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The Project Gutenberg EBook of A History of the Coldstream Guards From 1815 to 1895, by C.B. Ross-of-Bladensburg This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. 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 Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS *** Produced by KD Weeks, Brian Coe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) Transcriber’s Note: Footnotes have been collected at the end of each chapter, and are linked for ease of reference. There was a short list of corrections to certain dates provided by the printer. This version retains that table, but has made the suggested corrections. Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. Any corrections are indicated using an underline highlight. Placing the cursor over the correction will produce the original text in a small popup. 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

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