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)
On the 12th of April the army crossed the river Spey, and on the
16th of that month the KING'S OWN were engaged in the action with
the rebels on _Culloden Moor_. The regiment was posted on the
left of the front line of the royal army. After a sharp cannonade
several select clans of mountaineers sprang forward, and with
shouts and dismal yells attacked the King's forces sword in hand.
This regiment had to bear the brunt of the furious onset of
the clans: for a moment it was disordered by the weight of the
attacking column, and the men staggered; but only for a moment: two
battalions advanced to sustain them, and recovering, they rushed
upon their kilted adversaries with a resolution and valour which
proved they were not unworthy of their distinguished title of the
KING'S OWN. A furious conflict ensued; the Highlanders with their
swords and targets were unable to withstand the ruthless charge
of the royal forces; the carnage was dreadful, and the ground was
literally covered with slaughtered rebels.[23] A decisive victory
was gained; and the rebellion was effectually suppressed. When the
news of this event reached England, the nation was transported
with joy; both houses of parliament addressed His Majesty on the
subject, and passed a vote of thanks to the Duke of Cumberland and
the brave troops who had fought under his orders.
The regiment lost in this action Captain Lord Robert Kerr and
seventeen men killed; and had Lieut.-Colonel Rich, Captain Romer,
Lieutenant Edmonds, Ensigns Campbell and Brown, and one hundred and
eight non-commissioned officers and private men, wounded.
[Sidenote: 1747]
After halting a short time at Inverness, the army advanced into the
highlands, and encamped in the gloomy valley surrounded by rugged
precipices near Fort Augustus, from whence detachments were sent
out to search for arms, and for persons who had been engaged in the
rebellion, and also to execute summary punishment on the guilty
clans. This regiment afterwards marched back to Stirling; and it
was employed in home duties for a period of eight years.
[Sidenote: 1749]
Lieut.-General Barrell died on the 9th of August, 1749; and
King George II. conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on the
lieut.-colonel, Robert Rich, who highly distinguished himself at
the battle of Culloden, where he was wounded.
[Sidenote: 1751]
In 1751 a warrant was issued regulating the clothing and colours of
the regiments of the line. In this warrant the regiment is styled
the "FOURTH, OR THE KING'S OWN ROYAL REGIMENT;" and the facing is
directed to be blue; the King's Own are also authorized to bear--
"In the centre of their colours the King's cipher on a red ground
within the garter, and crown over it; in the three corners of their
second colour the LION OF ENGLAND,[24] being their ancient badge.
"On the grenadier caps the King's cypher, as on the colours, and
crown over it; white horse and motto on the flap.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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