In October of the same year the Royal Fusiliers were embarked to join an expedition against the enemy's forts up Hudson's River. About three thousand men were collected for this service from New York and the lines at Kingsbridge; and having embarked on board of transports, were convoyed up the river by some frigates and other armed vessels under Commodore Hotham. The troops landed at day-break on the 6th of October at Stony-point, and arrangements were immediately made for the attack of Forts Montgomery and Clinton. The troops had to march a distance of twelve miles over mountains, and to overcome many obstructions; they, however, surmounted every difficulty, and attacked the forts by storm on the same day. As the Americans were prepared, and their works strong, they made an obstinate defence; but nothing could withstand the ardour of the royal troops, and every corps gained a share in the glory. Fort Constitution was also taken on the 7th of October. Not far from these forts was a new settlement called Continential Village, where there was a barrack for fifteen hundred men. The Royal Fusiliers, with two German corps and two three-pounders, were sent against this place, and having destroyed the settlement and burnt the barrack and stores, the troops returned.
Notwithstanding these successful diversions, Lieut.-General Burgoyne experienced great difficulties in his advance, and eventually, his troops being exhausted with fatigue and privation, his advance opposed by superior numbers, and his retreat cut off, he capitulated. The army under General Sir William Howe had better success, and captured Philadelphia. The enemy having despatched part of the force originally opposed to Lieut.-General Burgoyne, to join their army of the south under General Washington, the Royal Fusiliers were sent from the vicinity of New York to reinforce the army in Pennsylvania, and in the early part of December they were engaged in a skirmish with the Americans in front of Philadelphia; but only lost one man.
1778
Louis XVI. having acknowledged the independence of the revolted British States in America, and concluded a treaty of alliance with them, Great Britain declared war against France; and as the French had agreed to assist the Americans, a concentration of the British forces was deemed advisable. The army accordingly retired in June, 1778, from Philadelphia, and crossed the Delaware, and proceeded through the Jerseys, from whence it embarked for New York. Numerous obstacles had to be overcome in this retreat, and the troops suffered much from the excessive heat of the weather: some sharp skirmishing also took place, but the Royal Fusiliers do not appear to have sustained any loss.
1779
The regiment remained at the lines near New York until the summer of 1779, when it was employed in an expedition commanded by Major-General Tyron, sent into East Sound with a view of drawing General Washington from the strong post which he occupied in the mountains into Connecticut for the defence of the towns on that coast. The fleet arrived at the harbour of Newhaven on the 5th of July, and the first division of the Army, which consisted of the flank companies of the guards, Royal Fusiliers, fifty-fourth regiment, and a detachment of Jagars, with four field-pieces, under Brigadier-General Garth, landed about five o'clock in the morning a mile south of the town, and advanced, making a circuit of seven miles to gain the head of the creek on the western side of the place. Some skirmishing occurred on the march, but the King's troops overcame all opposition and took possession of the town: at the same time the second division landed and took post at Rock Fort. On the following day the troops destroyed all the public stores, and part of the ordnance, with a number of vessels, and afterwards re-embarked, bringing off six field-pieces and an armed privateer. On the 7th of July the fleet anchored off the village of Fairfield; the British troops landed and defeated a party of Americans; the enemy kept firing from windows and the tops of houses, which provoked a band of loyal emigrants to set the place on fire, by which the town and a number of boats were destroyed. On the 11th of July the fleet sailed to the bay of Norwalk. The troops landed on the following day and advanced against the town. "The Fusiliers, supported by the light infantry of the guards, began the attack, and soon cleared the quarters—pushing the main body of the enemy and an hundred cavalry from the northern heights, and taking one piece of their cannon. After many of the salt-pans were destroyed, whale-boats carried away on board the fleet, and the magazines, stores, and vessels set in flames, with the greatest part of the dwelling-houses, the advanced-corps were drawn back, and the troops retired in two columns to the place of our first debarkation, and, unassaulted, took ship and returned to Huntingdon bay."[12] This expedition did not produce the desired effect in the movements of the American general. The troops were ordered to return to New York. Major-General Tyron stated in his despatch—"I should do injustice if I closed this report without giving every praise to the troops I had the honour to command."[13]
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers lost five men in this expedition, and had three serjeants and nineteen men wounded.
During the autumn of this year the operations of the army were limited to defensive measures; but in December an attack on the opulent province of South Carolina was determined on, and the Royal Fusiliers formed a part of the force employed on this service, which was commanded by General Sir Henry Clinton.
1780