became quite exhausted, and sat for some time on a chair behind the colours. At length an aide-de-camp arrived from Major-General Fox, commanding the brigade, with orders for the Fourteenth to retreat; and while performing this retrograde movement, they preserved an unbroken formation. Surrounded by enemies, fired upon by infantry and artillery, and menaced by cavalry, the regiment preserved its order with astonishing firmness, forming divisions in the rear against cavalry, and marching over ground covered with dead bodies. The road to Lannoy, by which the regiment had advanced on the preceding day, was found in possession of the enemy, with an abbatis and cannon formed across it, and the first discharge killed several grenadiers, when Major-General Fox said to Captain Clapham, "I fear we must lay down our arms." "No, sir," replied the captain, "the Fourteenth can cut through them." At this moment Corporal Gilbert Cimitiere[6], of the grenadiers, a French emigrant, well acquainted with the country, stepped forward, and undertook to conduct the brigade through the inclosures, and the troops quitted the main road under his guidance, being followed and assailed by the French. Lieutenant-Colonel Browne was shot through the body, and was carried in a blanket by four grenadiers, but he suffered so much pain that he requested them to stop, and he and they were made prisoners. The command of the regiment devolved on Captain Perry, of the light company, which was afterwards commanded by Lieutenant Graves. This officer, and Lieutenant Elrington, commanded the two rear companies of the column, and formed alternately to repulse the French cavalry. Although every road was fortified, and the hedges lined with troops, the brigade fought its way through the inclosures with astonishing gallantry and resolution, and gained the position at Templeuve, having, however, lost every piece of artillery with the column, excepting one of the battalion guns of the Fourteenth Regiment, under Lieutenant Phillott. The guide of the column, Corporal Gilbert Cimitiere, was rewarded with a commission.
The loss of the regiment, on this trying occasion, was one serjeant and thirteen rank and file, killed; twenty-two rank and file wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Browne wounded and taken prisoner; three serjeants, two drummers, and sixty-eight rank and file, prisoners of war and missing, many of whom were taken in consequence of being wounded and unable to continue the retreat. Lieutenant-Colonel Browne died at Lisle on the following day, and was much regretted by the officers and soldiers he had commanded with distinguished bravery on many trying occasions. The conduct of the brigade was commended by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, and its gallantry is recorded in the histories of the war[7].
The regiment resumed its post in front of Tournay, and was in position on the 22nd of May, when General Pichegru attacked the allied army with an immense body of troops, first assailing the right and afterwards the centre of the line. The Fourteenth being on the left, were not engaged during the early part of the day; but in the afternoon, the enemy carried the post of Pontechin, on the high road from Courtray to Tournay, and the fortune of the day was evidently flowing in favour of the French, when the brigade, formed of the Fourteenth, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Regiments, was ordered to the post of honor and danger.
As the Fourteenth quitted their post on the left, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsay, the Duke of York addressed them in the most flattering manner, declaring his perfect reliance on their gallantry. The three regiments moved at a running pace; though weak in numbers, they were strong in valour and resolution, and being conscious of their own prowess, they rushed upon their numerous opponents fully determined to conquer or perish in the attempt. The Fourteenth charged along the chaussée,—overpowered all resistance,—carried the village,—re-formed beyond the houses under a heavy fire[8],—raised a loud shout, and rushed forward to storm a battery on a rising ground near a windmill, which the French defended a short time, but afterwards abandoned it, leaving the regiment in possession of several pieces of cannon. This sudden burst of British valour, coming like an explosion of thunder, amazed and confounded the French, who gave way before the superior prowess of the British soldiers, and the current of the battle flowed in favour of the allies. There was, however, a protracted resistance in an orchard, where the grenadiers and light infantry of the Fourteenth Foot were engaged, and several instances of individual contempt of danger occurred. A grenadier named Ryan refused to avail himself of the advantage of standing behind a tree, saying "They cannot touch me;" but the next moment he fell forward apparently dead, when Captain Clapham turned him over, and said, "Ryan, you are only shot through the face, you will do well yet;" "Is that all?" replied the grenadier, and jumping up and commencing loading his firelock, he added, "Then I will have another rap at them," and he was with difficulty prevailed upon to go to the rear[9]. The French were eventually driven out of the orchard; the British pressed upon their opponents, and a victory was gained over the Republican troops, who were forced to quit the field of battle with severe loss.