The 5th Regiment of Foot

American War of Independence

The 5th Regiment of Foot left Monkstown, Ireland on 7 May 1774, for Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their presence was necessary because of strong civil unrest in the area. Arriving in July, 1774 the 5th Regiment of Foot camped on Boston Common.

On 19 April 1775, the Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies participated in the march to Concord, and the resulting fighting at Lexington, Concord, and the march back to Boston. Casualties were five men killed, three officers and 15 men wounded, and one man captured. On 17 June 1775, after being under siege by American forces for two months, the regiment participated in the attack on the fortifications at Breed's Hill (the Battle of Bunker Hill). The American forces were finally driven off after intense fighting. The regiment was heavily engaged and suffered 24 dead, 137 wounded.

After spending two months on board ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 5th Regiment of Foot sailed to New York to participate in the effort to capture the city from the Americans. They took part in the Battle of Long Island and the Battle of White Plains, the capture of Fort Washington, New York, the capture of Fort Lee, New Jersey. They then spent the winter of 1776-1777 quartered near New York City and were involved in skirmishes with the American forces. They were then part of Howe's campaign to capture Philadelphia, being engaged in the Battle of Brandywine Creek, where they broke the Continental Army's center at Chadds Ford, capturing 5 cannon. On the retreat through New Jersey, on 28 June 1778, the regiment was involved in the fighting at Monmouth Court House. While in New York, the 5th Regiment of Foot participated in several raids and skirmishes, including a raid on Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. The Americans had been using the harbour for privateering, and this raid succeeded in destroying many buildings and boats.

They then embarked from New York on 3 November 1778, for the French West Indies, landing on 13 December 1778, on the island of Saint Lucia. The 5th Regiment of Foot was engaged with a small force of French and captured a four cannon battery. On 18 December 1778, a force of 9,000 French troops were landed on St. Lucia. The small British force of 1,400 men occupied a hill located on the neck of a peninsula. The French were fairly raw soldiers trained to fight in the classic European style of linear battles. The French advanced on the British force several times. The British, veterans of colonial fighting, inflicted a stinging defeat on the French. The French lost 400 killed and 1100 wounded to the British losses of 10 killed and 130 wounded, which included two officers from the 5th Regiment of Foot. As a result of the defeat, the French force abandoned the island. Regimental tradition states that after the battle men of the 5th Regiment of Foot took white hat plumes from fallen French soldiers and placed them as trophies in their own hats.

After two years in the West Indies, the 5th Regiment of Foot was sent to Ireland in December 1780. They were still in Ireland when hostilities between Great Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the former Colonies officially ended in 1783.

Sources

Kronoskaf
Wikipedia
British Regimental Drums

The British Royal Marines

French and Indian War

1755 Corps of Marines and Marine Department

On the re-commencement of hostilities with France in 1755, fifty companies of Marines were raised, under the direction and control of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. These companies were formed into three divisions, at the principal naval stations, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham. The Corps of Marines having been raised in 1755, and since that period retained an the establishment, as a branch of the permanent national force of Navy, Army, and Marines, have been authorised to rank, when acting with Infantry of the line, next to the 49th Regiment, as directed by His Majesty King George IV. in the following General Order, dated

Horse Guards, 30th of March 1820.
 In reference to the regulations regarding proceedence of Regiments (as contained in page 10 of the general regulations and orders of the army), His Majesty has been graciously pleased to command, that the Royal Marines, when acting with troops of the line shall take their station next to the 49th Regiment of foot.
By Command of HRH the commander-in-chief.
Henry Torre, adjutant General.

The Battle of Ticonderoga 1758

General Abercromby's force at The Battle of Ticonderoga 1758

The Battle of Quebec 1759

The Battle of Quebec 1759

Landing Barges

Landing Barges

American War of Independence

1st Marine Battalion

The British Light Infantry

French and Indian War

The 80th light infantry was raised on 5 May 1758 in North America by Thomas Gage

In July 1758, the unit was part of the expedition against Carillon (actual Ticonderoga). On 5 July a detachment formed part of the vanguard along with Rogers' Rangers. The rest of the regiment formed the rearguard. On 6 July at daybreak, the British flotilla reached the narrow channel leading into Lake Champlain near Fort Carillon and disembarkation began at 9:00 AM. The same day regiment the regiment was involved in several skirmishes with French and Indian light troops. On 8 July , it fought in the disastrous battle of Carillon. At daybreak on 9 July the British army re-embarked and retreated to the head of the lake where it reoccupied the camp it had left a few days before.

In 1759, the 80th light infantry joined Amherst's force in a new and successful expedition against Carillon.

In August 1760, the 80th light infantry joined the army under the command of Amherst who participated to the three pronged attack against Montréal whose garrison surrendered on 8 September 1760.

Thomas Gage by John Singleton Copley

Rogers' Rangers began as a company in the provincial forces of the colony of New Hampshire in British North America in 1755. The unit was the latest in a long-line of New England ranger companies dating back to the 1670s. The immediate precursor to and model for the unit was Gorham's Rangers, formed in 1744 and still active in 1755. Rogers' company was formed to fight in the French and Indian War, in the borderlands of the colonial Northeast. Commanded by first Captain, then later Major Robert Rogers, they operated primarily in the Lake George and Lake Champlain regions of New York. The unit was formed during the winter of 1755 from forces stationed at Fort William Henry. The Rangers sometimes undertook raids against French towns and military emplacements, traveling sometimes on foot, sometimes in boats and, during winter, on snowshoes.

American War of Independence

Rogers offered his help to the commander of the Colonial Army, George Washington. Washington refused, fearing that Rogers was a spy because Rogers had just returned from a long stay in England. Infuriated by the rejection, Rogers joined the British, where he formed the Queen's Rangers (1776) and later the King's Rangers. Several former Rangers served under General Benedict Arnold in revolutionary forces around Lake Champlain.

Sources

Kronoskaf
Wikipedia

The 47th Regiment of Foot

French and Indian War

Under the command of Peregrine Lascelles, in 1750 the regiment deployed to Nova Scotia, Canada and the following year it was numbered the 47th Regiment of Foot. The regiment served at both Fort Vieux Logis and Fort Edward. It participated in the Bay of Fundy Campaign (1755), Battle of Fort Beausejour and the Siege of Louisbourg (1758). The following year the 47th took part in the legendary Battle of Quebec which saw British forces, under the command of General James Wolfe, prevail again French forces in a battle that concluded a 3 month siege of Quebec. Wolfe was well respected by his men, to such an extent that to commemorate the death of Wolfe in the battle the 47th Regiment of Foot began wearing a black line in their lace and also gained the nickname "Wolfe's Own". In 1760 the 47th Regiment of Foot took part in the Battle of Sainte-Foy, a British defeat against the French during the British defence of Quebec though despite the defeat the British held onto it.

In 1763 the regiment returned home from its long deployment in North America with the conclusion of Britain's war with France.

American War of Independence

The 47th Regiment of Foot arrived in North America in 1773 in New Jersey, a colony of the Great Britain and which would be one of the "Thirteen Colonies" that would soon revolt against British rule. In late 1774 the regiment was deployed to Boston and the following year the regiment saw action against rebels at Lexington and Concord and in the Battle of Bunker Hill which saw a British victory but at heavy cost Gage's reports that for Lexington & Concord that the 47th Regiment of Foot had 5 rank & file killed, 2 Officers, 1 Sergeant, 21 rank & file wounded and at Bunker hill the 47th Regiment of Foot had 2 officers wounded, died + 1 Sergeant, 15 rank and file killed, 5 officers, 3 Sergeant's, 47 rank and file wounded.

In 1776 the regiment returned to Quebec to assist in its defence against American rebels. In 1777 the regiment was part of the disastrous expedition to Saratoga where it took part in a number of major engagements. Much of the 47th Regiment of Foot became internees after the surrender of British forces on 17 October. These men not return home from their enforced stay until 1783 and the conclusion of the American War of Independence. 2½ companies of the regiment were not at the Battles of Saratoga as they had been left behind to guard the army's supply lines. On Sept 24, 1777, two companies of the 47th Regiment of Foot under command of Capt. Thomas Aubrey defeated a much larger colonial force at the Battle of Diamond Island. Following the defeat at Saratoga these 2½ companies withdrew to Canada.

In 1779 the remaining men of the 47th Regiment of Foot were assigned to assist in construction of a new fort at Carleton Island. Later that year the men of the 47th Regiment of Foot were transferred to reinforce the British posts on the Great Lakes at Niagara, Detroit, and Mackinac. In the summer of 1780 volunteers from the 47th Regiment of Foot stationed at Detroit took part in Capt. Henry Bird's expedition to Kentucky where they were involved in the capture and destruction of Martin's and Ruddle's Stations. In 1782 the Officers and NCOs returned home to England to recruit a 'new' 47th Regiment of Foot, while its remaining men were transferred into the 8th Regiment of Foot.

In 1782 the regiment was given a county distinction when it was given the title the 47th (The Lancashire) Regiment of Foot.

Sources

Kronoskaf
Wikipedia
British Regimental Drums

The 43rd Regiment of Foot

French and Indian War

The 43rd Regiment of Foot sailed for North America in May 1757, arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia the following month to defend the British North American Colonies during the French and Indian War (the North American Theatre of the Seven Years' War) against France. A detachment of the 43rd Regiment of Foot was defeated in a skirmish with Mi'kmaq and Acadian resistance fighters at Bloody Creek near Fort Anne on 8 December. The regiment had spent almost two years on garrison duties when, in 1759, as part of General Wolfe's force, it took part in the capture of Quebec gaining its first battle honour. The next campaign was in the West Indies in 1762 where the 43rd Regiment of Foot took part in the capture of Martinique and St Lucia from the French and Havana, Cuba from the Spanish.

American War of Independence

The regiment returned to North America in 1774 and remained there throughout the American War of Independence. The 43rd Regiment of Foot were joined by the 52nd Regiment of Foot at Boston and the two regiments fought side by side at Lexington and at Bunker Hill. The 43rd Regiment of Foot were at Yorktown during the final siege and surrender in 1781.

The 43rd Regiment of Foot became the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment in 1782. The regiment returned to the West Indies in 1794 to capture for the second time Martinique and St Lucia which following the peace treaty of 1763 had been returned to France. They were defeated at Guadaloupe in 1794 by a much larger French force after defending their position for three months.

Sources

Kronoskaf

Wikipedia

British Regimental Drums

Lieutenant-General Sir William Howe

Sir William Howe By  Richard Purcell

French and Indian War

William Howe joined the army in 1746 Howe saw extensive service in the French and Indian War. was involved in the capture of Quebec, in 1759 when he led a British force to capture the cliffs at Anse-au-Foulon, allowing James Wolfe to land his army and engage the French, in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Howe also participated in the campaigns to take Louisbourg.

American War of Independence

Lieutenant-General Sir William Howe, assumed command September 1775 Howe oversaw the rest of the Siege of Boston, before embarking on a campaign in 1776 that resulted in the capture of New York City and parts of New Jersey. In 1777 he captured Philadelphia, but controversially failed to support John Burgoyne, whose campaign for control of the Hudson River ended in the surrender of his army, leading to the entry of France into the war.

Sources

The British Royal Artillery

French and Indian War

The Royal Artillery served in America during this war.

In January 1755, a detachment  (6 officers and 60 men), under command of captain-lieutenant Hind sailed from Great Britain with Braddock's force destined to the expedition against Fort Duquesne in North America.

On 8 July 1758,  4th and 17th coys of the Royal Artillery fought in the disastrous battle of Carillon. At daybreak on 9 July 1758, the British army re-embarked and retreated to the head of the lake where it reoccupied the camp it had left a few days before.

In 1759, a detachment of the Royal Artillery took part in the expedition against Québec who finally surrendered on 18 September. At the end of October, when vice-admiral Saunders left with his fleet for Great Britain, about 430 men of the Royal Artillery remained as garrison in Québec along with 10 infantry battalions.

American War of Independence

The Royal Artillery served throughout North America during American War of Independence. The headquarters was out of New York City with a secondary base in Canada.

 The 4th battalion along with minor elements of the 1st & 2nd.

Also seeing duty here was the Royal Irish Artillery which British artillery officers commanded.

painting by Don Troiani

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British Smooth Bore Artillery English

Sources

Kronoskaf

The 38th Regiment of Foot

American War of Independence

The 38th Regiment of Foot was raised at Lichfield by General Luke Lillingston in February 1705, titled Luke Lillingstone's Regiment of Foot, it was the successor to two previous regiments raised by Lillingstone. In 1751, the regiment was numbered the 38th Regiment of Foot.

The 38th Regiment of Foot saw service in the American Revolutionary War.

Sources

The 52nd Regiment of Foot

American War of Independence

Twenty years after its founding, the 52nd Regiment of Foot saw active service in the American War of Independence, from 1774 to 1778. The 52nd Regiment of Foot was shipped to America from Canada, arriving in Boston, and fought in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill in 1775. Major-General William Howe led the main assault at Bunker Hill with Brigadier Robert Pigot leading the 52nd Regiment of Foot and 43rd  Regiment of Foot in support. This was the first occasion that the 52nd Regiment of Foot fought alongside the 43rd Regiment of Foot. They suffered heavy casualties at Bunker Hill, and in their grenadier company, only 8 men were left unwounded. In August, 1778, the men were drafted into other regiments and the officers returned to England. The regiment obtained new recruits and in 1782 the introduction of county titles for regiments resulted in the 52nd  Regiment of Foot adding "Oxfordshire" to their name.

Sources

Kronoskaf

Wikipedia

British Regimental Drums

The British Grenadiers

French and Indian War

The Louisbourg Grenadiers was a temporary unit of grenadiers formed by General James Wolfe in 1759 to serve with British Army forces in the Quebec during French and Indian War.

Grenadiers from the 22nd Regiment of Foot, 40th Regiment of Foot, and 45th Regiment of Foot were brought together by Wolfe at the Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia in preparation for action along the St. Lawrence River. The unit was involved in numerous battles during the months long prelude to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (The Battle of Quebec), 13 September 1759, including the ill-fated Battle of Beauport on 31 July 1759. After Quebec City's capture, the Grenadiers went on to be involved in the fall of Montreal the next year.

American War of Independence

 At the Battle of Bunker Hill James Abercrombie led the grenadier battalion in their charge of the redoubt on the Americans' left wing. During the assault Abercrombie sustained a gunshot wound, from an African soldier named Salem Poor and was carried from the field. He was treated at a hospital facility in Boston, where he succumbed to his wound a week later.

 

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