Historical Record of the Twelfth, or the East Suffolk, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1847 — John Shaqi
Historical Record of the Twelfth, or the East Suffolk, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1847Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Twelfth, or the East Suffolk, Regiment of Foot: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1847
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Suffolk Regiment
At two o'clock on the morning of the 11th of May, the allied
army advanced to attack the formidable position occupied by the
enemy, and the TWELFTH regiment, commanded by Colonel Duroure,
was detached with several other corps, under Brigadier-General
Ingoldsby, to attack a large fort, mounted with cannon, in the wood
of Barri. Against this post the regiment advanced, but the fort
was found too formidable to be attacked without artillery, and
some delay occurred. Brigadier-General Ingoldsby did not clearly
understand his orders, and the regiment was detained a long time
in a state of inactivity exposed to a heavy cannonade; during
which time the British infantry had forced the enemy's centre,
but were obliged to retire in consequence of the Dutch having
failed on Fontenoy, and Brigadier-General Ingoldsby having lost
the opportunity of attacking the batteries in the wood of Barri.
A second attack was, however, determined on, in the hope that
the Dutch would make a more determined effort, and the TWELFTH
were brought into action; Brigadier-General Ingoldsby was wounded
at the head of the regiment, and removed to the rear. Impatient
of the state of inactivity in which they had been detained, the
soldiers of the TWELFTH rushed into action with distinguished
ardour, and were conspicuous for their gallant bearing throughout
the remainder of the contest. They were exposed to a heavy fire,
and had to contend against very superior numbers. Their commanding
officer, Colonel Duroure, fell mortally wounded; Lieut.-Colonel
Whitmore was killed; Major Cosseley was wounded, and the command
devolved on Captain Rainsford, who was also wounded: but the
regiment preserved its firm array, and when more than half the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers had fallen, the survivors
continued the fight, advancing over the killed and wounded of both
armies. The Dutch, however, failed a second time; the British who
had penetrated the enemy's line became insulated, and constantly
exposed to the attack of fresh troops, and a retreat was ordered;
the army withdrawing from the field of battle to Aeth.
The conduct of the TWELFTH regiment was commended in the Duke of
Cumberland's public despatch; its loss was greater than any other
corps in the army, and amounted to _three hundred and twenty-one_
officers and soldiers: viz., Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore, Captain
Campbell, Lieutenants Bockland and Lane, Ensigns Cannon and
Clifton, five serjeants, and one hundred and forty-eight rank and
file killed; Colonel Duroure, Major Cosseley, Captains Rainsford
and Robinson, Lieutenants Murray, Townshend, Millington, and
Delgaire, Ensigns Dagers and Pearce, seven serjeants, and one
hundred and forty-two private soldiers wounded; Captain de Cosne,
Captain-Lieut. Goulston, and Lieut. Salt, missing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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