1770
1774
The regiment was quartered in Ireland seven years; and was equally conspicuous for good conduct on home service, as it had been for gallantry when confronting the enemies of its country abroad.
1775
In 1775, the misunderstanding between Great Britain and her North American provinces, on the subject of taxation, attained a character which produced hostilities, and the Thirty-fourth Regiment was augmented to the war establishment. The American Congress sent a body of troops, under Colonel Montgomery, to invade Canada, where Major-General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester, commanded, and the English general, having very few troops to oppose to the enemy, evacuated Montreal, and retired to Quebec. The Americans detached a division of troops, under Colonel Arnold, to surprise Quebec; but this enterprise failed, through the activity and vigilance of Major-General Carleton, who defended that fortress against the united provincial forces, and repulsed an assault made on the works, during a snow storm, in the depth of winter.
1776
The Thirty-fourth Regiment embarked from Ireland early in the spring of 1776, for the relief of Quebec; and on the arrival, in the river St. Lawrence, of the expected succours from the United Kingdom, in May, the Americans quitted the vicinity of that fortress, and made a precipitate retreat. The Thirty-fourth Regiment advanced up the country in pursuit of the provincial troops, and took part in the movements by which the Americans were driven out of Canada. The regiment was stationed in Canada during the winter.
1777
In the spring of 1777, the flank companies of the regiment were detached from Canada, with the army under Lieutenant-General Burgoyne, which was destined to proceed, by Lakes Champlain and George, to Hudson’s river, with the view of forcing its way to Albany, and co-operating with the army at New York, in the reduction of the revolted states. The troops employed on this service embarked on board a flotilla, and, after a pleasant voyage along Lake Champlain, landed at Crown Point, from whence they advanced towards Ticonderago, and forced the Americans to abandon the fort. This conquest achieved, the troops proceeded to Skenesborough, and drove the enemy from a stockaded fort on the 6th of July, and pursued them towards Castletown. On the 8th of July the Americans were repulsed in an attack on the Ninth Regiment, and driven from Fort Anne. After this success, preparations were made for a forward movement; but extraordinary difficulties had to be encountered; felled trees had to be removed from the roads,—creeks and marshes had to be passed,—forty new bridges had to be constructed, and others to be repaired; one made of log-work crossed a morass two miles in extent. These difficulties were overcome by the soldiers with cheerful alacrity, and on the 30th of July the troops arrived on the banks of the Hudson’s river, when they took post at Fort Edward, awaiting the arrival of provisions. The river was crossed in September, and a forward movement was made; but the expedition proved of insufficient force for the enterprise, and the means for supplying the troops inadequate. Having penetrated into the heart of the revolted provinces, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself encompassed by difficulties and dangers which he was unable to overcome. After a series of hard toil, incessant effort, and severe privation, the Indian warriors, who formed part of the expedition, deserted, and many of the Canadians followed their example; and after several stubborn engagements, in which the British regiments fought gallantly against an immense superiority of numbers, and the flank companies of the Thirty-fourth Foot had repeated opportunities of distinguishing themselves, Lieutenant-General Burgoyne found himself on the banks of the Hudson’s river, with an army diminished in numbers to three thousand five hundred men,—reduced in physical power by incessant toil and want of provisions,—invested by an army of sixteen thousand Americans,—disappointed of co-operation from other armies,—and without provision. Under these dismal circumstances, a convention was concluded with the American General Gates, at Saratoga, in which it was agreed that the troops should lay down their arms, on condition of being sent to England, and of not serving in America during the remainder of the war. These articles were violated by the American government, and the brave soldiers who had fought so gallantly, and who did not submit until surrounded by five times their own numbers, were detained prisoners in America.
The battalion companies of the regiment, which had remained in Canada, were not involved in this occurrence.