Richard Cannon

“ The fame of the deeds of the past and present generations in the various battle-fields where the robust sons of Albion have fought and conquered, surrounds the British arms with a halo of glory; these achievements will live in the page of history to the end of time. ”

“ The British Soldier is distinguished for a robust and muscular frame,—intrepidity which no danger can appal,—unconquerable spirit and resolution,—patience in fatigue and privation, and cheerful obedience to his superiors. These qualities,—united with an excellent system of order and discipline to regulate and give a skilful direction to the energies and adventurous spirit of the hero, and a wise selection of officers of superior talent to command, whose presence inspires confidence,—have been the leading causes of the splendid victories gained by the British [xviii] arms. ”

“ Great Britain has produced a race of lion-like champions who have dared to confront a host of foes, and have proved themselves valiant with any arms. At Crecy King Edward III., at the head of about 30,000 men, defeated, on the 26th of August, 1346, Philip King of France, whose army is said to have amounted to 100,000 men; here British valour encountered veterans of renown:—the King of Bohemia, the King of Majorca, and many princes and nobles were slain, and the French army was routed and cut to pieces. ”

“ The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance, have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and their character has been established in Continental warfare by the irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against superior numbers. ”

“ The left wing of the enemy was also overpowered by the Germans, and the [28] victory was complete and decisive: the powerful armies of France and Bavaria being literally destroyed. Thus, on the banks of the Danube, was achieved by British valour a trophy which will serve as a monument to commemorate the national glory to the end of time. The conduct of the brave soldiers who conquered in the interior of Germany was the admiration of surrounding states, and has been lauded by numerous historians: the Duke of Marlborough was elevated to the dignity of a Prince of the Roman Empire. ”

“ Arthur Lord Forbes, son of the Earl of Granard, held a commission in the army in Ireland in the reign of King Charles II., and in 1686 he succeeded his father in the colonelcy of the regiment which is now the EIGHTEENTH, or the ROYAL IRISH regiment. He was a spirited young nobleman, and succeeded in retaining more Protestants in his regiment than were to be found in any other corps in the army in Ireland. ”

“ The Emperor of China disregarded the stipulations of treaties, and issued a mandate for the extermination of the English who dared thus to insult his coasts and capture his towns, offering, at the same time, immense rewards for the heads of the British commanders, and even a large sum for the head of a private soldier. His decrees were responded to by depriving him of a greater extent of territory; and on the 22nd of August the ROYAL IRISH sailed on an expedition against the island and city of Amoy, situate in a fine gulf in the province of Fokien, the great tea district of China. ”

“ History contains so many proofs of extraordinary acts of bravery, that no doubts can be raised upon the facts which are recorded. It must therefore be admitted, that the distinguishing feature of the British soldier is Intrepidity. This quality was evinced by the inhabitants of England when their country was invaded by Julius Cæsar with a Roman army, on which occasion the undaunted Britons rushed into the sea to attack the Roman soldiers as they descended from their ships ”

“ During the seventy years' war between the United Provinces of the Netherlands and the Spanish monarchy, which commenced in 1578 and terminated in 1648, the British infantry in the service of the States-General were celebrated for their unconquerable spirit and firmness; [3] and in the thirty years' war between the Protestant Princes and the Emperor of Germany, the British Troops in the service of Sweden and other states were celebrated for deeds of heroism. [4] In the wars of Queen Anne, the fame of the British army under the great Marlborough was spread throughout the world ”

“ In Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so [v] long a period, being undisturbed by the presence of war, which few other countries have escaped, comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or no interval of repose. ”

“ The Prince of Orange having passed Dover with a powerful armament, the regiment was ordered to march to Salisbury, where it joined King James's army a few days after the Prince had landed at Torbay, and marched to Exeter. The English army, which amounted to thirty thousand men, had not been remodelled as the Irish forces had been, but consisted principally of Protestant officers and soldiers, who refused to fight in the cause of Papacy and arbitrary government, and many of them joined the Prince of Orange. ”

“ In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,—on their sufferings,—and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which so many national benefits are obtained and preserved. ”

“ To rescue the suffering Protestants of Ireland from the power of their enemies, King William assembled an army at Chester, under Marshal Frederick Duke Schomberg; and the Earl of Meath's regiment being selected for this service, marched to Highlake, where it embarked for Ireland, and landing at White-house, near Belfast, on the 22nd of August, joined the troops under Duke Schomberg, who had commenced the siege of Carrickfergus, which fortress surrendered a few days afterwards. ”

“ These have all been surmounted by the conduct of the troops themselves; and the enemy has been taught, that, whatever advantages of position or of numbers he may possess, there is inherent in the British officers and soldiers a bravery that knows not how to yield,—that no circumstances can appal,—and that will ensure victory, when it is to be obtained by the exertion of any human means. ”

“ Much difficulty was experienced in defending Toulon with twelve thousand men, of five different nations, against thirty to forty thousand French troops; a circumference of fifteen miles having to be occupied by a number of posts which required nine thousand men for their protection, so that three-fourths of the men were constantly on duty. On the 17th of December, the French attacked the British quarter under Captain William Conolly of the EIGHTEENTH, who defended his post with great gallantry until the enemy had forced the Spanish side, when he fell back fighting to another position. ”

“ The feudal troops established by William the Conqueror consisted (as already stated in the Introduction to the Cavalry) almost entirely of horse; but when the warlike barons and knights, with their trains of tenants and vassals, took the field, a proportion of men appeared on foot, and, although these were of inferior degree, they proved stout-hearted Britons of stanch fidelity. When stipendiary troops were employed, infantry always constituted a considerable portion of the military force ”

“ On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on the Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill and bravery; and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour of their Sovereign's approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most highly prizes. ”

“ At the Restoration in 1660, King Charles II. disbanded the army of the Commonwealth in England, and embodied several new corps. Little alteration was, however, made in the Irish forces, excepting the formation of a regiment of foot guards, called the "Royal Regiment of Ireland," which, with about twenty independent troops of horse and eighty companies of foot, constituted the military force of Ireland. ”

“ Seeing his brave soldiers in danger of being made slaves, Lieut.-Colonel Stearne called them on deck; the whole resolved on a desperate defence; and it was arranged that when the Sallee man-of-war attacked one transport, the other should come to its assistance, and the enemy should be boarded by the soldiers sword in hand, not doubting but that they would overpower the Turks and Moors, and capture the ship. With this view the soldiers were kept out of sight to induce the enemy to make an attack, and every man was ready for action. ”

“ The ROYAL IRISH landed about three o'clock, with little opposition, and escaladed a castellated wall with great gallantry. They were speedily within the works, and afterwards charged up a precipitous gorge in the face of two posts of defence, and rushing forward with great gallantry, the Chinese and Tartar soldiers fled in dismay, after firing a few shots. The regiment remained on the heights above the city during the night; and on the following morning the troops advanced towards the wall. ”

“ It is presumed that a record of achievements in war,—victories so complete and surprising, gained by our countrymen, our brothers, [vii] our fellow citizens in arms,—a record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant deeds before us,—will certainly prove acceptable to the public. ”

“ War was the result. A powerful party favourable to monarchy still existed in France, many patriots stood forward in the cause of royalty, and the inhabitants of Toulon joined with Admiral Turgot in delivering up that port to the British, who took possession of the place in the name of Louis XVII. A numerous republican army advanced against Toulon, and the allies made exertions to procure troops for the defence of the town and harbour. Some corps of French loyalists were embodied ”

“ In the early part of the seventeenth century Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, reduced the strength of regiments to 1000 men. He caused the gunpowder, which had heretofore been carried in flasks, or in small wooden bandoliers, each containing a charge, to be made up into cartridges, and carried in pouches; and he formed each regiment into two wings of musketeers, and a centre division of pikemen. He also adopted the practice of forming four regiments into a brigade; and the number of colours was afterwards reduced to three in each regiment. ”