TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Old English font is denoted by =equals signs=. In the original text a narrative change from one battalion to another was indicated by some additional blank space. In this etext two blank lines similarly indicates this transition. Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of each chapter or section. A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}, for example Capt^n or 27^{TH}. The original text had a dot under the superscripts; this dot has been removed in the etext. Six town names with āo ending have been changed to ão for consistency. Some other minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. THE RIFLE BRIGADE LONDON: PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT STREET [Illustration: Plate I. RIFLE CORPS, 1800.] THE HISTORY OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE (_THE PRINCE CONSORT’S OWN_) FORMERLY THE 95th BY SIR WILLIAM H. COPE, BART. LATE LIEUTENANT RIFLE BRIGADE [Illustration] _WITH MAPS AND PLANS_ =London= CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY 1877 TO FIELD-MARSHAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G. _&c. &c._ COLONEL-IN-CHIEF THIS RECORD OF THE SERVICES OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE IS BY HIS GRACIOUS PERMISSION MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED PREFACE. A wish had long been entertained and often expressed by Riflemen, both by those serving in the Regiment and by those who had formerly served in it, that a detailed record of its services should be compiled. It was suggested to me by many of my friends that I should undertake this task. The will certainly was not wanting; but the ability to carry out their wish has not, I fear, been equal to their partial opinion, or to my own desire to do justice to the subject.