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 Tormes on the following day, and were posted in position with
the army near _Salamanca_.
These bold manœuvres of the enemy were watched by the British
commander, who waited patiently for an opportunity to strike a
decisive blow, and this occurring on the 22d of July, a sanguinary
battle was fought. In the early part of the day the KING'S OWN were
posted on the slope of one of the heights, called the Arapiles,
where they remained until the afternoon, when they moved to the
rear of the village of Arapiles; Lord Wellington having detected
a fault in his adversaries' movements, ordered his divisions
forward, and the battle commenced. In this action the fifth
division, commanded by Major-General Sir James Leith, attacking
the enemy in front, distinguished itself; and the KING'S OWN,--the
first battalion being commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Brooke, and the
second by Major David Williamson--had their share in the glories
of the day. During the action the first battalion made a brilliant
charge on a considerable body of the enemy, and nobly sustained
its reputation. The skill of the British commander was bravely
seconded by the resolute valour and discipline of the troops; the
action lasted until dark, a decisive victory was gained over the
enemy, and eleven pieces of cannon, two eagles, and six colours
were captured. The gallantry evinced by the KING'S OWN was
afterwards rewarded by the privilege of bearing the word SALAMANCA
on their colours; the commanding officers of both battalions were
rewarded with medals; Major David Williamson was also promoted to
the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the occasion. Major Piper, who
succeeded to the command of the first battalion during the action
in consequence of Lieut.-Colonel Brooke[33] being called upon to
take the command of the brigade, was likewise rewarded with a
medal and the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and Major Alured Faunce,
who commanded the light infantry companies of the brigade, also
received a medal. The regiment had Major O'Halloran wounded, and
forty-eight serjeants and rank and file killed and wounded.
The troops pursued the flying enemy on the following day, and
after numerous marches and evolutions, the first battalion of the
KING'S OWN proceeded with the army to Madrid, where the British
were received with acclamations of joy. Meanwhile the second
battalion was in cantonments at Cuellar, with the sixth division
under Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton; but in September the two
battalions were united in front of _Burgos_ during the siege of the
castle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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