Historical Record of the Twenty-first Regiment, or the Royal North British Fusiliers: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1678, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1849Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Twenty-first Regiment, or the Royal North British Fusiliers: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1678, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1849
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Royal Scots Fusiliers
The number of the enemy captured on this occasion was so great,
that the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS, and four other corps, were sent
to Holland in charge of prisoners. These corps marched in charge of
the captured French and Bavarians to Mentz, where they embarked in
boats and sailed to Holland, under the orders of Brigadier-General
Fergusson; and having delivered them into the charge of other
regiments, went into quarters.
[Sidenote: 1705]
The colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on John, Viscount
Mordaunt, who had distinguished himself at the head of the foot
guards which commenced the attack on the heights of Schellenberg.
A number of recruits from Scotland having replaced the losses of
the preceding campaign, the regiment appeared complete and in good
order when it took the field to serve the campaign of 1705. It was
employed in the expedition up the Moselle: and returning to the
Netherlands, was afterwards engaged at the forcing of the French
lines at _Helixem_ and _Neer Hespen_, on the morning of the 18th of
July, when the superior tactics of the British Commander, and the
gallantry of his troops, were very conspicuous.
[Sidenote: 1706]
The regiment had also the honor to take part in gaining another
splendid victory over the combined French, Spanish, and Bavarian
forces, at _Ramilies_, on Whit-Sunday, the 23rd of May, 1706.
During the early part of the action the NORTH BRITISH FUSILIERS,
the Third foot, and three regiments of cavalry, were stationed on
the heights of Foulz, where they had a view of the field of battle.
An important crisis in the battle arriving, these corps descended
from the heights,--the FUSILIERS and Third Foot forced their way
through a morass, crossed the Little Gheet, ascended the acclivity
between that river and the Jauche, and charging the enemy's left
flank, forced three French regiments into some low grounds, where
the greater part of them were either killed or taken prisoners. The
allies were successful at every part of the field, and the legions
of the enemy were overpowered, and pursued from the plains of
Ramilies with great slaughter until the following morning, by which
time nearly all the enemy's cannon, with many standards, colours,
and kettle-drums, had been captured.
This victory augmented the reputation of the British arms; and was
followed by very important results. Spanish Brabant, and many of
the principal towns of Flanders, were rescued from the power of the
enemy. The services of the regiment are connected with the capture
of Ostend, Menin, and Aeth; and it passed the winter in garrison in
Flanders.
In June of this year Viscount Mordaunt exchanged with Colonel
Sampson de Lalo, a French gentleman of the Protestant religion, who
had been forced to quit his native country by the Edict of Nantes;
Colonel de Lalo had served as Lieut.-Colonel and Colonel of the
Twenty-eighth regiment several years, and had the reputation of
being an excellent officer.
[Sidenote: 1707]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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