Another attempt to capture the village of Blenheim having failed, the firing was continued against this post, and the army advanced against the enemy's line, which was driven from the field with great slaughter, and the loss of its cannon, and of many officers and soldiers made prisoners, among whom was the French commander, Marshal Tallard. Additional forces were then brought against the French troops in Blenheim, and they surrendered prisoners of war. The Germans, who attacked the enemy's right, were also victorious; and the gallant achievements of the allied army raised on the banks of the Danube a trophy which time cannot destroy.
The regiment had Lieut.-Colonel Dalyel, Captain Stratton, jun., Captain Stratton, senior, Lieutenants Vandergracht, Hill, Campbell, and Travallion killed; Brigadier-General Row and Major Campbell died of their wounds; Captains Craufurd and Fairlee, Lieutenants Dunbar, J. Douglas, Elliott, Ogilvy, Maxwell, Stuart, Primrose, and Gordon wounded.
The number of the enemy captured on this occasion was so great, that the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, and four other corps, were sent to Holland in charge of prisoners. These corps marched in charge of the captured French and Bavarians to Mentz, where they embarked in boats and sailed to Holland, under the orders of Brigadier-General Fergusson; and having delivered them into the charge of other regiments, went into quarters.
1705
The colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on John, Viscount Mordaunt, who had distinguished himself at the head of the foot guards which commenced the attack on the heights of Schellenberg. A number of recruits from Scotland having replaced the losses of the preceding campaign, the regiment appeared complete and in good order when it took the field to serve the campaign of 1705. It was employed in the expedition up the Moselle: and returning to the Netherlands, was afterwards engaged at the forcing of the French lines at Helixem and Neer Hespen, on the morning of the 18th of July, when the superior tactics of the British Commander, and the gallantry of his troops, were very conspicuous.
1706
The regiment had also the honor to take part in gaining another splendid victory over the combined French, Spanish, and Bavarian forces, at Ramilies, on Whit-Sunday, the 23rd of May, 1706. During the early part of the action the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, the Third foot, and three regiments of cavalry, were stationed on the heights of Foulz, where they had a view of the field of battle. An important crisis in the battle arriving, these corps descended from the heights,—the FUSILIERS and Third Foot forced their way through a morass, crossed the Little Gheet, ascended the acclivity between that river and the Jauche, and charging the enemy's left flank, forced three French regiments into some low grounds, where the greater part of them were either killed or taken prisoners. The allies were successful at every part of the field, and the legions of the enemy were overpowered, and pursued from the plains of Ramilies with great slaughter until the following morning, by which time nearly all the enemy's cannon, with many standards, colours, and kettle-drums, had been captured.
This victory augmented the reputation of the British arms; and was followed by very important results. Spanish Brabant, and many of the principal towns of Flanders, were rescued from the power of the enemy. The services of the regiment are connected with the capture of Ostend, Menin, and Aeth; and it passed the winter in garrison in Flanders.
In June of this year Viscount Mordaunt exchanged with Colonel Sampson de Lalo, a French gentleman of the Protestant religion, who had been forced to quit his native country by the Edict of Nantes; Colonel de Lalo had served as Lieut.-Colonel and Colonel of the Twenty-eighth regiment several years, and had the reputation of being an excellent officer.
1707