Following the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688, the regiment, now commanded by Colonel Sir James Lesley went over to James’s successor, William III and he sent it to Scotland for the Jacobite rising of 1689 to 1692.
They were based at Inverness when the Battle of Killiecrankie was fought in July 1689 and in April 1690 fought at the Battle of Cromdale.
The regiment embarked for Flanders in spring 1694 for service in the Nine Years' War and took part in the capture of Huy in autumn 1694, the attack of Fort Knokke in June 1695 and the Siege of Namur in summer 1695 before returning home in 1697.
In 1751, it was given the number 15 in the infantry order of precedence.
A landing was effected on Long Island on the 22nd of August, and the 15th Regiment, brigaded alongside the 4th, 27th and 45th foot under Major General Robinson, formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Clinton, which advanced after dusk on the evening of the 26th to seize Jamaica Pass on the Gowanus Heights, and turn the enemy's left flank above Flat-bush. This pass was taken possession of on the following morning; the army advanced, and the Americans were driven from their position with considerable loss and forced to retreat to their fortified lines at Brooklyn. The loss of the regiment on this occasion was limited to a few men wounded.
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| Illustrative of the look of English infantry at the time Clifton's Regiment was raised, the Musketeer of Hasting's Regiment displays the infamous plug bayonet that was to have disastrous consequences at the Battle of Killiecrankie where inexperience in their use and the speed of the Highland charge left the government troops defenceless and causing many to flee. |
The regiment was next sent to Holland in 1701 for service in the War of the Spanish Succession and fought at the siege of Kaiserswerth in 1702, the siege of Venlo later that year and the Battle of Blenheim in August 1704.
It went on to fight at the Battle of Ramillies in May 1706, the Battle of Oudenarde in July 1708 and the Battle of Malplaquet in September 1709, returning to England in 1714. It was sent back to Scotland and took part in the Battle of Glen Shiel in June 1719 during the third Jacobite rising.
The regiment was deployed to South America, where it took part in the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in March 1741 during the War of Jenkins' Ear, returning to England in 1742, and during the years 1743 and 1744, the regiment was stationed in Great Britain.
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| Soldier of the 15th regiment (1742). |
In the summer of 1745 the British army was supporting Austrian troops against the French and the regiment was deployed to Ostend to join a garrison of British and Austrian troops under Austrian Lieut.-General Count Chanclos. It endured a thirteen day siege by the French until Chanclos capitulated, the garrison being permitted to march out with the honours of war, and proceed to Austrian territories.
At this period, Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, had raised the Highland clans to arms, and asserted his father's pretensions to the British throne, with the subsequent rebellion causing the regiment to be recalled from Flanders and on the 25th of October it landed at Gravesend, but it was not ordered to march against the insurgent clans, destined to remain in the south of England to oppose the threatened invasion of the French and raiding the French coast in 1746.
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| The Death of General Wolfe, 1759. |
In 1757, the 15th Foot was used in the Rochefort Expedition during the Seven Years War (1756-63). It then fought under General James Wolfe at Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (1759), later adopting a black line in its lace in mourning for Wolfe’s death in battle. It remained in Canada until 1768, except for two years in the West Indies, and then in Great Britain from 1768 to 1776.
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| John Theophilus Rawdon-Hastings, son of the 1st Earl of Moira, and a young officer in the 15th Foot in 1776 - John Trotter. |
The 15th Foot in America and the Caribbean, 1776-1783.
In September 1775 Major-General Sir Charles Thompson was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment, by Major-General Richard Earl of Cavan, from the 55th regiment of foot, and the 15th regiment was one of the corps selected to proceed across the Atlantic, as reinforcements for the troops in North America facing colonists in open revolt.
The regiment embarked from Ireland early in 1776, and proceeded to Cape Fear, in North Carolina, with four other corps, under Major-General the Earl Cornwallis, arriving on the coast of North Carolina early in April, when Lieut.-General Clinton assumed the command.
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| The Charleston Expedition 1776. Map by Roger Smith. The Southern Expedition of 1776: The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution - Journal of the American Revolution |
The men landed at Cape Fear to refresh themselves after the voyage, and returning on board the transports, sailed, on the 1st of June, with the expedition against Charleston. After passing Charleston bar, the troops landed on one of the islands, but the armament proved of insufficient strength for the capture of the capital of South Carolina, and the five regiments re-embarked and proceeded to Staten Island, where the main body of the British forces was assembled under General Sir William Howe. The 15th, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel John Bird, were formed in brigade with the 4th, 27th and 45th regiments, under Major-General Pigot.
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| The 15th Regiment was brigaded alongside the 4th, 27th and 45th foot under Major General Robinson, and formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Clinton |
The Americans quit their fortified lines during the night of the 28th of August, and retired across the East River, in boats, to New York; and the reduction of Long Island was thus accomplished in a few days, with little loss.
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| HMS Phoenix, Roebuck and Tartar, accompanied by three smaller vessels, forcing their way through a cheval-de-frise on the Hudson River with the Forts Washington and Lee and several batteries on both sides, 9th October 1776 - Thomas Mitchell after Dominic Serres the Elder. |
From Long Island the regiment proceeded with the army across the East River, when General Washington was forced to abandon New York, which city was taken possession of by the British; and proceeding up the river, the regiment took part in the operations that forced the Americans to evacuate their lines on White Plains; this time without loss.
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| Troops movement during Battle of Fort Washington, Nov 16th, 1776. File:Battle of Fort Washington, 1776.svg - Wikimedia Commons |
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| The Battle of Fort Washington - Don Troiani. Hessians storm Colonel Rawling’s Redoubt of Pennsylvania Riflemen and three cannon. Margaret Corbin, who manned a cannon after her husband was killed, is featured. |
In the winter of 1776-1777, General Howe commanding British forces in New York became aware of the important riverside depot of Peekskill for American forces in the Hudson Highlands and ordered an expedition about fifty miles upriver on the 22nd March to disrupt the fortification efforts there and the assembly of newly raised Continental regiments.
Lieutenant Colonel John Bird of the Fifteenth, with five hundred men and four light guns, of which a division of the regiment formed part, provided the land contingent; the frigate Brune, three galleys, four transports, and eight flatboats made up the naval component. After feinting to draw the American defenders off, Bird's men landed at Lunt's Cove about 1 p.m. on the 23rd; Brigadier General Alexander McDougall's small garrison burned some of the stores and withdrew. One American was killed; Bird had no casualties. Having completed the destruction of the magazines, barracks, and stores, the troops returned to New York.
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| This 1780 map shows the movements of the various forces prior to the Battle of Ridgefield: A: British movements to Danbury, B: American movements toward Danbury, C: British movements toward Ridgefield, and D: American movements toward Ridgefield (upper arrow: Wooster, lower arrow: Arnold) |
The British boarded twelve transports and landed without opposition at Compo, Connecticut between Fairfield and Norwalk, on the evening of the 25th of April, and marched from there to Danbury.
On April 27th, the company led by Wooster twice attacked Tryon's rear guard during their march south, and in the second encounter, Wooster was mortally wounded and died five days later.
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| Farmers Against the Crown - Dale Gallon https://www.gallon.com/shop/other-wars/revolutionary-war/farmers-against-the-crown/ Local Ridgefield farmers under General Arnold resist the British forces as they advance to their ships on the coast. |
The main encounter then took place at Ridgefield, where several hundred militia under Arnold's command confronted the British and were driven away in a running battle down the town's main street, but not before inflicting casualties on the British.
The 15th regiment had eight rank and file killed on this expedition; Captain Harry Ditmas, one serjeant, and fifteen rank and file wounded; two men missing. Lieutenant Charles Hastings, of the twelfth foot, serving as a volunteer with the regiment, was also wounded.
The expedition was a tactical success for the British forces, but their actions in pursuing the raid galvanized Patriot support in Connecticut.
The expedition was a tactical success for the British forces, but their actions in pursuing the raid galvanized Patriot support in Connecticut.
In August 1777 the Regiment would be part of General Howe's expedition against Philadelphia and the Fifteenth, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel John Bird, was brigaded with the 17th, 42nd and 44th regiments, under Major-General Charles Grey's 3rd Brigade.
Embarking from Sandy Hook, the army sailed to the Chesapeake, and proceeding up Elk River, landed on the northern shore on the 25th of August, that would see the American army taking up a position at Brandywine to oppose the advance, and on the 11th of September the King's forces moved forward to engage their opponents.
The 15th Foot formed part of the column under Major-General the Earl Cornwallis, which made a flank march to turn the right and gain the rear of the American army., an action that proved decisive; in driving the Americans from their position, and forced to making a precipitate retreat.
Embarking from Sandy Hook, the army sailed to the Chesapeake, and proceeding up Elk River, landed on the northern shore on the 25th of August, that would see the American army taking up a position at Brandywine to oppose the advance, and on the 11th of September the King's forces moved forward to engage their opponents.
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| Battle of Brandywine, with the 15th Foot forming part of General Grey's third brigade. |
The 15th Foot formed part of the column under Major-General the Earl Cornwallis, which made a flank march to turn the right and gain the rear of the American army., an action that proved decisive; in driving the Americans from their position, and forced to making a precipitate retreat.
During the battle the 15th are reported to have run low on musket rounds, leading to the remaining supply of ball being distributed to the 'picked men' whilst the remaining men were reduced to 'snapping' away with powder giving rise to the regimental nickname 'The Snappers'.
The battalion companies of the regiment did not sustain any loss on this occasion; but the flank companies, being formed in the grenadier and light infantry battalions, had Lieutenant Faulkener killed; Captain Cathcart, Captain Douglas, and Lieutenant Leigh wounded; also several men killed and wounded.
After Brandywine, the army continued its advance, with Philadelphia occupied and the British troops taking up a position at Germantown, the 15th Foot being posted on the left of the village.
Making a forced march during the night of the 3rd of October, the American army appeared suddenly in front of Germantown before daylight on the following morning, and attacked the British outposts, attempting to surprise the troops in an unprepared state. The first assault was opposed by the second battalion of light infantry, and the 40th regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Musgrave, posted at the head of the village; these corps were forced to fall back, and Lieut.-Colonel Musgrave threw himself, with six companies of the 40th, into (Cliveden) Chew House, where he was attacked by an American brigade, aided by four pieces of cannon.
Making a forced march during the night of the 3rd of October, the American army appeared suddenly in front of Germantown before daylight on the following morning, and attacked the British outposts, attempting to surprise the troops in an unprepared state. The first assault was opposed by the second battalion of light infantry, and the 40th regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel Musgrave, posted at the head of the village; these corps were forced to fall back, and Lieut.-Colonel Musgrave threw himself, with six companies of the 40th, into (Cliveden) Chew House, where he was attacked by an American brigade, aided by four pieces of cannon.
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| The Battle of Germantown, illustrating the position of the 15th Foot on the right of the brigade line formed by General Grey, it being the senior regiment and having the place of honour. |
In the British counterattack, that would cause the Americans to retreat, Major-General Grey brought forward the 15th, 17th and 44th regiments which would see the 15th suffer the loss of Lieut.-Colonel John Bird, Ensign Anthony Frederick, and five rank and file of the regiment killed; Captains George Goldfrap and Harry Ditmas, Lieutenant George Thomas, Ensign Henry Ball, two serjeants, and forty-two rank and file wounded.
In referring to the death of Lieut.-Colonel Bird, General Sir William Howe spoke of it as an event 'much to be lamented, he being an officer of experience and approved merit.'
After passing the winter in Pennsylvania, and involvement in the skirmishes in the spring of 1778, to open communications for bringing in supplies, the regiment participated in the march of the army from Philadelphia to New York, where they arrived in July 1778 under Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton, following Sir William Howe's resignation and return home.
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| The routes taken by the Continental Army from Valley Forge (dark blue) and the British Army from Philadelphia (red) to the Battle of Monmouth, June 1778. Where the roads allowed, the British first division took the western route while the second division followed a parallel route farther east. The dashed blue line shows Lafayette's attempt to catch the British when he was commander of the vanguard. File:Monmouth1 plainsvg.svg - Wikimedia Commons |
The grenadier company of the Fifteenth distinguished itself at the Battle of Monmouth and Captain Cathcart, of the regiment, was wounded; and also Captain Ditmas, who was attached to the second grenadier battalion.
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| An image of a British officer of the light company, thought to be the 15th Foot, wearing the round hat characteristic of British infantry during much of the war in North America and likely continued in the West Indies Campaign. |
With a growing threat of French involvement in the war menacing the British possessions in the West Indies, the 15th, and several other corps, sailed from North America, early in November, for Barbados, under Major-General Grant.
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| The 15th Foot in the Caribbean 1778-1783, showing the islands of St Lucia, St Kitts (St Christopher), and the former Dutch island of St. Eustatius that featured principally in its activities during this period. |
The regiment was involved in the attack on the French island of St. Lucia, brigaded with the 28th, 46th, and 55th, under Major-General Robert Prescott, the expedition sailing from Carlisle-bay on the 12th of December.
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| Barrington's Action at St Lucia, 15th December 1778 - Dominic Serres. The naval battle between the 12 French ships of d'Estaing (left) and seven English ships of Admiral Barrington (right). |
After a "warm conflict" raged between the two fleets from 11.00, with the British supported by two shore batteries, and with the troop transports safely tucked behind Barrington's line of warships, d’Estaing broke off but then renewed his assault at 1600 by attacking Barrington's centre with twelve ships of the line. Again, heavy fire was exchanged, and the French were eventually repulsed for a second time.
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| Plan of St. Lucia, in the West Indies: Showing the positions of the English and French forces with the attacks made at its reduction in December 1778. |
On the 16th December Admiral d’Estaing appeared to be preparing for a third assault against Admiral Barrington's line, but then sailed away towards the windward, and on the evening of 16th December anchored in Gros Islet Bay, where he landed 7,000 troops for an assault on the British lines at La Vigie. Three assaults were made but British control of the high ground enabled them to repulse the French who were re-embarked, and when d'Estaing's fleet left on 29th December, the island surrendered to the British.
The 15th Foot remained at St. Lucia for several months, during which, the French amassed a great superiority of numbers in both of naval and land forces in the West Indies; and in June, 1779, they attacked the island of St. Vincent, and in July Grenada; the regiment embarked from St. Lucia, for the relief of these islands; but the French captured them before any force could arrive to their assistance, and the regiment was afterwards landed at the island of St. Christopher's, where it was stationed during the year 1780.
The British commandant at St. Eustatius neglected to adopt the necessary precautions for the security of St. Eustatius, and during the night of the 26th of November, a French force, under the Marquis of Bouillé, effected a landing, captured the commandant as he was taking a morning ride, overpowered the posts, and forced the garrison, consisting of the battalion companies of the 13th and 15th regiments, to surrender prisoners of war. The commandant, Lieut.-Colonel Cockburn, was afterwards tried by a general court-martial, and cashiered.
In the meantime the flank companies of the regiment were stationed at Brimstone Hill, St Kitts, (St. Christopher's), a heavily fortified garrison, with the first battalion of the royals and a detachment of artillery, which constituted the military force of the island, under Brigadier-General Fraser.
On the 11th January 1782, the French under Admiral Comte François Joseph Paul de Grasse and François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé, laid siege to the fort, during which the adjacent island of Nevis surrendered, and guns from Fort Charles and other small forts there were brought to St. Kitts for use against Brimstone Hill. British Admiral Hood could not dislodge de Grasse, and after a month of siege, the heavily outnumbered and cut-off British garrison surrendered, and was permitted to march through the breach with the honours of war, to return to England, on condition of being considered as prisoners of war until exchanged.
After the surrender at St Kitts, the regiment eventually returned to Britain, however many of the officers and men, who had been made prisoners, were lost on the voyage home in the Ville de Paris, the French flagship, which had been captured by Admiral Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes in April 1782.
Later it received its county designation as the 15th (the Yorkshire East Riding) Regiment of Foot in 1782 where it was stationed whilst being rebuilt.
My 15th Foot are modelled using the Perrys Miniatures plastic range of British infantry and carrying Colours from GMB, finished off with a set of low profile sabot bases from Supreme Littleness Designs. I have built them as a 20 figure unit to better represent them as at the Battle of Brandywine with a strength of around 367 men all ranks and with their flank companies detached, able to reduce them to a 16 figure unit to suit later actions such as Germantown and Monmouth.
In the next TWTUD showcase I will present the 15th Virginia Continental Regiment, this once I get my new computer up and running following its predecessor dying on me a few weeks ago.
In addition I also have another Anglo-Dutch Wars battle AAR from Captain Steve, so lots to come here on JJ's and as always, more anon
JJ
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