Historical record of the Seventh Regiment, or the Royal Fusiliers: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846.Cannon, Richard
History
Historical record of the Seventh Regiment, or the Royal Fusiliers: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846.
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
The armament assembled at Carlisle-bay in Barbadoes, under the
command of Lieut.-General Beckwith, and sailing on the 28th of
January, 1809, arrived off Martinique on the following day. At
four o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th the ROYAL FUSILIERS
landed at Malgré Tout, in Bay Robert, and marched that evening
through difficult roads to De Manceaux's estate. After a few hours'
repose the troops resumed their march to Papin's, where part of
the division halted; but the ROYAL FUSILIERS and grenadier company
of the first West India regiment pushed forward to the heights on
De Bork's estate, where they passed the night. On the following
day they were joined by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the light
infantry battalion; when Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham advanced with the
ROYAL FUSILIERS, supported by the light battalion, to the heights
of _Morné Bruno_. From this post the ROYAL FUSILIERS, with the
rifle company of the twenty-third, and grenadiers of the first
West India regiment, advanced, supported by the Welsh Fusiliers,
against the height of _Desfourneaux_. The French, under General
De Houdelot, were advantageously posted on the declivity of the
hill, with a river in their front, and their left protected by
artillery. Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham, with the flank companies of
the SEVENTH, and rifle company of the twenty-third, turned the
enemy's right; the light battalion moved against the enemy's
left; and the battalion companies of the SEVENTH, and grenadiers
of the first West India regiment, advanced against the front.
Animated by a spirit of emulation and a thirst for glory, the
British troops rushed onward with enthusiasm; the ROYAL FUSILIERS
forded the river under a heavy fire, and attacking their more
numerous antagonists with signal gallantry, drove the French from
their formidable position in disorder. Lieut.-Colonel Pakenham
continued his victorious career against the heights of _Surirey_,
and being gallantly supported by the twenty-third regiment, the
soldiers under his orders, animated by the zeal and ardour of
their brave leaders, overcame obstacles of a formidable character
with heroic valour; they carried the hill, and, by a spirited
charge, forced the French to take shelter under the guns of their
redoubts. In this attack the valour and judgment of Lieut.-Colonel
Pakenham, and the excellence of the FUSILIER BRIGADE, were
conspicuous. Lieut.-General Sir George Beckwith observed in
General Orders:--"The Commander of the Forces desires to express
his entire approbation of the manly conduct of the troops engaged
yesterday, and desires that the general officers and soldiers will
be pleased to accept his thanks, and to assure them that he will
not fail to lay their merit before the King. Lieutenant-General
Sir George Prevost having reported the unremitting exertions of
Lieutenant-Colonel the HONOURABLE EDWARD MICHAEL PAKENHAM, of the
ROYAL FUSILIERS, the Commander of the Forces feels great pleasure
in making this known to the army."
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