Historical Record of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1674, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1837Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fifth Regiment of Foot, or Northumberland Fusiliers: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1674, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1837
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Northumberland Fusiliers
The Prince of Orange resolved to make a second attack on the
Dauphin Bastion on the 4th of August, when a detachment from
the Brigade, commanded by Captain Anthony Barnwell of Fenwick's
regiment, with another from the Dutch Foot Guards, commanded by
Baron Sparr, formed the storming party.[3] At three o'clock the
Brigade was under arms with the storming party in front; and
at five the gallant little band, advancing under a tempest of
bullets, went cheering to the attack and carried the bastion in
gallant style--the English, gaining the lead of the Dutch, first
made a lodgment. Scarcely, however, had the soldiers gained a
footing, when the French sprung a mine and blew many of the
men into the air, and following this up with a fierce attack,
regained possession of the works. The heroic English were, however,
"resolute to win;"--they returned to the attack, and fighting with
a strength and majesty which nothing could withstand, drove back
the French, and re-established themselves on the bastion; but their
commander, Captain Barnwell, was killed, and more than half the
officers and men of the party were killed and wounded.
About five in the morning of the 6th of August a desperate sally
was made by three hundred Swiss Infantry, and, owing to the neglect
of a sentry, they surprised and made prisoners the English guard
on the bastion; but a reinforcement from the Brigade came forward
to their rescue, and, after saluting the assailants with a few
volleys, and a shower of hand-grenades, made a furious charge,
retaking the bastion and chasing the Swiss Infantry with prodigious
slaughter to the palisadoes of the counterscarp, destroying
the whole detachment, except about twenty men who escaped into
the town. The Prince of Orange complimented the Brigade on its
distinguished bravery, and made each of the three regiments a
present of a fat ox and six sheep.[4]
On the 15th of August Colonel Fenwick's regiment, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Wisely (the Colonel not having recovered
from his wounds) was on duty in the trenches, when the enemy
made another furious sally; but they were nobly received by the
regiment; a fierce combat ensued, in which the strength and
unconquerable spirit, of the English again excited the admiration
of the Prince of Orange, and a reinforcement arriving, the French
were driven back with great loss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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