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 formidable preparations carried on in the ports of France
and Holland, pending the discussion of an important negociation,
occasioned the British government to adopt means of preservation,
and King George III., actuated by a concern for the security and
welfare of his subjects, exercised the power vested in him by act
of parliament, and issued on the 11th of March, 1803, warrants
for calling out and embodying the MILITIA. The establishment of
the regiments of the regular army was also augmented, the amount
of levy money for recruits was increased, and vigorous measures
were adopted for completing the numbers of the several corps. In
May the negociations with France terminated, the King's ambassador
was recalled from Paris, hostilities recommenced, and Bonaparte
made public declaration of his intention to invade this kingdom,
and assembled an army near Boulogne which was insultingly termed,
_L'armée d'Angleterre_.
This proceeding was met by the British government with suitable
measures; the SUPPLEMENTARY MILITIA was embodied; an Act was passed
to enable his Majesty to assemble an additional military force,
called the ARMY OF RESERVE; also an act for indemnifying persons
who might suffer in their property from the measures it might be
found necessary to adopt; and an Act to enable his Majesty more
effectually and speedily to exercise his ancient and undoubted
prerogative in requiring the military aid of his liege subjects in
case of invasion of the realm, called the LEVY-EN-MASSE ACT. The
captain-general of the army, Field-Marshal His Royal Highness the
Duke of York, was also active in making the necessary preparations.
The country was divided into military districts; general and staff
officers were appointed to each district, and arrangements were
made, and regulations issued, for the conduct of all ranks in the
event of an invasion taking place.
The moment the enemy landed, all the regulations of civil
government and restraint of forms were to cease in that part of
the country, and everything was to give way to the supplying and
strengthening of the army; the troops were directed to move in the
lightest manner, and without baggage; the enemy was to be attacked
at the moment of landing, and when his numbers became too great for
any chance of success, the troops were to withdraw a short distance
to give time for the forces of the country to assemble; correct
intelligence was to be circulated; the inhabitants were to withdraw
with their cattle, horses, and provision; and all provision tardy
in its removal was to be destroyed; the roads were to be broken
up, and the country driven and abandoned on the line of the enemy's
route.
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