The World Turned Upside Down - His Majesty's 33rd Foot.

In 1702, Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, raised a new regiment, “The Earl of Huntingdon’s Regiment” in and around the city of Gloucester, by order of Queen Anne to fight in the War of the Spanish Succession.

A soldier of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, c1742

It was disbanded on the 25th March 1714, then re-raised on the 25th March 1715, as George Wade's Regiment; then Henry Hawley's Regiment; Robert Dalzell's Regiment and John Johnson's Regiment, eventually becoming in 1751 the 33rd Regiment of Foot after serving with distinction in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748), winning its first battle honour, 'Dettingen' in 1743.  

 

In 1745 it was recalled to England and sent to Scotland to face the Second Jacobite Rebellion, but a year later was back in Flanders, fighting at Rocoux and Lauffeld in 1747.

From 1749 to 1753, it garrisoned the new British colony of Minorca, during which time it was given the number 33 in the order of precedence. After that, it remained in England until the Seven Years War (1756-63), when it was used in raids against St Malo and Cherbourg on the French coast (1758) before moving to Germany.

Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
(31st December 1738 – 5th October 1805)

By the early 1770s, the 33rd Regiment of Foot was widely considered to be the best-trained infantry unit in the British Army, with its rise to prominence stemming from its colonel, Charles, Earl Cornwallis, who took command of the regiment in 1766; and who proved to be the best kind of commander, diligent, meticulous, and focussed on improving the 33rd in every regard, from drills and field exercises to the quality of the unit’s weapons and clothing.

The 33rd subsequently became known as the ‘pattern’ for the army, the unit on which other successful regiments were based, and prior to the outbreak of fighting in the American colonies in 1775, the 33rd’s abilities, particularly in new light infantry drills, were frequently praised, a reputation that would be tested beyond breaking point over the course of the American Revolutionary War during which, from Saratoga to South Carolina, the 33rd was one of the most heavily-engaged units on either side throughout the war.

Missing the first year of the American War of Independence, and sailing for America in early 1776 as part of the ill-fated expedition to capture Charleston, in South Carolina, the regiment joined the main British force in North America outside New York in August 1776, with the 33rd brigaded with the best units in the army, including the composite grenadier and light infantry battalions, for the coming campaign. 

The Battle of Long Island on 27th August 1776 - Map by John Fawkes

They were part of the flanking manoeuvre that drove into the midst of the Continental Army at the Battle of Long Island and were involved in forcing the enemy from Manhattan at Kip’s Bay and then the inconclusive skirmish at Harlem Heights.

British landing at Kips Bay on 15th September 1776, prior to the Battle of Harlem Heights on 16th September 1776 - Robert Clevely

In early 1777, during the partisan war in New Jersey, the regiment gained a well earned reputation for its vigilance, with its lieutenant colonel, James Webster, ensuring the garrison force at the settlements of Amboy and Bonhamtown were on continual high alert for surprise assaults.

Later, the 33rd were part of Howe’s move to take Philadelphia, again fighting as part of a strong flanking movement that won the Battle of Brandywine, where they fired some of the last shots of the engagement.

Battle of Brandywine, September 11th 1777

The map above shows the development of the British flanking attack at Brandywine and the position of Major-General Agnew's 4th Brigade in reserve atop Osborne Hill. The brigade played a pivotal role supporting the First and Second Light Infantry's battle to push through Birmingham and defeat Stephen's Virginia Division, turning the latter's flank and pursuing the retreat to Dilworth, as the battle drew to a close.

A private soldier of the 33rd Foot - Don Troiani

A few weeks later at the Battle of Germantown, October 4th, 1777, they held firm against several regiments of Maryland Continentals in a short but sharp firefight in dense fog.

Battle of Germantown, October 4th, 1777

In the map above the 33rd are highlighted in position as part of Agnew's 4th Brigade in the British centre and supported the advance by the 17th and 44th Regiments to drive the Americans out of Germantown, during which Major-General James Agnew was shot and killed by a civilian sharpshooter.

Whilst the regiment was in action in the Philadelphia campaign, a number of recruits from Britain intended for the 33rd found themselves separated by an administrative error and bound for Canada. 

The Royal Artillery in action at the Battle of Freeman's Farm September 19th 1777 - Adam Hook (Osprey)
Recruits from the 33rd Foot helped to man the Royal Artillery’s equipment during the Saratoga campaign

Their level of training and the excellence of their uniforms and equipment meant they were not simply amalgamated into another regiment, but remained as their own small, distinct force. They joined the Crown army under the command of General Burgoyne during the ill-fated push down the Hudson River, helping to man the Royal Artillery’s equipment during the Saratoga campaign before being captured with the rest of the army at its close.

After Philadelphia was evacuated, the 33rd’s reputation for excellent discipline meant they were the last British regiment to march out of the town, trusted to sweep up any stragglers and not burn and loot along the way. At the ensuing Battle of Monmouth during the British withdrawal to New York, they came to the rescue of a stranded battalion of British grenadiers and, in the last act of the battle, helped see them to safety.

In 1779 the 33rd were garrisoning the fortress at Verplanck’s Point, overlooking the Hudson River north of New York, when Continental forces attacked and overran the neighbouring defences at Stony Point. For several days the 33rd were cut off and surrounded, but there was no attack on Verplanck’s, and under Webster’s orders the small complement of artillery in the fort opened fire on an enemy-manned barge being used to ferry away cannons captured from Stony Point, sinking it and its cargo.

In late 1779 the 33rd were chosen to accompany their colonel, Cornwallis, on the British southern campaign, a fresh offensive intended to bring the Carolinas back under royal authority. The regiment was again in the army’s vanguard as it closed in on Charleston, South Carolina, acting as an entire regiment of light infantry. 

Towards the end of the battle of Camden, British troops of the 33rd Regiment close in on the Continental soldiers of the 2nd Maryland Brigade, plus a few militiamen from North Carolina, who had become isolated when the bulk of the American militia on their left wing had fled - Graham Turner, Osprey, CAMDEN 1780.

They went on to play a pivotal role in arguably the most complete pitched battle victory of the war at the Battle of Camden, 16th August, 1780, an action that also proved to be the bloodiest for the regiment. 

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, 15th March 1781

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, seven months later, was similarly ferocious, leading to the death of Lieutenant Colonel Webster. It was the last major engagement the regiment fought in the field. 

By late 1781, Cornwallis and the rest of the army had been cornered at Yorktown where, after a short siege, they were forced to capitulate.

In 1782 it was decided to link regiments to a county, and the Regiment then became the 33rd (or 1st Yorkshire West Riding). 

Lord Cornwallis, Colonel at the time, wrote, 

“…the 33rd Regt. of Infantry has always recruited in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and has a very good interest & the general good will of the people, in that part of the country.” 

They also acquired the nickname “The Havercake Lads” after a type of oatcake used by recruiting parties to tempt recruits with promises of regular food.

My interpretation of the 33rd Foot uses the plastic British infantry from Perry Miniatures and takes Don Troiani's depiction of a private from the regiment during its time in America as the inspiration for the look, wearing the cut down coats and broad hats adopted by many units operating with the main British army under Lord Howe and most likely those that went south with Lord Cornwallis.

I have depicted the regiment as a particularly strong one at between 350-400 men to better reflect the regiment at the Battle of Monmouth where Greg Novak's order of battle suggests the 33rd were around 350 strong, hence the five stand arrangement instead of the more normal four stands for most of the other battles and actions it was involved in.

The 33rd is seen below with another strong regiment for my growing British army, the 4th 'King's Own', seen to the rear in the picture below and set to feature in my next unit showcase.

The 33rd lead the way with, to their rear, the next to feature regiment, the 4th King's Own.

My 33rd Foot are seen here complete with another set of marvellous colours from GMB Designs and finished off with a set of low profile sabot bases from Supreme Littleness Designs. 

Progress on 'The World Turned Upside Down' project is continuing apace, since my receipt of major reinforcements at Partizan back in May this year, and another group of reinforcements will join them after my trip up to Newbury this weekend to visit Colours 2025.

'Reinforcements' acquired at Partizan 2025 back in May.
JJ's Wargames - Partizan 2025

My plan is to do a bit of a review of the gathering forces and my plans for 2026 as we approach the end of this year and I can better assess when we can get some troops out on the table to playtest some ideas I have for the collection going forward, with my American War of Independence theme staying front and centre for the foreseeable.

So lots to come here on JJ's including a show report from Colours.

More anon.

JJ.