The History of the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's Own) Formerly the 95th — Key Ideas to Explore

Formation of an Experimental Corps of Riflemen--Expedition to Ferrol--Re-formation of the Rifle Corps--First list of officers-- Account of Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. W. Stewart--Standing orders-- First Expedition to Copenhagen--Nelson’s testimony--He gives a medal to the Riflemen--The Rifle Corps numbered 95--Camp at Shorncliffe under Sir John Moore--Formation of the 2nd Battalion --Account of Lieut.-Colonel Wade--Sidney Beckwith’s magnanimity-- Expedition to Germany--Attack on Monte Video--Attack on Buenos Ayres--Second Expedition to Denmark--Battle of Kioge--Three companies proceed to Sweden--Arrival of Riflemen in Portugal-- Affair at Obidos--Battle of Roleia--Battle of Vimiera--Both Battalions in Spain--Meeting of the Riflemen at the Trianon-- Retreat--General Craufurd’s stern discipline--2nd Battalion embarks at Vigo--Fight at Cacabelos--Tom Plunket shoots a French General--Battle of Corunna--Embarkation of 1st Battalion-- Casualties-- Arrival in England--Death of Colonel Manningham 1

Formation of the 3rd Battalion--1st Battalion again proceed to Portugal--Join the Light Division--March from Calzada to Talavera --March to the bridge of Almaraz--Scarcity of food--Winter quarters at Campo Major--2nd Battalion embark for Holland--Humbley seizes a French picquet--Siege of Flushing--Walcheren fever--1st Battalion on the Coa--Fight at Barba del Puerco--Craufurd’s Divisional Order--Beckwith’s system of command--Night march to Gallegos--Fight at the Coa--Casualties--Battle of Busaco--Lines of Torres Vedras--Fight at Sobral--Simmons takes some French prisoners--Massena’s retreat--Fight near Valle--Winter quarters-- A company of the 2nd Battalion with Ballesteros--Defence of Tarifa--Defence of Cadiz--Battle of Barrosa 42

Massena’s retreat from Santarem--Skirmishes at Paialvo; at Pombal; at Redinha--French politeness--Skirmishes at Casal-nova; at Foz d’Aronce; at Ponte da Murcella; at Freixadas--Lieutenant James Stewart--Combat at Sabugal--Skirmish at the bridge of Marialva; at Fuentes d’Onor--Battle of Fuentes d’Onor--Night panic at Sabugal--March to the Alemtejo--Cantonments on the Agueda--Retreat to Soita--Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo--Assault of San Francisco--Storming of Ciudad Rodrigo--Casualties--Anecdotes of General Craufurd--Military Executions--Siege of Badajos-- Capture of La Picurina--Storming of Badajos--Casualties--Harry Smith’s romantic adventure 71

Character of Sidney Beckwith--Riflemen reviewed by Lord Wellington--Skirmish near Rueda; at Castrejon--Manœuvring near Salamanca--Battle of Salamanca--March to Madrid--2nd Battalion companies fight at Seville; at Puente Larga--Departure from Madrid--Death of Lieutenant Firman--Retreat to the frontier of Portugal--Sufferings of the Riflemen--Their high state of discipline--Spanish recruits--Campaign of 1813--Affair at the Hormuza--Skirmish at San Millan--Battle of Vittoria--The 95th capture the first gun; and the last at the Araquil--March to intercept Clausel; to Pamplona; to the Pyrenees--Skirmish at Santa Barbara--Night marches--Fight at the bridge of Yanci; at Echalar--First Regimental dinner--Storming of S. Sebastian-- Fight at the Bidassoa--Cadoux’s picquet at the bridge of Vera-- Forcing the pass of Vera--The Arrhunes 112

Battle of Nivelle--Fight at Arcangues--Good feeling between the Riflemen and the French outposts--Battle of the Nive--Outpost courtesies and discourtesies--Gave d’Oleron--March to Orthez-- Battle of Orthez--Battle of Tarbes--Fight at Tournefeuille-- Battle of Toulouse--Suspension of arms--Embarkation for England and arrival there--Expedition to Holland--Investment of Bergen-op-Zoom--Skirmishes before Antwerp; at Donk--Fight at Merxem--Failure of Graham’s attempts on Antwerp--Bergen-op-Zoom --Sorties from Antwerp and alarms--The companies in this expedition occupy Belgium, and eventually join the Battalions in the Waterloo campaign--Expedition to New Orleans-- Disembarkation--James Travers captures an American picquet-- Attack on the bivouack of the Riflemen--Hallen’s picquet-- Advance towards New Orleans--Attacks on the American lines-- Truce to remove dead and wounded--Dishonourable conduct of the Americans during the truce--Difficult march to the shore-- Re-embarkation--Arrival at Île Dauphine--Sergeant Fukes turns the tables on a Yankee officer--Fort Boyer surrenders--Return to England 154

Embarkation for the Netherlands--Advance of the 1st Battalion to Brussels--March to Quatre Bras--Battle of Quatre Bras--Riflemen the first English engaged; under the eye of the Duke of Wellington--Retreat through Genappe to Waterloo--Battle of Waterloo--Casualties; and Anecdotes--Charles Beckwith--March to Paris--Army of occupation--The 95th made ‘the Rifle Brigade’ --Return to England--Death of Amphlett--The 3rd Battalion disbanded 195

Home Service--1st Battalion sent to Glasgow to suppress riots-- 2nd Battalion proceeds to Ireland--The Duke of Wellington Colonel-in-chief--Address to him on that occasion--Both Battalions in Ireland--Names of victories to be borne on the pouch-belt--Outrage on some women of the Regiment--Engagement with Irish insurgents at Carrigamanus; and at Dasure--Embarkation of the 1st Battalion for Nova Scotia; and of the 2nd Battalion for Malta--The Depôt engaged against rioters in Ireland--Death of Sir William Stewart--The Depôts of both Battalions reviewed by the Duke of Clarence--Service abroad and at home--A Depôt Company of 1st Battalion suppresses smuggling at Hastings-- Return of the 1st Battalion to England--Riflemen sent to Persia --Death of Colonel Eeles--Return of the 2nd Battalion to England --Coronation of Queen Victoria--Review in Hyde Park--Inspection by the Colonel-in-Chief and Marshal Soult--Birmingham Riots--The 1st Battalion embarks for Malta--Guards of Honour to Queen Victoria--Riots in South Wales--Embarkation of 2nd Battalion for Bermuda--Reserve Battalion formed--1st Battalion ordered to the Cape--Speech of Lord Seaton 217