[7] Edited by Henry Curling. London, 1848.
[8] ‘Alphabetical List of the Officers of the Rifle Brigade from 1800 to 1850.’ London, 1851.
[9] He joined the 1st Battalion in April 1808.
[10] ‘Historical Records of the 43rd Regiment.’ By Sir Richard G. A. Levinge, Bart. 1868.
‘Historical Records of the 52nd Regiment.’ Edited by Capt. W. S. Moorsom. 1860.
[CONTENTS.]
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| PAGE | |
| Formation of an Experimental Corps of Riflemen—Expedition to Ferrol—Re-formation of the Rifle Corps—First list of officers—Account of Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. W. Stewart—Standing orders—First Expedition to Copenhagen—Nelson’s testimony—He gives a medal to the Riflemen—The Rifle Corps numbered 95—Camp at Shorncliffe under Sir John Moore—Formation of the 2nd Battalion—Account of Lieut.-Colonel Wade—Sidney Beckwith’s magnanimity—Expedition to Germany—Attack on Monte Video—Attack on Buenos Ayres—Second Expedition to Denmark—Battle of Kioge—Three companies proceed to Sweden—Arrival of Riflemen in Portugal—Affair at Obidos—Battle of Roleia—Battle of Vimiera—Both Battalions in Spain—Meeting of the Riflemen at the Trianon—Retreat—General Craufurd’s stern discipline—2nd Battalion embarks at Vigo—Fight at Cacabelos—Tom Plunket shoots a French General—Battle of Corunna—Embarkation of 1st Battalion—Casualties—Arrival in England—Death of Colonel Manningham | 1 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| Formation of the 3rd Battalion—1st Battalion again proceed to Portugal—Join the Light Division—March from Calzada to Talavera—March to the bridge of Almaraz—Scarcity of food—Winter quarters at Campo Major—2nd Battalion embark for Holland—Humbley seizes a French picquet—Siege of Flushing—Walcheren fever—1st Battalion on the Coa—Fight at Barba del Puerco—Craufurd’s Divisional Order—Beckwith’s system of command—Night march to Gallegos—Fight at the Coa—Casualties—Battle of Busaco—Lines of Torres Vedras—Fight at Sobral—Simmons takes some French prisoners—Massena’s retreat—Fight near Valle—Winter quarters—A company of the 2nd Battalion with Ballesteros—Defence of Tarifa—Defence of Cadiz—Battle of Barrosa | [42] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| Massena’s retreat from Santarem—Skirmishes at Paialvo; at Pombal; at Redinha—French politeness—Skirmishes at Casal-nova; at Foz d’Aronce; at Ponte da Murcella; at Freixadas—Lieutenant James Stewart—Combat at Sabugal—Skirmish at the bridge of Marialva; at Fuentes d’Onor—Battle of Fuentes d’Onor—Night panic at Sabugal—March to the Alemtejo—Cantonments on the Agueda—Retreat to Soita—Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo—Assault of San Francisco—Storming of Ciudad Rodrigo—Casualties—Anecdotes of General Craufurd—Military Executions—Siege of Badajos—Capture of La Picurina—Storming of Badajos—Casualties—Harry Smith’s romantic adventure | [71] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| Character of Sidney Beckwith—Riflemen reviewed by Lord Wellington—Skirmish near Rueda; at Castrejon—Manœuvring near Salamanca—Battle of Salamanca—March to Madrid—2nd Battalion companies fight at Seville; at Puente Larga—Departure from Madrid—Death of Lieutenant Firman—Retreat to the frontier of Portugal—Sufferings of the Riflemen—Their high state of discipline—Spanish recruits—Campaign of 1813—Affair at the Hormuza—Skirmish at San Millan—Battle of Vittoria—The 95th capture the first gun; and the last at the Araquil—March to intercept Clausel; to Pamplona; to the Pyrenees—Skirmish at Santa Barbara—Night marches—Fight at the bridge of Yanci; at Echalar—First Regimental dinner—Storming of S. Sebastian—Fight at the Bidassoa—Cadoux’s picquet at the bridge of Vera—Forcing the pass of Vera—The Arrhunes | [112] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| Battle of Nivelle—Fight at Arcangues—Good feeling between the Riflemen and the French outposts—Battle of the Nive—Outpost courtesies and discourtesies—Gave d’Oleron—March to Orthez—Battle of Orthez—Battle of Tarbes—Fight at Tournefeuille—Battle of Toulouse—Suspension of arms—Embarkation for England and arrival there—Expedition to Holland—Investment of Bergen-op-Zoom—Skirmishes before Antwerp; at Donk—Fight at Merxem—Failure of Graham’s attempts on Antwerp—Bergen-op-Zoom—Sorties from Antwerp and alarms—The companies in this expedition occupy Belgium, and eventually join the Battalions in the Waterloo campaign—Expedition to New Orleans—Disembarkation—James Travers captures an American picquet—Attack on the bivouack of the Riflemen—Hallen’s picquet—Advance towards New Orleans—Attacks on the American lines—Truce to remove dead and wounded—Dishonourable conduct of the Americans during the truce—Difficult march to the shore—Re-embarkation—Arrival at Île Dauphine—Sergeant Fukes turns the tables on a Yankee officer—Fort Boyer surrenders—Return to England | [154] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| Embarkation for the Netherlands—Advance of the 1st Battalion to Brussels—March to Quatre Bras—Battle of Quatre Bras—Riflemen the first English engaged; under the eye of the Duke of Wellington—Retreat through Genappe to Waterloo—Battle of Waterloo—Casualties; and Anecdotes—Charles Beckwith—March to Paris—Army of occupation—The 95th made ‘the Rifle Brigade’—Return to England—Death of Amphlett—The 3rd Battalion disbanded | [195] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| Home Service—1st Battalion sent to Glasgow to suppress riots—2nd Battalion proceeds to Ireland—The Duke of Wellington Colonel-in-chief—Address to him on that occasion—Both Battalions in Ireland—Names of victories to be borne on the pouch-belt—Outrage on some women of the Regiment—Engagement with Irish insurgents at Carrigamanus; and at Dasure—Embarkation of the 1st Battalion for Nova Scotia; and of the 2nd Battalion for Malta—The Depôt engaged against rioters in Ireland—Death of Sir William Stewart—The Depôts of both Battalions reviewed by the Duke of Clarence—Service abroad and at home—A Depôt Company of 1st Battalion suppresses smuggling at Hastings—Return of the 1st Battalion to England—Riflemen sent to Persia—Death of Colonel Eeles—Return of the 2nd Battalion to England—Coronation of Queen Victoria—Review in Hyde Park—Inspection by the Colonel-in-Chief and Marshal Soult—Birmingham Riots—The 1st Battalion embarks for Malta—Guards of Honour to Queen Victoria—Riots in South Wales—Embarkation of 2nd Battalion for Bermuda—Reserve Battalion formed—1st Battalion ordered to the Cape—Speech of Lord Seaton | [217] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| Landing in South Africa—Marches to Kaffraria—Death of Captain Gibson and Assistant-Surgeon Howell—Bivouack on Mount Misery—Fording the Kei river—Attack on the Kaffirs—Fire at King William’s-town—Expedition to the Amatola Mountains—Surrender of Sandilli—Arrival of Sir Harry Smith—War against the Boers—Crossing the Orange river—Battle of Boemplaats—Death of Captain Murray—Submission of the Rebels—Riflemen employed in building—2nd Battalion in Canada—Shipwreck at Sault Ste. Marie—Embarkation of the 1st Battalion—Sir Harry Smith’s General Order—Return to England—The Reserve Battalion done away with | [245] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| Last review by the Duke of Wellington—1st Battalion again embark for Kaffraria—Disasters of the ‘Megæra’—Landing at Algoa bay—Marches up the country—Skirmishes at Mundell’s Krantz; at Ingilby’s farm—Reconnaissance to the Waterkloof and Blinkwater—Patrols and reconnaissances—Attack on the Waterkloof—General Cathcart’s General Order—Escorts—Final attack on the Waterkloof—Road-making and patrols—Expedition to Moshesh’s country—Battle of Berea—Death of the Duke of Wellington—Riflemen guard and escort his body—His funeral—Return of the 2nd Battalion to England—The Prince Consort appointed Colonel-in-Chief—Return of the 1st Battalion—General Cathcart’s order on that occasion—Camp at Chobham | [269] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| Embarkation for the East—The 2nd Battalion in Turkey and Bulgaria—Disembarkation in the Crimea—Kindness of Sir George Cathcart—Advance to Kentúgan and Kamishli—Popularity of the Riflemen with the inhabitants—False alarms—Advance to the Búlganak—Battle of the Alma—March to the Katchka and the Belbek—Russian baggage captured at Mackenzie’s farm—Attack on Balaklava—Both Battalions before Sebastopol—Wheatley disposes of a live shell—Remarkable shot by a Rifleman—Attack on Fyers’ picquet—Hugh Hannan’s single combat—Battle of Balaklava—Markham’s picquet at the Magazine Grotto—Wing of 2nd Battalion sent to the heights of Balaklava—Battle of Inkerman—Exploit at the Ovens—General Canrobert’s ‘Ordre Général’—Severe duty—Sufferings and sickness—Russian attempt to retake the Ovens—Reconnaissance on Kamara—Increased suffering and disease—Huts erected—Death of Sir Andrew Barnard—Second reconnaissance on Kamara—A 3rd Battalion added—Attacks and volunteers—Victoria Cross won by three Riflemen—New clothing—Wing of the 2nd Battalion embark for Kertch, but return countermanded—Queen Victoria distributes the Crimean Medal to 24 Riflemen (officers and men)—Capture of the Quarries—Attack on the Redan—Death of Lord Raglan—Thirteen Riflemen shot down coming off picquet—Captain Balfour’s affair in the trenches—Final attack on Sebastopol—Captain Hammond—Explosion in French lines—The armistice—Reviews by French and Russian Generals—Embarkation for England—Corunna in 1809 and 1856—Both Battalions at Aldershot—Reviewed by the Queen—Formation of the 3rd Battalion—The 1st Battalion proceeds to Scotland—Fire and riots—2nd Battalion reviewed by the Queen in Hyde Park, when Her Majesty gave the Victoria Cross to eight Riflemen (officers and others)—Afterwards proceeds to Dublin—A 4th Battalion added to the Regiment | [298] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| The Sepoy Mutiny—2nd and 3rd Battalions embark for India—Woodford’s detachment arrives at Calcutta—March up the country—Arrival of Fyers’ detachment—Woodford’s party reach Cawnpore—Fight at the Pandoo Nuddee—Battle of November 27—Fyers’ march from Futtehpore to Cawnpore—Atherley’s company (3rd Battalion) reach Cawnpore—Battle of November 28—Death of Colonel Woodford—The Riflemen take two guns—Fight on November 29—Woodford’s body recovered and buried—Arrival of the 3rd Battalion at Calcutta—Marches up the country—Final battle of Cawnpore—Attack on the Subhadar’s tank—Arrival of the 2nd Battalion Head-quarters—Marches and expeditions—Capture of the fort of Etawah—Operations on the Ramgunga—Return to Cawnpore—Formation of the Oude field force—Expedition to intercept the Nana—Return re infectâ—Escorts—Advance towards Lucknow—The Riflemen join Outram’s force—Operations on the left bank of the Goomtee—First engagement there—Attack on a picquet of Riflemen—Capture of the Yellow Bungalow—Escort of mortars—Reconnaissance in force—The iron and stone bridges—Wilmot’s fight near the iron bridge—Deaths of Captain Thynne and Lieutenant Cooper—Capture of Lucknow—Expedition to Koorsie—Formation of the Camel Corps—Sickness in the 3rd Battalion—Fight at Baree—Expeditions—Pursuit of Beni Madhoo—March to Nuggur—Sufferings from the heat—Fight at Nuggur—Night panic—Pursuit of rebels—Camp at Chinhut—Night march to Nawabgunge—Sufferings of the Riflemen from fatigue, dust, and thirst—Battle of Nawabgunge—Sir Hope Grant’s opinion of the enemy—Shaw’s combat with a Ghazee—Casualties from wounds and sunstroke—Sir Hope Grant’s despatches | [347] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| Return of the 3rd Battalion to Lucknow—Distressing march of the 2nd Battalion to Sultanpore—Cross the Gogra—A company of the 3rd Battalion proceed to Sundeelah—Green’s fight at Jamo—Capture of Birwah—Death of Ensign Richards—Expedition to the fort of Amethie—March to Shunkerpore—Escape of Beni Madhoo—Expedition to Koilee—Fight near Hydergurh—Pursuit of rebels—Riflemen mounted on gun-limbers—Trans-Gogra campaign—March to Baraitch—Christmas dinner at Jeta—Skirmish near Churdah—Capture of Mejidia—Night march to Bankee—Fight at the Raptee—Renewed pursuit of Beni Madhoo—Capture of Oomria—March to Gonda—Expedition into Nepaul—Fight at Sidka Ghât—Expeditions near the Raptee—Fight at Akouna—Clearing the Jugdespore jungles—Patrols near the fords of the Raptee—End of the Mutiny—2nd Battalion return to Lucknow—Marches, services, and casualties of the 2nd Battalion—Inspection by Lord Clyde—3rd Battalion moves to Tulsipore to receive captured guns—Proceeds to Agra | [394] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| The Camel Corps—Riding drill—Move to Cawnpore—Proceed to join Sir Hugh Rose—Cross the Jumna—Battle of Goolowlee—Capture of Calpee—Return to Cawnpore—Move to Allahabad and Benares—Cross the Ganges—Expedition to Mohaneea—Standing camp at Kurroundea—Expedition to Nassreegunge; to Bikrumgunge; to Kochus—Fight at Sukreta—Various expeditions in pursuit of rebels—March to Fyzabad—Ordered to Lucknow—Pursuit of Tantia Topee—Capture of Tantia Topee—Camel Corps cross the Chumbul—March to Saugor—Operations in the jungles—Fight at Mitharden—Chase of rebels near Shahgurh—Move to Agra—Camel Corps broken up—Colonel Ross’ testimony to their zeal and discipline | [429] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| Home service—1st Battalion inspected by Sir Harry Smith—His speech—4th Battalion embarks for Malta—Death of Sir Harry Smith—Marches in India—1st Battalion in Ireland—The Rifle Brigade exempted from being required to carry a colour on guards—The ‘Trent’ affair—Embarks for North America—Dangers of the voyage—Death of the Prince Consort—The designation ‘The Prince Consort’s Own’ granted to the Regiment—Journey from St. John’s New Brunswick to Rivière de Loup—Service abroad—Sir George Brown Colonel-in-Chief—Expedition against the Mohmunds—Battle of Shubkudder—Testimonies to the good conduct of the 1st Battalion in Canada—4th Battalion proceeds to Canada—Death of Sir George Brown—Bravery of two Riflemen—Fenian raid—Return of the 2nd and 4th Battalions to England—The Prince of Wales Colonel-in-Chief—Prince Arthur joins 1st Battalion as Lieutenant—Two Battalions at Aldershot—Flying columns—Return of the 1st Battalion to England—Autumn manœuvres—Return of the 3rd Battalion to England—Illness of H.R.H. the Colonel-in-Chief—Autumn manœuvres, 1872—Thanksgiving for the recovery of the Prince of Wales—2nd and 4th Battalions move to Ireland—Review before the Shah—Ashantee Expedition—2nd Battalion embarks for the Gold Coast—Autumn manœuvres of 1873—4th Battalion proceeds to India—Entry of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh into London | [451] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| Disembarkation at Cape Coast Castle—March to the Prah—Meeting with a supposed rhinoceros—African fever—Death of Captain Huyshe—Advance beyond the Prah—First contact with the Ashantees—Battle of Amoaful—Defence of Quarman—Advance from Amoaful—Fight near the Ordah—Crossing the river—Fight at Ordahsu—Advance to Coomassie—Return towards the coast—Aggemamu fortified—Arrival at Cape Coast and return to England—Reception at Portsmouth and Winchester—Reviews—2nd Battalion proceeds to Gibraltar—Death of Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon—The Colonel-in-Chief in India—The Duke of Connaught takes command of the 1st Battalion—Conclusion | [482] |
| [APPENDIX I.] | |
| Succession of Colonels-in-Chief and Colonels-Commandant | [513] |
| [APPENDIX II.] | |
| On the Armament of the Regiment | [515] |
| [APPENDIX III.] | |
| Actions and Casualties of the Regiment | [518] |
| [APPENDIX IV.] | |
| Rewards for Distinguished Service | [523] |
| [INDEX] | [529] |