Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1680, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1839Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fourth, or the King's Own, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1680, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1839
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT OF FOOT was reposing in quarters at Portsmouth
and performing the duties of the garrison, when the news of
Monmouth's rebellion produced an electric sensation throughout the
country. The regular army was augmented; the militia was called
out; and this regiment was ordered to recruit its numbers to one
hundred men per company. Soon afterwards five companies, under
the command of Lieut.-Colonel Charles Churchill, were ordered
to march in charge of a train of artillery, consisting of seven
field-pieces, to join the army under the command of Lieut.-General
the Earl of Feversham, which was assembling to oppose the rebels.
The five companies of the QUEEN'S REGIMENT having joined the other
forces with the artillery, the army advanced to the village of
Weston, and the infantry encamped on SEDGEMOOR, the two Tangier
regiments taking the left of the line. The rebel army lay at
Bridgewater, and during the night of the 5th of July the Duke of
Monmouth advanced with the view of surprising the King's troops
in their camp; but his approach was discovered, and the camp was
alarmed by the cavalry out-guards. The rebels, however, rushed
forward, and a fierce conflict of musketry ensued in the dark.
The first attack was made against the royals on the right; and
extending along the front to the left, the companies of the QUEEN'S
REGIMENT became sharply engaged, and "performed good service." Soon
after day-break the King's cavalry charged the flanks of the rebel
army and put it into confusion. An entire rout ensued, and the
insurgents were pursued across the moor and adjoining fields with
great slaughter; many were taken prisoners; and their leader, the
Duke of Monmouth, was captured two days afterwards near Ringwood,
in Hampshire, and was removed to London, and beheaded.
After the suppression of the rebellion, the five companies of the
QUEEN'S REGIMENT returned to Portsmouth: their conduct was highly
approved by his Majesty, and soon afterwards the regiment was
presented with a set of new colours--_one to each company_; and it
continued to display TWELVE COLOURS for several years from that
period. Two of the new colours were presented by the Queen, and the
other ten by his Majesty: of the expense of the former no account
has been met with; but some idea may be formed of the splendid
appearance of these colours, from the fact that the ten presented
by the King cost upwards of twenty pounds each.[9] A copy of the
bill, amounting to £206 5_s._ 6_d._, is preserved in the official
records in the War Office. A copy of the royal warrant, dated 21st
of August, 1686, for the payment of this sum, is inserted below.[10]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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