The 5th Regiment of Foot

The 5th Regiment of Foot departed Monkstown, Ireland on 7 May 1774, for Boston, Massachusetts, due to civil unrest. Upon arriving in July, they camped on Boston Common. On 19 April 1775, they took part in the march to Concord and the fighting at Lexington and Concord. Suffering five killed, 18 wounded, and one captured. On 17 June 1775, after two months under siege. They attacked Breed’s Hill (the Battle of Bunker Hill), incurring 24 dead and 137 wounded.

After two months aboard ships in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the regiment sailed to New York. Participating in the Battle of Long Island, Battle of White Plains, capture of Fort Washington and Fort Lee. Winter 1776-1777 found them near New York City, engaging in skirmishes. They joined Howe’s Philadelphia campaign, participating in the Battle of Brandywine Creek. Capturing five cannons, and fighting at Monmouth Court House during the retreat through New Jersey.

In November 1778, they embarked for the French West Indies, arriving on Saint Lucia in December. They captured a French battery but faced 9,000 French troops. The British, seasoned colonial fighters, defeated the French, who lost 400 killed and 1,100 wounded. While British losses were 10 killed and 130 wounded. The French abandoned the island. Regimental tradition holds that after the battle, the regiment took white hat plumes from fallen French soldiers as trophies.

After two years in the West Indies, they returned to Ireland in December 1780. Remaining there until hostilities between Great Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the former Colonies ended in 1783.

The 5th Regiment of Foot