A History of the Coldstream Guards Robert RossofBladensburg

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Title: A History of the Coldstream Guards From 1815 to 1895

Author: C.B. Ross-of-Bladensburg

Illustrator: Nevile R. Wilkinson

Release Date: February 10, 2019 [EBook #58852]

Language: English

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I

A HISTORY
OF THE

COLDSTREAM GUARDS.

Field Marshal H.R.H. Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge K.G., G.C.B.,

G.C.H.,

Colonel Coldstream Guards 1805-1850.

FROM A PRINT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE REGIMENT.

A

HISTORY
OF THE

COLDSTREAM GUARDS,

From 1815 to 1895.

BY

LT. Col. Ross-of-Bladensburg, C.B.

LATE

Coldstream Guards.

Illustrated by

Lieut. Nevile R. Wilkinson,

Coldstream Guards.

London,

A.D. Innes & CO.

1896.

II

THIS HISTORY

OF

HER MAJESTY'S COLDSTREAM REGIMENT OF FOOT GUARDS,

FROM THE YEAR 1815 TO 1885,

IS, BY MOST GRACIOUS PERMISSION,

HUMBLY DEDICATED TO

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN-EMPRESS

PREFACE.

The following pages are a continuation of Colonel MacKinnon’s Origin and Services of the Coldstream Guards,

from the victory of Waterloo down to the year 1885. They have been compiled with great care and much labour, and the
reader will, I trust, feel justified in adding, with accuracy and marked ability.

The first few chapters deal with events that took place in France, after Waterloo, including the military occupation of the

North-Eastern frontier by the Allies, up to the year 1818.

The period onwards to the Crimean War, although containing but few accounts of interest concerning the career of the

Regiment, is valuable as continuing, to a considerable extent, the history of events in Europe so far as that is consistent with
the subject of the present volume.

There is reference, nevertheless, to the part taken by the Regiment in the suppression of the Canadian rebellion.
From the date, however, of 1854, the subject assumes a different character, and is of absorbing interest to every Officer

and man associated with the Coldstream Guards.

The events connected with that campaign have been carefully selected from thoroughly authentic sources; they are

recorded in no spirit of vainglory or self-sufficiency, but as a true and faithful tale of the share which the Regiment took in
that eventful war,—illustrating, as it does, acts of gallantry, a noble and uncomplaining endurance of difficulties and
hardships, and a strict performance of duty under very trying circumstances.

The accuracy of the record of the more recent Egyptian campaigns is of special value, from the fact of the author of this

work having himself taken an active part in one of them.

The perusal of these records will be accompanied by the conviction which exists in the minds of all of us, that those who

replace their gallant predecessors will, when their turn comes, deserve equally well of their country.

FREDK. STEPHENSON, General,

Colonel, Coldstream Guards.

1896.

vii

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

I beg to return sincere thanks to the many members of the Coldstream Guards, past and present, who have helped me

to compile the volume I now venture to issue to the public; and to assure them that, but for their assistance, it would have
been far less worthy of their acceptance than even it is at the present time. It is not possible for me, in the short space at
my disposal, to mention all by name to whom I am indebted in this respect. But I should fail in my duty did I not, at least,
express my gratitude to General Sir Frederick Stephenson, G.C.B., and to General Hon. Sir Percy Feilding, K.C.B., for
the interest they have shown in my work, and for the trouble they have taken to enable me to carry it out.

Major Vesey Dawson was indefatigable in compiling all that concerns the Nulli Secundus Club. Captain Shute prepared

an Appendix on the Coldstream Hospital. Mr. Sutton spared no pains in supplying information which the Regimental
Orderly Room affords; and Mr. Studd arranged materials that required considerable labour. Major Goulburn, Grenadier
Guards, moreover, lent me the interesting Crimean Diary of the late Colonel Tower; and Colonel Malleson kindly looked
through the proofs, and made many valuable suggestions.

I also offer my acknowledgments to Messrs. Blackwood and Sons, and to Messrs. Seeley and Co., for their courteous

permission to use the maps in Mr. Kinglake’s Invasion of the Crimea and in Sir E. Hamley’s War in the Crimea .

Lastly, I must express the pleasure it gives me that my work is illustrated by so able and accomplished an artist as Mr.

Wilkinson.

It only now remains for me to explain that as Colonel MacKinnon’s Origin and Services of the Coldstream Guards

does not contain illustrations of uniforms worn by the Regiment during the many generations of its existence, we preferred
to give representations, not of the familiar figures of this century, but of those that are less known. Thus, though the
following pages only describe events from the year 1815 to 1885, the plates generally refer to a more remote period of the
history of the Regiment.

John Ross-of-Bladensburg,

Lt.-Colonel.

October, 1896.

viii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE CAPITULATION OF PARIS.

PAGE

Flight of Napoleon from the field of Waterloo—Reaction in Paris—Napoleon’s abdication—Surrender to

Captain Maitland—Provisional Government set up in France—Advance of the Allies from Waterloo—
Operations of Marshal Grouchy—Allies hope to cut the enemy off from Paris—Blücher’s energy to secure
that object—Unsuccessful efforts of the Provisional Government to obtain a suspension of hostilities—The
Allies before Paris—The Prussians move round to the south of the city—Co-operation of Wellington—
Capitulation of the capital, July 3rd—Advance of Austrians and Russians—“Waterloo men”—The
“Wellington pension”—Rank of Lieutenant granted to Ensigns of the Brigade of Guards—The soldier’s
small account-book introduced into the British army
1

CHAPTER II.

MILITARY OCCUPATION OF FRANCE.

Termination of the war—Difficulties of the situation—The Allies occupy Paris—Dissolution of the Provisional

Government—Entry of Louis XVIII. into the capital—New French Government formed—Blücher and the
Pont de Jena—Arrival of the Allied Sovereigns—Reviews in France—Paris in the hands of the Allies—
Treatment of the French by the Prussians; by the British—The wreck of the French Imperial forces
disbanded—Life in Paris—The Louvre stripped of its treasures of art—Prosecution of Imperialist leaders
—Labedoyère, Ney, Lavalette—Peace of Paris, November 20th
24

CHAPTER III.

OCCUPATION OF FRENCH FORTRESSES.

Organization of the Allied army of occupation, under the supreme command of the Duke of Wellington—

Return of the remainder to their respective countries—Instructions of the Allied Courts to Wellington—
Convention relating to the occupation, attached to the Treaty of Paris—Positions assigned to each
contingent on the north-eastern frontier of France—March from Paris to Cambrai—Military precautions—
Camps of instruction and field exercises—Reduction of the army of occupation—Difficulties with the
French—Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle—Evacuation of France—The Guards Brigade leave Cambrai, after
nearly three years' stay there, and embark at Calais—Valedictory Orders—The Coldstream sent to
Chatham—Conclusion of military service in French territory
48

CHAPTER IV.

FIRST PART OF THE LONG EUROPEAN PEACE.

Distress in England after the war—Reductions in the Army and Navy—Stations of the Brigade—French

Eagles captured, deposited in the Chapel Royal, Whitehall—Reforms in interior economy—Death of
George III., and Accession of George IV.—Cato Street Conspiracy—Trial of Queen Caroline—
Coronation of George IV.—Guards in Dublin—Distress in 1826—Death of the Duke of York—Changes
in uniform—Death of George IV.; succeeded by William IV.—Political agitation at home, revolution
abroad; the Reform Act—Coronation of William IV.—First appearance of cholera—Death of the King,
and Accession of Her Majesty Queen Victoria—Changes and reforms introduced during the reign of
William IV.
72

ix

x

CHAPTER V.

SECOND PART OF THE LONG EUROPEAN PEACE.

Beginning of the reign of Queen Victoria—Troops during Parliamentary elections—Coronation of the Queen

—Fire at the Tower of London, 1841—Rebellion in Canada—Two Guards Battalions sent there, 1838, of
which one the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards—Return home, 1842—Visit of the Russian Tsar Nicholas
I. to England—European revolution—Bi-centenary celebration of the formation of the Coldstream Guards,
1850—Death of the Colonel of the Regiment, H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge; succeeded by General the
Earl of Strafford—Exhibition in London—Death of the Duke of Wellington—Changes and reforms up to
1854—Camp at Chobham
103

CHAPTER VI.

BEGINNING OF THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Position of Russia in Europe—State of the Continent in 1853—British alliance with France—The Tsar’s

quarrel with Turkey—Commencement of hostilities on the Danube—-The affair of Sinope—How it drew
England and France into the war—Three Battalions of the Brigade of Guards ordered on foreign service—
Concentration of the Allies in the Mediterranean—Guards Brigade at Malta—Thence to Scutari—Want of
transport—The Allies moved to Varna—Good feeling between the British and French troops—Course of
the war on the Danube—Siege of Silistria—Retreat of the Russians into Bessarabia—Intervention of
Austria—The Allies in Bulgaria-Sickness among the troops—Return to Varna—Preparations for the
invasion of the Crimea—The organization and strength of the Allies
130

CHAPTER VII.

THE INVASION OF THE CRIMEA.

Small results gained by the Allies—Sudden determination to attack Sevastopol—Russian position in the

Trans-Caucasian provinces—Conditions under which the Crimea was invaded—The allied Armada sails
from Varna to Eupatoria—Landing effected at “Old Fort”—The move to Sevastopol; the order of march—
The enemy on the Alma river, opposes the advance of the Allies—Description of the field of battle; strength
and position of the enemy—Commencement of the battle of the Alma—Advance of the Light and the
Second Divisions—Deployment of the First Division—Advance of the Guards and Highland Brigades—
Defeat of the Russians—No pursuit—Losses—Bravery and steadiness of the British troops—The Allies
lose valuable time after the battle—Arriving at last before their objective, Sevastopol, they refuse to attack
it—General description of Sevastopol
156

CHAPTER VIII.

BEFORE SEVASTOPOL.

Predicament in which the Allies found themselves—Flank march round Sevastopol—Occupation of Balaklava

by the British and of Kamiesh Bay by the French—The Allies refuse to assault Sevastopol; they prefer to
bombard it—Depression of the Russians, who fear a prompt assault—Description of the defences round
the south side of Sevastopol; successful efforts of the enemy to strengthen them—Description of the upland
of the Chersonese, occupied by the Allies; their position and labours—First bombardment and its results—
No attack; a regular siege inevitable—Draft of Officers and men to the Coldstream arrive in the Crimea—
Establishment of the Regiment—Russian reinforcements begin to arrive—Battle of Balaklava; Cavalry
charges—Sortie of the Russians against the British right flank; its failure
180

CHAPTER IX.

THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN.

xi

xii

Large Russian reinforcements reach the Crimea—Position and strength of the enemy; of the Allies—

Description of the field of Inkerman—Commencement of the battle, 5th of November—The progress of
the first part of the fight—The Guards Brigade advance to the scene of action—The struggle round the
Sandbag battery—Arrival of the Fourth Division under General Cathcart—The manœuvre of the latter, and
its failure—The arrival of the French—Successes of the British artillery—Repulse of the Russian attack; the
retreat of the enemy; there is no pursuit—Operations of the garrison of Sevastopol and of the Russian force
in the Tchernaya Valley during the day—Great losses incurred on both sides—Reaction among the soldiery
after the battle
204

CHAPTER X.

THE WINTER OF 1854-55 IN THE CRIMEA.

Prostration of both sides after the battle of Inkerman—Sevastopol not to be taken in 1854—Tardy

arrangements to enable the army to remain in the Crimea during the winter—Violent hurricane of the 14th of
November; stores scattered and destroyed—The winter begins in earnest—How the Government at home
attended to the wants of the army at the seat of war—Absence of a road between the base at Balaklava
and the front—Miserable plight to which the army was reduced—Indignation in England, and the measures
taken to relieve the troops—Admirable manner in which the misfortunes were borne by the British soldiers
—Operations on both sides during the winter—The Turks occupy Eupatoria; successful action fought there
—The Guards Brigade sent to Balaklava
231

CHAPTER XI.

THE FALL OF SEVASTOPOL.

Stay of the Brigade at Balaklava—Improvement in the condition of the men—Return of the Guards to the

front, June 16th—Changed aspect of affairs before Sevastopol—Review of events during the time spent at
Balaklava—Second bombardment—Interference by Napoleon III. in the course of the war; operations
paralysed—General Canrobert resigns, and is succeeded by General Pélissier—Energy displayed by the
latter—Third bombardment—Fourth bombardment; assault of Sevastopol—Its failure—Death of Lord
Raglan; succeeded by General Simpson—Siege operations continued—Battle of the Tchernaya—Fifth
bombardment—Sixth bombardment; second assault—The Malakoff is captured—Fall of the south side of
Sevastopol—The Russians evacuate the town, and retreat to the north side—State in which the Allies found
Sevastopol
249

CHAPTER XII.

THE END OF THE RUSSIAN WAR.

Home events during the war—Sympathy of Her Majesty with her Crimean soldiers—Badges of distinction

added to the Colours—Inactivity of the Allies after the fall of Sevastopol—Expeditions against the Russian
coast—Sir W. Codrington succeeds Sir J. Simpson as Commander of the Forces—The winter of 1855-56
—Negotiations for a peace, which is concluded, March 30th—Events after the cessation of hostilities—A
British cemetery in the Crimea—Embarkation and return home—The Crimean Guards Brigade at
Aldershot; visit of Her Majesty the Queen—Move to London, and cordial reception there—Distribution of
the Victoria Cross—Summary of events connected with the war—Losses—Appointment of H.R.H. the
Duke of Cambridge as Commander-in-Chief, and of Major-General Lord Rokeby to command the
Brigade of Guards
267

CHAPTER XIII.

A PERIOD OF WAR, 1856-1871.

xiii

Reductions after the war—Comparison between the situations in Europe, in 1815 and in 1856—Fresh

troubles and complications imminent—Many wars and disturbances—Scientific instruction introduced into
the army—Practical training of the troops carried out—The material comfort of the soldier attended to—
Military activity in England in 1859—The Earl of Strafford succeeded by General Lord Clyde—Death of
H.R.H. the Prince Consort—Misunderstanding with the United States of America—Chelsea barracks
completed—Marriage of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales—Death of Lord Clyde; succeeded by General Sir
W. Gomm—The Brigade of Guards Recruit Establishment—Public duties in London—Fenian troubles in
Ireland; the 1st and 2nd Battalions succeed each other there; the Clerkenwell outrage—Reforms in the
armament of the British infantry
292

CHAPTER XIV.

ARMY REFORM, 1871-85.

Effect produced in England by the military successes of Prussia—Short service and the reserve system

introduced—Abolition of army purchase—Abolition of the double rank in the Foot Guards—Substitution
of the rank of Sub-Lieutenant for that of Ensign or Cornet—Manœuvres and summer drills—Changes in the
drill-book—Illness and recovery of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales—Death of Surgeon-Major Wyatt, and of
Field-Marshal Sir W. Gomm—General Sir W. Codrington appointed Colonel of the Coldstream Guards—
Death of Captains Hon. R. Campbell and R. Barton—Company training—Pirbright Camp established—
Medical service in the Brigade—Change in the establishment of the Regiment—Death of Sir W.
Codrington, and appointment of General Sir Thomas Steele as Colonel—Troubles in Ireland—Alarm in
London—The Royal Military Chapel
319

CHAPTER XV.

THE WAR IN EGYPT, 1882.

Origin of the war—Emancipation of Egypt from Turkish rule; introduction of European control—Deposition of

Ismail Pasha—Tewfik becomes Khedive—Military revolts—Disorganization of the country—Joint action
of the English and French; its failure—Naval demonstration—Bombardment of the forts of Alexandria—
The French withdraw and leave Great Britain to act alone—British troops sent to Egypt—The Suez Canal
seized—Base of operations established at Ismailia—Action of Tel el-Makhuta—Clearing the
communications—Actions at Kassassin, August 28th and September 7th—Character of the Egyptian army
—Night march on Tel el-Kebir—The enemy is overwhelmed, September 13th—Pursuit; losses—End of
the war—Return of the Coldstream to England
350

CHAPTER XVI.

FIRST PART OF THE WAR IN THE SUDAN, 1884-85—EXPEDITION

UP THE NILE.

General description of the possessions of the Khedive in 1882—Rebellion in the Sudan; rapid rise of the

Mahdi—Policy of the British Government—General Gordon sent to Khartum; he is cut off and besieged
there—General Lord Wolseley goes to Egypt—Formation of a Camel Corps, of which the Guards
compose a Regiment—Problem how to effect the rescue of Gordon—The Nile route selected—Advance
to Korti—News from General Gordon—Two columns advance from Korti: one across the Bayuda Desert,
the other up the river—Battles of Abu Klea and Abu Kru—The Nile reached near Metemmeh—Sir C.
Wilson’s effort to proceed to Khartum—Death of General Gordon—Change of plan entailed by this event
—Battle of Kirbekan—Retrograde movement of both columns—Troops placed in summer quarters
372

CHAPTER XVII.

SECOND PART OF THE WAR IN THE SUDAN, 1884-85—SUAKIN CAMPAIGN.

xiv

Reasons for the expedition to Suakin—Departure of the Coldstream—Orders to Lieut.-General Sir G.

Graham—Position of the enemy—Advance against Hashin—Engagement at Tofrek—Attack on a convoy,
escorted by the Coldstream and Royal Marines—Advance to Tamai—Construction of the railway—
Attack on T'Hakul—Abrupt end of the campaign—The Coldstream proceed to Alexandria, and thence to
Cyprus—Evacuation of the Sudan; how the Mahdi took advantage of it; how the Dongolese were treated
—Position taken up south of Wady Halfa—Defeat of the Arabs at Ginnis—Return of the Guards Camel
regiment—Return of the Coldstream from Cyprus—Honourable distinctions added to the Colours—
Officers of the Regiment in December, 1885
393

APPENDIX I.

1.
Despatch of M.-Gen. Sir John Byng To H.R.H. the Duke of York, on the Battle of Waterloo, Nivelles,

June 19, 1815
413

2.
General Orders, Nivelles, June 20, 1815
414

3.
Proclamation of the Duke of Wellington to the French People, Malplaquet, June 22, 1815
415

APPENDIX II.

1.
General Order, Paris, October 28, 1815
416

2.
Orders for Billeting the British Troops in France, October 29, 1815
416

3.
Alarm Posts of British Divisions in France, October 30, 1815
418

APPENDIX III.

Orders for a British Contingent to occupy French Fortresses, November 9, 1815
418

APPENDIX IV.

Distribution of the British Contingent in France, April 10, 1816
421

APPENDIX V.

Short Account of the Band of the Coldstream Guards
424

APPENDIX VI.

1.
Farewell Order to the Allied Army of Occupation in France, November 10, 1818
426

2.
Farewell Order to the British Contingent, Cambrai, November 10, 1818
427

3.
General Order, Paris, December 1, 1818
427

APPENDIX VII.

Coldstream Guards Hospital
428

APPENDIX VIII.

The Nulli Secundus Club; and List of Members from its Formation, 1783, to 1896
429

APPENDIX IX.

xv

xvi

General Order, Constantinople, April 30, 1854
436

APPENDIX X.

Death of Field-marshal Lord Raglan, G.C.B.
437

APPENDIX XI.

Ages and previous Occupations of the Non-commissioned Officers and Men of the 1st Battalion

Coldstream Guards, and Drafts sent to the East, engaged in the War with Russia
439

APPENDIX XII.

1.
Return of the Numbers Killed in the Crimea
440

2.
Return of the Numbers Wounded in the Crimea, Dead, Invalided, etc.
440

3.
Deaths in the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards by months during the War with Russia
441

APPENDIX XIII.

The Victoria Cross
442

APPENDIX XIV.

1.
The British Forces employed in the Egyptian Campaign, 1882
444

2.
Extracts from General Orders issued after the Battle of Tel el-Kebir
446

3.
Extract of Report on Army Signalling in Egypt, 1882
447

APPENDIX XV.

Stations occupied by the Coldstream Guards, 1833-1885[1]
448

APPENDIX XVI.

1.
Coldstream Roll[2]
458

2.
Commanding Officers of the Coldstream Guards, from 1650 to 1896
478

3.
Regimental Staff Officers[2]
482

4.
Warrant Officers
485

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Field-Marshal H.R.H. Adolphus Frederick Duke of Cambridge, K.G.
Frontispiece

Pikeman, 1669; Drum Major, 1670; Grenadier Company, 1670
To face 18

Sergeant, 1658; Drummer, 1658
” 36

Musqueteer, 1650
” 66

Musketeer, 1669
” 86

Officer temp. James II.
” 102

Muskets and Rifles from 1830 to 1890
” 126

Private, 1742
” 230

Colours, 1669, 1684, 1685
” 248

Colours of the Colonel, Lieut-Colonel, and Majors, 1750, and the Queen’s Colour, 1893
” 266

Drummer, 1745
” 286

Sergeant, 1775; Officer, 1795
” 300

Officer, 1839; Officer, 1849
” 318

Officer, 1849; Private’s Undress Cap, 1850
” 342

Sergeant Drummer, 1895
” 392

xvii

MAPS.

PAGE

1. Sketch Map to illustrate the British Occupation of France from 1815 to 1810
To face 54

2. Black Sea and surrounding Country
” 149

3. Country between Eupatoria and Sevastopol
” 165

4. Battle of the Alma
” 174

5. Sketch Map of Country near Sevastopol
” 182

6. Sevastopol
” 194

7. Battle of Inkerman
” 216

8. The Neighbourhood of Tel el-Kebir from the Suez Canal to Zagazig and the Country

round Suakin
” 360

9. Sketch Maps to illustrate Egyptian and Sudan Expeditions, 1882-1885
” 379

xviii