Historical record of the Twenty-second, or the Cheshire Regiment of Foot: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1689, and of its subsequent services to 1849Cannon, Richard
History
Historical record of the Twenty-second, or the Cheshire Regiment of Foot: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1689, and of its subsequent services to 1849
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Foot, 22nd (Cheshire)
From Dominica the TWENTY-SECOND proceeded to Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes,
and joined the troops assembled at that place under the orders of
Major-General the Honorable Robert Monckton, for the attack of the
French island of _Martinique_. After several attempts on other parts
of the island, a landing was effected in Cas des Navières Bay, on the
16th of January, 1762; the works on the heights of _Morne Tortenson_
were captured on the 24th of that month; _Morne Garnier_ was carried
on the 27th; and the citadel of _Fort Royal_ surrendered on the 4th
of February. These successes were followed by the surrender of the
opulent city of St. Pierre, and the submission of the whole island
to the British Crown. The Commander of the expedition stated in his
despatch--"I cannot find words to render that ample justice which is
due to the valor of his Majesty's troops which I have had the honor
to command. The difficulties they had to encounter in the attack of
an enemy possessed of every advantage of art and nature were great;
and their perseverance in surmounting these obstacles, furnishes a
noble example of British spirit."
The capture of Martinique was followed by that of _Grenada_, _St.
Lucia_, and _St. Vincent_; and the acquisition of these islands
gave additional honor to the expedition of which the TWENTY-SECOND
regiment formed part.
Additional forces arrived in the West Indies, and the TWENTY-SECOND
regiment, mustering six hundred and two rank and file, under
the command of Major Loftus, joined the expedition commanded by
General the Earl of Albemarle, for the reduction of the wealthy and
important Spanish city of the _Havannah_, in the island of Cuba The
TWENTY-SECOND, Fortieth, Seventy-second, and five companies of the
Ninetieth, were formed in brigade under Brigadier-General Lord Rollo.
Proceeding through the Straits of Bahama, the armament arrived
within six leagues of the Havannah on the 6th of June. A landing
was effected on the following day, and the _Moro_ fort, being the
key-position of the extensive works which covered the town, was
besieged. This proved an undertaking of great difficulty; but every
obstacle was overcome by the spirited efforts of the land and sea
forces, and the fort was captured by storm on the 30th of July. An
extensive series of batteries was prepared, and opened, on the 11th
of August, so well-directed a fire on the works which protected the
town, that the guns of the garrison were soon silenced, and the
important city of the Havannah was surrendered to the British arms.
Nine Spanish men-of-war were delivered up; two were found upon the
stocks; and three sunk at the entrance of the harbour.
In March of this year Major-General Whitmore, who was drowned at
sea, was succeeded in the colonelcy by Major-General the Honorable
Thomas Gage, from the Eightieth regiment, a provincial corps which
was raised in 1758, and disbanded after the treaty of Fontainebleau.
[Sidenote: 1763]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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