In Europe, the war with France was being prosecuted with vigour, and in the month of March, 1810, the flank companies of the regiment were completed to one hundred rank and file each, and marched under Captain Forssteen, for Madras, to take part in an expedition against the French island of Bourbon, situate in the Indian ocean, about four hundred miles east of Madagascar. In June the expedition arrived at Rodriguez, and in July came in sight of the island of Bourbon, when the surf was so high as to render a landing dangerous; an attempt was, however, made; the light infantry of the Twelfth in a small schooner, and about three hundred men of the thirty-third and sixty-ninth regiments in boats, approached the shore and effected a landing with the loss of a few men drowned; but the schooner and boats were dashed to pieces, the soldiers' ammunition damaged, and many of their arms lost. As no more men could be landed, Lieutenant Foulkstone of the sixty-ninth regiment volunteered to swim through the surf and convey orders to Lieut.-Colonel Macleod, to take possession of St. Marie. This order was instantly obeyed, and the light infantry of the Twelfth distinguished themselves in storming the batteries, in which service they had two private soldiers killed; Lieutenants John Spinks, and John B. Whannell, with five rank and file wounded. The grenadier company of the Twelfth, and other corps afterwards landed at Grand Chaloupe, and by their spirited conduct, particularly the gallant behaviour of the eighty-sixth regiment, the reduction of the island was speedily accomplished.
While the flank companies were engaged in this service, the regiment was stationed at Wallajahbad, from whence it marched, in August, to St. Thomas's Mount, and in September to Madras, where it embarked on board the "Russell," of seventy-four guns, and the "Cornwallis," "Hesper," "Cornelia," "Bucephalus," and "Clorinde" frigates, to take part in the expedition against the Mauritius, or Isle of France, another island in the Indian sea, belonging to France; the grenadiers and light infantry of the regiment also embarked from St. Paul's in the island of Bourbon, to share in the enterprise. On the 28th of November the armament approached the Isle of France, and the troops effected a landing in the bay of Mapon, when one brigade was ordered into a large wood, through which it was necessary to pass. The light company of the Twelfth under Captain Forssteen, preceded by a section under Lieutenant Ashe, penetrated among the trees, and skirmished with a French piquet, in which service two men were killed, and Lieutenant Ashe and three private soldiers wounded. After a march of nine miles, the light infantry of the Twelfth halted on some low ground surrounded by jungle. The weather was very hot, water could not be procured, and the sufferings of the soldiers, in consequence, were very severe; but on the following day some alleviation of suffering was obtained by sucking the dew from the herbage, and advancing to the powder mills, within five miles of Port Louis, the capital, clear streams of water were discovered. While halting at this place, the piquets were attacked by the enemy, when the rifle company of the Twelfth, and the light infantry of the fifty-ninth, dashed forward, and drove back the French skirmishers, wounding General de Caen.
On the following morning the army advanced, the grenadiers of the Twelfth being in front, and the light infantry on the flanks, under Captains Firth and Forssteen, Lieutenant Keappock commanding the leading section of grenadiers. While advancing along a narrow road, through a country covered with underwood, the army was suddenly assailed with grape shot, from an eminence; but a charge with bayonets forced the French to withdraw. Arriving at some open grounds, the British formed line, when the French abandoned their guns and retreated towards the town, leaving a body of troops on a mountain on the British left. The Twelfth were ordered to storm the height, and they raised a loud shout, and soon gained the summit, when the French fled, leaving a gun behind them.
The officers and soldiers of the regiment evinced great heroism in these services; Lieutenant Keappock was wounded in the side, but continued at his post until a shot in the head forced him to retire; his honourable, though dangerous post, was taken by Lieutenant Jenkins, who received a severe contusion on the breast by a ball, but continued at the head of the leading section.
In this short but brilliant and decisive service, the regiment had Major Jeremiah O'Keefe, one drummer, and sixteen rank and file killed; Lieutenants Keappock and Ashe, three serjeants, and twenty-eight rank and file wounded; five men missing.
The French Governor, General de Caen, seeing no prospect of being able to make effectual resistance, surrendered the island. This enterprise was thus successfully accomplished, and the conduct of the Twelfth regiment was commended in orders, also in the public despatch of Major-General Abercromby.
After the surrender of the Isle of France, the flank companies proceeded to Port Louis, and the battalion companies descended the Long Mountain, and embarked from Tortue bay, in the "Psyche" frigate, for Grand Port, where they were joined by the flank companies, after being separated eleven months.
1811
General Picton died on the 14th of October, 1811, in his eighty-fourth year, and was succeeded in the Colonelcy of the Twelfth foot, by Lieut.-General Sir Charles Hastings, Baronet, from the seventy-seventh regiment of foot.
The regiment was stationed in the Isle of France during the years 1811 and 1812.