“For damned fighting and drinking, I’ll match you against the world!”

Lt. Col. William Meadows cries out leading the 23rd at the Battle of Brandywine Creek, Sept. 11, 1777.

The British 23^rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers) played a crucial role in nearly every major battle during the American Revolution; from the very beginning of the war on April 19, 1775, at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, where they were part of Lord Percy’s relief column, to the last defining Siege of Yorktown in the fall of 1781. Two months after Lexington, on June 17^th, at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the light infantry and grenadier ranks were mowed down on a narrow stretch of beach by Colonel John Stark’s New Hampshire sharpshooters. Over the next six and a half years, the 23^rd Regiment of Foot Royal Welch Fusiliers, were involved in every major battle in the north except at Saratoga. So too, for a three month stretch, the regiment was assigned as marines aboard British men-of-war.  Later, when the war quieted in the north, the 23rd was sent south and placed under General Charles Cornwallis’ command. There they helped capture the American southern army under General Benjamin Lincoln and later destroyed another army under Horatio Gates. But they met their match in American General Nathanael Greene. After Cornwallis’ painful victory at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, March 15, 1781, in which the British commander lost a quarter of his irreplaceable troops, the regiment followed Lord Cornwallis to Yorktown, Virginia. There they defended what became known as the Fusilier redoubt against the French. And when Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781, what was left of the regiment languished in a prison in Lancaster, Pennsylvania until peace in May, 1783.  They claimed one unique distinction; the 23^rd was the only British regiment not to surrender their colors at Yorktown, having been smuggled out by freed officers.

Formation and Early History

The pride of the British crown was founded by Henry Herbert of Chirbury, Wales at Ludlow on March 16, 1689. This was shortly after the ‘Bloodless’ Revolution of 1688 in which catholic King James II was replaced by his protestant daughter Mary Stuart II and her Dutch protestant husband, William III of Orange.  The regiment under Herbert’s cousin Charles served throughout the Williamite War in Ireland, 1689-1691, in which the Jacobites attempted to reinstall James II as king. At the Battle of the Boyne in July 1, 1690, the regiment proved its mettle in its first major contest. The next year they were at the Battle of Aughrim, July 22, 1691. It proved to be one of the bloodiest battles in England which brought the Williamite War in Ireland to an end. The regiment later fought alongside European allies in the Nine Years War and during the Siege of Namur between July 2^nd and September 4^th, 1695. They took part in the attack on the citadel earthworks that inspired the popular song The British Grenadiers.

By the mid 1700’s, Herbert’s Regiment had undergone a few name changes.  In 1702, at the outbreak of the War of Spanish Succession, it was designated the Welch Regiment of Fuzilieers (fusiliers).  Fuzileer referred to the French fusil, also named fusee in English. The fusil or fusee was a lighter, smoothbore flintlock musket originally designed by the French for hunting. They were typically shorter than the French Charleville muskets and under British manufacture, shorter and lighter than the popular Brown Bess. Often British officers carried fusils as did even lighter designs for cavalry. The regiment was issued fusils on the pretext to protect artillery, which soon became obsolete and lost its original purpose.  In 1713 the prefix ‘Royal’ was added and then in 1714, King George I renamed it the Prince of Wales Own Royal Regiment of Welsh Fusiliers, changing the spelling from Welch to Welsh and Fuzilieers to Fusiliers. However, the archaic spellings of Welch and Fuzileers carried on for generations after, evidenced by these names engraved on swords carried by regimental officers during the Napoleonic Wars.

War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War

From 1714 to 1742, the regiment was on garrison duty in England and Scotland. It crossed the channel to Flanders in 1742 to participate in the War of the Austrian Succession. On June 27, 1743, at the Battle of Dettingen, the regiment was driven back by the elite French Maison du Roi cavalry, however they rallied and held their ground resulting in a British victory. On May 11, 1745, at the Battle of Fontenoy, the Royal Welch Fusiliers and British army were eventually driven from the field of battle. However, the Fusiliers fought an organized retreat during which they sustained 323 casualties. The regiment was sent to Scotland during the 1745 Rising and remained there until shipped to Belgium to participate in the devastating defeat of the Duke of Cumberland’s forces at the Battle of Lauffeldt on June 21, 1747; leading to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

After the 1751 reforms that standardized the naming and numbering of all British regiments, the Royal Welch Fusiliers became the 23^rd Regiment of Foot. During the Seven Years War 1756 – 1763 (French and Indian War in North America), between England and France, the Welch Fusiliers remained in Europe. They were at the Minorca Garrison on May 20, 1756, when the British fleet was defeated by a French fleet, forcing the British to sail to Gibraltar, resulting in the garrison’s surrender; however, the regiment was allowed to follow its fleet to Gibraltar. At the Battle of Minden, August 1, 1759, the 23^rd Foot aided in routing the French cavalry; an achievement that was celebrated annually as Minden Day by the regiment. Between 1760 and 1762, the regiment was involved in three major battles; Warburg (July 31, 1760), Kloster Kampen (October 15, 1760), and Wilhelmsthal (June 24, 1762). The next year war ended with the 1763 Treaty of Paris.

American Revolution

Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775 and the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775

As tensions rose between England and her thirteen colonies along the North American coastline, the 23^rd Regiment of Foot embarked for New York City in 1773. They were soon transported to Boston in 1774, then under the command of General Thomas Gage. Open hostilities erupted on April 19, 1775 when General Gage sent Lt. Col. Francis Smith and 700 British regulars on a 20-mile march to Concord to confiscate colonial arms and ammunition. The detachment succeeded their mission in part, but in doing so, fired on militia at Lexington and were thereafter mauled on their march back to Boston. The 23^rd of Foot joined Lord Percy’s relief column who met the panic-stricken troops and organized a brisk retreat back to the city.  Two months later, at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, the Grenadier and Light Infantry companies of the regiment were totally annihilated by Colonel John Stark’s New Hampshire regiment. The Welch Light Infantry and Grenadiers charged headlong down a narrow stretch of beach before three ranks of New Hampshire Wilderness sharpshooters. The result that within minutes, only five men in the Light Infantry Company were not dead or wounded. The following spring, the British evacuated Boston to Halifax, Canada, where the 23^rd Foot, along with the rest of the army, were reoutfitted.

Battle of Long Island, April 27, 1776

On July 2^nd to the 12^th, 1776, British Supreme Commander General William Howe’s invasion fleet arrived at Staten Island. Over the next several days more transports arrived until 32,000 troops were offloaded, among them the 23^rd Regiment of Foot Welch Fusiliers. At the Battle of Long Island, August 26, 1776, the 23^rd Foot was commanded by Lt. Colonel Benjamin Bernard; however, the sickly Bernard was still recovering from a hip wound at Bunker Hill and placed his command under Capt. Scot Grey Grove who would be killed leading his regiment. They were in the First Line Commanded by General Henry Clinton, in the 6^th Brigade under Brigadier General James Robertson; however, during the battle was commanded by Major General James Grant who also commanded the 4th Brigade.  They were positioned on the British left near the Narrows and made an attack on the American right under General Alexander Lord Sterling. This was a distraction from Generals Clinton and Howe’s move around the American left flank to get behind the enemy. Once Howe began the attack on the American rear, Grant pressed the forward attack, nearly capturing Sterling’s corps at Gowanus. The 23^rd Foot received 35 casualties in which 7 were killed and 28 wounded.

1776: Kip’s Bay, Sept. 15, White Plains, Oct. 28, and Fort Washington, Nov. 16

On September 15, 1776, the British invaded Manhattan Island north of New York City at Kip’s Bay. They easily pushed aside the militia and soon after landed over 10,000 troops, nearly cutting over about 3,000 American troops still in the city under General Israel Putnam. The 23^rd were posted to the 5^th Brigade under Brigadier General Smith. They received orders to march into New York City and did so by 7 PM therefore they did not participate in the next day’s Battle of Harlem Heights.   Washington retreated his forces north to White Plains to avoid his army from being flanked by a strong British force that landed along the Westchester County coast. However, he left 2,800 men at Fort Washington along the Hudson River.  The 23^rd Light Infantry was involved at the Battle of Pell’s Point, October 18^th, and were in the “hottest part of the action.” The two armies met at the Battle of White Plains on October 26, 1776. The 23^rd Foot was under General Howe’s direct command and was on the right division. The left division, composed mostly of Hessian troops assaulted the American line while the right held their position. The battle, which only lasted just over an hour was considered a draw, however Washington withdrew his force further north and Howe did not pursue, turning back towards the city to attack Fort Washington.  On November 16^th, General Howe attacked the fort from three directions and took the entire garrison prisoner.

Early 1777 and 23^rd Light Infantry

In early 1777, the regiment was stationed at New Brunswick, New Jersey. They were highly active in what had become a contest of scouting and foraging, often resulting in heated skirmishes with the enemy.  As one light infantry captain wrote home, “As the rascals are skulking about the whole country, it is impossible to move without any degree of safety…” Washington’s army was stationed at Morristown New Jersey, just twenty some miles from British outposts west of New York City and thirty miles northwest of New Brunswick. Small and larger detachments of both armies often collided resulting in petite guerre (French for “small war” which gave rise to the more common name guerrilla warfare).  In 1773, the British war office recreated elite companies of light infantry that had been formed during the Seven Years’ War, but had been allowed to lapse. The newly formed light infantry companies, called ‘light bobs’ by fellow soldiers, along with grenadiers, formed the flanking companies at each end of every regiment. After Howe departed Boston for Halifax, he formed these flanking companies into three battalions (later a fourth); which became the best trained and most effective ‘shock’ troops at his disposal. The 23^rd’s light infantry company, that had been formed by Major Robert Donkin, while at New Brunswick, was placed in the 1^st Battalion under General Robert Abercromby.

The Welch Light Infantry company, like most light infantry companies, were constantly sent out into the field to confront American skirmishers and guard foraging parties.  According to Captain William Damsey of the 33^rd Regiment, the light infantry experienced “the most dangerous and difficult service of the war.”  The 23^rd Light Infantry was led by Captain Thomas Mecan, who spearheaded his men during the company’s slaughter at Bunker Hill. In fact, only twelve of the original 1773 company remained. In fact, again like most light infantry companies, manpower was a critical issue. Only thirty-five rank and file remained on the books and of those, only a handful were fit for duty.  Add the non-commissioned and officers, and the company barely could muster half strength.  On April 12^th, the 23^rd light infantry’s 1^st Battalion participated in a raid on the American outpost at Bound Brook, north and west of New Brunswick on the Raritan River. The three-prong attack involving Hessian and Dragoons nearly caught Major General Benedict Lincoln and failed to capture the American troops guarding the redoubt, around 500, but did pillage the town and military stores while killing and wounding around 70 Americans before returning to New Brunswick.

Danbury Connecticut Raid and Battle of Ridgefield April 25-27, 1777

Shortly after the Bound Brook attack, Howe had launched an attack against a Continental Army Depot at Danbury, Connecticut.  He put New York’s former governor in charge of the raid, Major General William Tryon, who was assigned to garrison New York City. Two hundred and fifty men from six regular regiments were to take part in the mission, including the 23^rd Foot, along with 300 loyalists and a detachment of 17^th dragoons. The 1,500 regulars and loyalists set sail in a fleet of 12 transports on April 22^nd and anchored off Westport, Conn. on the 25^th, landing the infantry. The troops marched inland about eight miles and camped before proceeding to Danbury, arriving the afternoon on the 26^th. They drove off the American militia under Colonel Joseph Cooke and ransacked the town, torching patriotic homes, and capturing and either destroying or hauling off the military stores. Tory homes were spared the torch by marks drawn on their chimneys.  As the British started their march back to the ships, they experienced a running battle with local militia shooting at them from behind stone walls and fencing. Meanwhile, the fleet had been sighted upon its arrival giving time for the Americans to muster about 700 Continental troops to respond to the raid. Generals Benedict Arnold, Gold Silliman, and Major General David Wooster, convalescing after he destroyed his health during the Canadian invasion, caught up with the rear guard of Tryon’s forces returning to their ships on the 27^th. In what became known as the Battle of Ridgefield, the 23^rd distinguished themselves amidst the rear guard as they held off Arnold’s and Wooster’s repeated attacks, giving Tryon the needed time to disembark from Connecticut with all the captured stores. General Wooster was mortally wounded and Arnold later received the promotion to Major General that he so earnestly sought. The British suffered 154 killed and wounded and the Americans slightly more than 100.

British Army Embarks South to the Chesapeake

By June, 1777, Howe decided to give up New Jersey and transport his army south to make a direct attack against the rebel stronghold, Philadelphia. He did so knowing that he’d leave Burgoyne’s army high and dry as it slowly descending along Lake Champlain and the Hudson River towards Albany. The flamboyant Burgoyne still believed that Howe would send a large force north along the Hudson and the two would meet in Albany. Howe’s decision would doom Burgoyne’s army, but so too a British army’s loss convinced the French to enter the war as allies of the Americans.  Mid-July saw the 23^rd Foot 416 manned regiment hitched their hammocks to three merchantmen in New York harbor; Eleanor, Saville Hunstler, and the Isabelle. The Welch Fusiliers would be posted with the 1^st Brigade while its light infantry remained in the 1^st Light Battalion which was 700 strong. The rank and file, including most officers were kept in the dark as to their destination. Those apt to lay odds thought they would be heading north up the Hudson to cut the colonies in half and link up with Burgoyne. But Burgoyne be buggered, sails were set and the fleet headed south.

Battle of Cooch’s Bridge September 3, 1777

The passage from New York to the Head of Elk, the northern most bay of the Chesapeake and fifty miles southwest of Philadelphia, came to an end on August 25, 1777. It took an entire month in which the fleet was battered by storms and ran low on rations.  It was a long way for a journey that prior to the war took three days by the ‘Flying Machine’, the smartest coach from New York to Philadelphia. The 23^rd light infantry in the 1^st Light Infantry Battalion and the 23^rd fusiliers in the 1^st Brigade drew first blood with the Americans on September 3^rd. Hessian Jaeger riflemen advanced the columns moving north towards Cooch’s Bridge. They were ambushed and several fell before General Howe rode up and saw that approximately 800 Americans were stationed on Iron Hill. These were militia from Pennsylvania and Delaware under the command of Brigadier William Maxwell. He ordered the Hessians, approximately 400 troops, to clear it.  Lt. Col Ludwig von Wurmb attacked along with the 1^st Battalion of light infantry.  The battle raged for most of the day until the Americans ran low on ammunition and crossed Cooch’s Bridge.  The Hessians and Light Infantry were ordered to take the bridge. Meanwhile, the 1^st Brigade with the rest of the 23^rd Foot was ordered through thick woods on the left to cut the Americans off. Unfortunately for the British, the brigade became mired in swamps and the Americans were able to escape. Though the fighting was fierce, the number of casualties on both sides was considered light at approximately 100 dead and wounded.

Battle of Brandywine Creek, September 11, 1777

General Howe was informed that Washington was taking up positions on Brandywine Creek, thirty miles southwest of Philadelphia and a direct route to the city. His plan to assault the American line was similar to what he had done at the Battle of Long Island; one division feinted a frontal attack while the main British force flanked the Americans to come in from their rear.  The 23^rd Welch Fusiliers would remain with the frontal assault under Hessian Commander Lt. General Knyphausen. Meanwhile, Lt. General Lord Charles Cornwallis took 8,000 men, that included the 23^rd Light Infantry, on an eighteen-mile maneuver to flank the American right. Knyphausen had positioned his Germans at Cobb’s Ford and the British at Cobb’s Ferry to his right. He was to wait until he heard Cornwallis’ begin his assault on his left before pressing the attack in earnest.  After exchanging shot for shot with the Americans across the creek, Knyphausen heard what he believed to be Cornwallis’ attack. The Hessian commander gave orders for all forces to advance. As the American light infantry under Maxwell slowly gave ground.  The 23^rd formed into Line of Battle and marched towards the creek.

While Cornwallis completed his eighteen-mile march in the heat of the day, Washington still believed that the main attack was to his front. When he realized his mistake, he swung two divisions around to affect the threat on his flank.  It was late in the day when Howe finally formed his men in line of battle in which Captain Mecan’s 23^rd Light Infantry formed the center of the first of three lines. Lt. Col. William Meadows led the attack crying out to his Grenadier, “For damned fighting and drinking, I’ll match you against the world.” As the band playing the Grenadier March, the long lines advanced in spectacular fashion. One captain later commented that “Believe me, I would not exchange those three minutes of rapture to avoid ten thousand times the danger.”

When the British reached the line of Americans on Birmingham Hill, they charged with bayonets and the Americans rapidly drew back. However, in front of the 23^rd light infantry things were very different. Troops of Virginia and artillery under Maj. General Adam Stephen’s division opened up with musket and grapeshot. Many of the 23^rd were scythed down, including the company commander, Captain Mecan.  They remained under the guns of the Americans who doggedly held their ground. As the Grenadier still pressed the attack, the light bobs reformed and joined them. When the crested Birmingham Hill, the British were shocked. Maj. General John Sullivan had sent several brigades forward, who were only a few rods in front of the light infantry. The light bobs were in awe, expecting to be slaughtered. However, the panic of the original American line was infectious and these new American units started to draw back, though fighting from field to field and fence to fence.

Knyphausen continued his attack and ordered the British brigades to cross at Chadd’s ferry, three hundred yards to the right of Chadd’s ford. As the 23^rd foot waded in water up to their breasts, cannon grape ripped into them. Once reaching the shore, they formed and moved forward, expecting at any moment a devastating barrage of musketry. When it came, it was too high to do much damage. The British fired a volley, cheered, then charged with the bayonet. The American defenders scattered and the 23^rd took the woods.  The Welch Fusiliers continued to advance and were able to link up with Cornwallis’ Guard by 4:30 PM.  By 5 PM the battle of effectively over. Washington was able to extricate his brigades in good order and retreat back towards Philadelphia. Of casualties, the 1^st Light Infantry battalion had seven killed and fifty-four wounded. Captain Mecan was among the wounded and would recover, however he could no longer lead his company. On September 26, General Cornwallis marched into Philadelphia at the head of his regiment.

Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777

Only the 23^rd Light Infantry took part in the Battle of Germantown. The 23^rd Fusiliers had been detached the day before to escort artillery back to Philadelphia and had missed the battle. By October, the number of light infantry in both the 1^st and 2^nd battalions had been greatly reduced by sickness and battle casualties. The second had but 400 men in arms. It was early morning, October 4^th, when Washington’s light infantry charged out of the mist and attacked the sleeping British army stationed to the west of Germantown. The redcoats in that sector immediately pulled back. The 1^st Battalion of Light Infantry, to which the 23^rd Light Infantry remained attached, were positioned to the right of the British line and closer to British Headquarters.  They had already been aroused when the attack began and had attached their cartridge-pouch belts. However, they had yet to stand to arms or parade.

When the attack began, the 23^rd Light Infantry formed to the right of the 4^th Regiment of Foot. With a loud crash, a brigade of Continental Pennsylvanians and Virginians came surging out of the fog to their front and fell upon the 4^th Regiment which fell back. The 23^rd Light Infantry immediately swung to their left to catch the Americans rushing after the 4^th in the flank. During the close fighting, the 1^st Battalion was split into two wings with the 23^rd on the left. The Virginia 9^th regiment filled in the gap between the two British wings and suffered attack from both sides. After three hours of this give and take in fenced fields and copses, in which the American assault had been delayed by attempting to dislodge Lt. Col. Musgrave’s 40^th troops who had taken refuge in the Cliveden stone mansion, the tide of battle began to turn in the British favor. Once the morning mist burned off, counter attacks all along the British line began to push back the American columns. Afterwards, both sides settled into winter quarters, the British in Philadelphia and Washington’s army at Valley Forge. The winter months would see a continuation of the skirmishing guerrilla tactics of the previous years’ actions in New Jersey as foraging and information parties clashed.

Winter in Philadelphia, New Commander

By January, 1778, the 23^rd Regiment of Foot Welch Fusiliers had a new and able commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Nisbet Balfour, formerly of the 4^th Regiment of Foot. Balfour had shown his mettle before the rail fence at Bunker Hill and was promoted to captain when sent to England with news of the fall of Fort Washington. When Balfour returned to America, Howe offered him a Major’s commission at full price, or a Lt. Colonel at a discounted rate. Pressed for cash, Balfour chose the latter.  So too, the Light Infantry company was assigned to Captain Lionel Smythe, a handsome man and favorite of General Lord Percy. Future Duke of Northumberland and soon to become the richest man in England, Percy hated Howe and resigned his commission in 1777 to return to England. On May 18, 1778, the British Army saw a transformation as Howe’s farewell and replacement by General Henry Clinton was celebrated in what was labeled the Mischianze, a flamboyant and lavish pageant that was in stark contrast to the despondent American Army, twenty miles away at Valley Forge.

Battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778

The Battle of Monmouth would see the Grenadier company of the 23^rd Welch Fusiliers under Captain Wills and assigned to the 1^st Battalion of Grenadiers, in the thick of the fight. On June 18, 1778, General Henry Clinton, now supreme commander of the British Forces in America, departed by land for New York City.  Ten days later and only a day’s march from New York City, Washington’s advance guard caught up to Clinton’s rear guard. Washington sent Major General Charles Lee forward to attack. Clinton sent a division forward toward New York, that included the 23^rd Fusiliers, and turned another division to counter-attack. Lee had a change of heart and quickly turned an American retreat into a rout. By mid-afternoon, Washington rode up and relieved Lee of command and turned his army about to attack. In temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, men on both sides fell at the wayside from heat stroke. Clinton sent his Grenadier battalions, the 1^st and 2^nd, against the Americans and like Brandywine, they chased the enemy from one fence to another in a running battle that continued to take its toll of heat exhaustion.

At that critical moment in the battle, Howe rode up and urged the Grenadier on, which included the 23^rd Welch in the 1^st Battalion. The men were in mixed groups as the formations had deteriorated over the broken terrain. Expecting the Americans to give way from the deadly bayonet charge as had been previously the case, the Grenadier surged forward. But this time it was different. The Continental soldiers they faced had spent a winter training in the disciplines of war under the experienced tutorship of Prussian officer Baron von Steuben. Hardened men from New Hampshire and New York stood their ground along with artillery. Under a withering volley and grape cannon that spewed hundreds of lead and steel shards that cut down groves of men, the British lines faltered.  As the 23rd pressed on with Captain Wills leading the way, a blast of cannon ripped a great swath of flesh from his thigh. He went down in a pool of gushing blood and was carried off the field; a mortal wound to which he would soon succumb.  In this hail of lead and steel, much of it within forty yards or less, in which limbs were lobbed off and men collapsed clasping torn abdomens, the Grenadier charge was stopped. The Americans held to stand toe to toe with their enemy. By nightfall, the British broke contact and marched towards New York. The Americans retained the field, many collapsing and falling asleep where they had stood in battle. Washington was unable to pursue and so too slept in the field with his men, rejoicing in an American victory.

The 23rd As Marines Sailed to Intercept a French Fleet

The French had entered the war after Burgoyne’s army surrendered at Saratoga. In the summer of 1778, the French Admiral Comte de Estaing arrived with twelve ships of the line against the British fleet of nine battle ships. The English had mainly the older 64-gun types which were outmanned by the newer French squadron of 74 and 80 guns. The British navy was short of manpower and Lt. Col. Balfour tactfully volunteered his 23^rd Fusiliers as temporary marines for the fleet. On August 1, Lord ‘Black Dick’ Howe sailed his aging fleet to do battle with d’Estaing’s much stronger French squadron. The five thousand British and Hessians troops at Newport, Rhode Island, under command of General Robert Pigot, were under siege from a 10,000 American army under General John Sullivan and promised 4,000 French troops from the French fleet. If Howe could stop or even damage the French fleet, he could halt the French landing their troops to aid the Americans.

The 23^rd Foot was distributed aboard Howe’s men-of-war. The largest contingency was aboard the Cornwall, commanded by the light infantry previous commander Thomas Mecan who had returned to duty after his wounds at Brandywine. The rest of the regiment was divided between the Saint Albans, Nonsuch, and Eagle. The light infantry, thirty-five men under Capt. Smyth, crowded aboard the Isis, an ancient 50-gun frigate. The light bobs were given the task of racing up shrouds to the rat’s nests and platforms to act as snipers.

On August 9, 1778, the French began landing their troops when the masts of a British fleet were spotted. The French immediately halted operations and called back any French troops who had landed, and pulled anchor to do battle. On August 11, 1778, a two-day nor’easter known as “the Great Storm” inflicted serious damage to both fleets. D’Estaing reappeared off Newport on August 20th with 12 battered ships. He informed General Sullivan, who had begun a siege of the city, that his fleet needed repairs and he would be sailing immediately for Boston. This left the Americans in a quandary. Though they still outnumbered the British, Sullivan decided to give up the siege and pulled his forces back, but not before General Pigot saw an advantage and sallied out to do battle on August 29^th. The Battle of Rhode Island was basically a rear-guard action by the Americans to delay the attacking British until all American forces could be safely drawn back.

Of note, the British frigate Isis, of 50 guns, with the 23^rd light infantry in the rigging as snippers, turned about and gave battle against the 74-gun Caesar. Many of the fusiliers soon found themselves in a hell of screaming and whizzing metal as solid shot and grape ripped into the rigging. One light bob was killed and several wounded early on in the fight. The Isis was able to get around and rake the Caesar cutting down many Frenchmen. The 23^rd as acting marines fired continually into the French ship as the slugfest carried on for an hour and a half before the French veered off and departed. As fate would have it, only the light infantry aboard the Isis saw action as marines. The rest returned to New York never having fired a shot in anger.  After several more weeks at sea securing and relieving the British troops at Rhode Island, the 23^rd Foot were back on land at New York City.

Attention Shifts South

With Commander of British forces General Henry Clinton back in New York City, and the presence of French shipping and troops in the Americas, the British Government reevaluated the ongoing war in America. More vital to England’s interest than North America, was the West Indies. Therefore, in late 1778, ten regiments of Clinton’s army, including the 4^th Regiment of Foot who had operated so closely with the 23^rd Welch Fusiliers, under their new commander, Lt. Colonel Nisbet Balfour, boarded ships for the disease-ridden West Indies Islands. This also proved a time when many officers took it upon themselves to sail home to England on furlough and to settle affairs from their absence. Lt. Col. Balfour of the 23^rd Foot did so. He also planned to settle mounting debts after his father’s death and defend his good friend and mentor General William Howe from attacks at home.  By February, 1779, a small British force took Savannah, Georgia as well as St. Lucia in the Caribbean was retaken and then fended off a French counter attack. With the war stalled in the north, and the threat of French along the British Isles and its other worldly colonies, there would be no reinforcements sent to General Clinton. Therefore, the center of gravity was moving southwards.

23^rd Raids Connecticut. Boards Transports for Charleston, South Carolina

In Balfour’s absence, the 23^rd was commanded by now Major Thomas Macon, who had previously captained the light infantry before his Brandywine injury. In the summer of 1779, the 23^rd had been part of raiding operations to burn and pillage Connecticut coastal villages which included New Haven, Norfolk, Greenfield, and Fairfield. So too, to respond to the Battle at Stony Point on the Hudson that captured a British garrison.  In September, 1779, the regiment marched down to the docks and boarded transports, staying in the harbor nine days before disembarking. In October, they did so again, this time remaining on board for three weeks before being removed. Finally, in December, they boarded a third time and on December 16^th, set sail for Charleston. By December 21, 1779, eight thousand British soldiers would join General Henry Clinton and General Lord Cornwallis on an invasion of the south. The war in the north was put on hold as Clinton hoped to reenergize the British hopes of retaining the colonies by securing the south.

Second Siege of Charleston March 29 – May 12, 1780

Thirty-eight days passed in which most of the vessels finally arrived off Charleston. The ships had been rocked by storms days on end. One dismasted transport ended up in Ireland. Finally, by February 10^th, most ships began to offload troops. It took weeks for the troops to hop from one island and water-logged land to another to affect the siege of the city.  The 23^rd Welch were brigaded with the 7^th Fusiliers known as the English or Royals, the brigade commanded by Alured Clarke, under Cornwallis’ command.  By March 29^th, the army had established itself on Charleston Peninsula. They came from behind the city to invest it from the north and on April 1^st, the first trenches were dug, the field engineers beginning their approaches and batteries established for the siege. These excavated parallels would steadily approach the American line until the third parallel, forty yards from the Americans, would allow the enemy to be stormed by infantry.

On the 10^th of March, Lt. Colonel Balfour rejoined his men. The 23^rd was under Cornwallis’ command who effectively was in charge of securing the countryside up to fifty miles to the west of Charleston, allowing no Americans to either escape or enter the city. Balfour found the regiment 400 strong, however fifty were already in hospital, most suffering from malaria. After the trenches had been opened, 120 fusiliers under Major Macan, now second to Balfour, formed a strong detachment and marched to James Island to guard an important battery that guarded the harbor entrance. This left Balfour’s remaining regiment at half strength who were ordered 40 miles up the Cooper River to keep tabs on enemy forces in the area. The 23^rd was not part of the final action that brought about the largest surrender of American forces in the war; Major General Benjamin Lincoln unconditionally surrendered his force of 6,000 men and 300 cannon on May 12, 1780 – devastating the southern American army.

Clinton Returns to New York. Lt. Col Balfour of the 23^rd Commanded at Ninety Six

After the Americans surrendered, Clinton departed for New York with his Light Infantry and Grenadier Battalions, leaving behind a smaller force that included the 23^rd Welch Fusiliers under Lt. General Cornwallis. Clinton believed that thousands of loyalists would flock to the British banner allowing Cornwallis to arm and form them into militia regiments. With their recruitment and a core of hardened regulars, Cornwallis would secure Georgia and the Carolinas. Therefore, a series of outposts were planned that would reach far into the interior of the countryside. Lt. Col Balfour was selected to command one of these outposts in the back country of South Carolina where he would oversee recruitment of loyalist militia and establish a strong British presence. Under his command would be Major Patrick Ferguson, inventor of the Ferguson rifle, who would be in charge of loyalist militiamen. Balfour set off on his mission with 580 men, mainly loyalists including a detachment of 23^rd Welch Fusiliers. Balfour would head up the Santee River 100 miles and take command of the British outpost at Ninety Six. He arrived in mid-June and set up a military command and base of operations.

Before and during Balfour’s mission into the backcountry, Cornwallis, with the aid of cavalry Legions under Banestre Tarleton, planned to clean up any patriot resistance that escaped the American army’s surrender at Charleston. Tarleton attacked and massacred the remnants of Continentals under Colonel Abraham Buford at Waxhaws on May 29, 1780. However, patriot strength throughout the south was very much alive among militias under the command of Thomas Sumter, William Davie, and Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. Among the interior outposts was Camden, a hundred and twenty-five miles northwest of Charleston, near the North Carolina border. Colonel Lord Francis Rawdon, who had as Captain Rawdon, stormed the redoubt at Bunker Hill, was posted there with approximately one thousand militia and regulars. By July, however, events transpired in which Balfour was chosen to command the garrison left at Charleston. He was given Brigadier pay and ordered to Charleston, meaning his 23^rd Welch Fusiliers would go into future battles without him in command.

Battle of Camden and the 23^rd Gets a New Commander

Even before Lincoln’s surrender, in April, Washington had sent two of his elite Continental Regiments south, 1,400 men, the Maryland and Delaware line, eight regiments in all under command of a capable officer, Major General Baron de Kalb.  These were the same regiments who had faced the 23^rd at Long Island in 1776 and again in 1777 at Brandywine under American General John Sullivan. On July 25^th, they met up with the victor of Saratoga, Major General Horatio Gates who had been put in command of the southern army. He decided to march directly to Camden to capture the British outpost. Gate’s food rations had nearly run out. The countryside was bare of forage. He believed Camden was garrisoned by militia and he needed the supplies stored there to feed his now starving army. Along the way, he was reinforced with 2,100 North Carolina militia under General Richard Caswell including others from South Carolina. However, just prior to arriving at Camden, Gates released two outstanding militia forces under the commands of “Swamp Fox” Marion and Thomas Sumter, to attack a reported British supply convoy.  While Lt. Col. Balfour traveled the 100 miles from Ninety Six to Charleston in late July, Cornwallis received word that Gates was heading for Camden. He saw an opportunity to destroy Gates’ army and gathered his forces.

On August 13^th, Gates reached Rugeley’s Mill, thirteen miles north of Camden, at the same time Cornwallis arrived at Camden. He had approximately 3,000 men under his command, however many as 800 were sick with the ‘flux and fever’. One was Major Thomas Mecan, who had taken command of the 23^rd when Balfour was sent to Charleston. The forty-one year old Irishman had come through Lexington, Bunker Hill, Long Island, Brandywine in which he was severely wounded, and half a dozen actions, to burn up on a sweat drenched bed and die on August 15^th, a few days before the battle. With Mecan gone, so too was the last of the experienced old guard. Cornwallis turned to a twenty-four-year-old youth to take command of the regiment on the eve of battle. Irishman Captain Forbes Champagne was connected to aristocracy and easily purchased his commission. Balfour had known the captain when he was first with the 4^th Regiment of Foot and would have preferred another to lead his regiment, but news did not reach the regiment’s commander that his second had died.

At Camden, the 23^rd Welch Fusiliers fielded 3 captains, 6 lieutenants, 13 sergeants, 8 drummers, and 261 rank and file. The leadership was young, twenties and younger; lieutenant Harry Calvert was but sixteen years of age. But they all had been hardened by continual campaigning over the years, many having joined the service as young as fourteen. All in all, these ‘infants’ of the infantry were more than willing to do their duty and lead their men from the front. The 23^rd was united in a brigade with the 33^rd Regiment of Foot, Cornwallis’ own regiment and placed under the command of Scotsman Lt. Col. James Webster. The 33^rd under Cornwallis and Webster, who assumed field command, was considered among the finest in the British army.  Cornwallis had trained his entire 33^rd Regiment in the skills reserved for Light Infantry and as such, in all actions, used the whole regiment repeatedly along with the flank companies and battalions. All agreed, both British and American, they were a force to reckon with.

Of the 2,000 men Cornwallis could field for battle, the 530 troops of Webster’s brigade were the principal force and Cornwallis would use them to good effect. Two brigades of Fraser’s 71^st Highlanders were present, but their numbers were less than the 23^rd Fusiliers.  With so few regulars at his command, Cornwallis had no other choice but to put North Carolina loyalist militias in his front line of battle, made up mostly from Scottish refugees and Irish volunteers. However, the militia were brigaded under Lord Rawdon and Banestre Tarleton, both competent and proven leaders.

It was August 16^th when both armies had decided to march through the night before to position themselves for battle. They clashed in which first blood was drawn three hours before dawn. By first light, the British army was drawn up in full battle array facing the American army. Cornwallis had positioned Webster’s Brigade on his right, opposite Gates’ militia with the 33^rd extending from the main road and the 23^rd to the right of them, with a small corps of 150 light infantry further out. The British left was militia under Rawdon closest to the road and Tarleton’s Legions further out along with North Carolina militia. In reserve and close to the road were the Highlanders and Tarleton’s cavalry.

Gates North Carolina and Virginia militia outnumbered the 23^rd as they advanced in four ranks, shoulder to shoulder. So too the 23^rd moved out, but in two ranks with more space between each man. As both sides volleyed, the American militia were full of trepidation as the 23^rd gave three cheers and pressed the attack with bayonets. At forty yards apart, the 23^rd halted, lifted their muskets, and let loose a ‘great crashing volley’ followed by a screaming charge as the entire regiment raced forward with bayonets. Colonel Otho Williams of Gate’s staff who witnessed the 23^rd charge later wrote, “The impetuosity with which they advanced, firing and huzzaing, threw the whole body of the militia into such a panic that they in general threw down their loaded arms and fled, in the utmost consternation.” The rout was complete. Even militia officers threw aside their weapons and joined the hysterical stampede for safety. The 23^rd continued their purposeful march forward after the fleeing bodies.

Meanwhile, to the left of the 23^rd, most of the 33^rd came under dreadful grape and canister fire from American artillery at the center of the road. Shot ripped huge swaths through the 33^rd staggering their advance. So too, artillery was trained on the militia to the left of the 33^rd who faced the Continental troops who doggedly halted their advance. With the left stalled and the 23^rd advancing the right, the battle was pivoted, exposing the American artillery and Continental soldiers’ left flank to the 23^rd.  Under Webster’s command, the 23^rd wheeled about and smashed the last of the militia as it became a hammer that drove down onto the Continental soldiers left flank. With Cornwallis personally leading the militia and 33^rd back into the fray that pressed the Continental front, the ending was but all assured. Though De Kalb fought valiantly with his men, the Delaware and Maryland troops did not have a chance. When the Continentals finally broke, they ran back amongst the sparce pine trees and vegetation. Tarleton’s cavalry was unleashed and ran down many trying to save themselves.

In a little more than an hour, Gates’ army, twice the size of Cornwallis’ had been utterly defeated. Gates himself saw the writing on the wall almost immediately and right after the North Carolina militia collapsed, he took to his horse and galloped 60 miles north before halting at Charlotte; a feat that sealed the fate of his army and his reputation. All cannon were taken as remnants of the American force escaped as best they could. The 23^rd moved in among the abandoned train of baggage and as was the right of the victor, pillaged all they could find and carry. With just six men killed and eighteen wounded, the Welch Fusiliers bivouacked on the battlefield that night and posted pickets.

Cornwallis Faces a Revitalized American Army with Competent Officers

With the American army defeated, Cornwallis began plans to push into North Carolina, however his plans were thwarted by Major Ferguson’s disastrous annihilation of loyalist militia at King’s Mountain on October 7, 1780.  He therefore remained north of Charleston. Meanwhile, Washington sent Continental reinforcements south and chose Major General Nathanael Greene to led the southern army. So too, the grizzled commander of Virginian riflemen and newly commissioned General Daniel Morgan came out of retirement and joined Greene. Greene arrived in North Carolina to relieve Gates of his command on December 2, 1780. What occurred, starting in January of 1781, would be a major defeat of British troops, a cat and mouse game that drew down Cornwallis’ army, and a push into Virginia by the main British army that led to its capture, resulting in the war’s conclusion. The 23^rd would be active in countless skirmishes with southern militias and two more major battles, Guilford Courthouse and the Yorktown Siege, before they would be handed over to General Washington’s forces at Yorktown.

Chasing Greene

Captain Thomas Peter was chosen to lead the 23^rd Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1781. He arrived on December 15, 1780 among transports that carried General Alexander Leslie’s reinforcements and replacement troops for those lost to battle casualties and sickness. On the evening of January 17^th, the few remnants of Colonel Banestre Tarleton’s force that was sent after General Morgan’s small detached army returned with devastating news. Tarleton’s force, which had included the 71^st Highlanders, the 7^th English Fusiliers, and Tarleton’s Legion (most importantly the infantry) had been annihilated at a place called Cowpens. The loss of experienced men was irreplaceable and Cornwallis was determined to catch the American army that was between him and control of the Carolinas. Over the next two months, a grueling cat and mouse game ensued in which Greene’s army remained one march ahead of the British. Whereas Greene reaped the benefits of foraging ahead of the British pursuers, he left behind crumbs to resupply Cornwallis’ fatiguing army. Finally, on March 15, 1781, having worn Cornwallis’ army down, Greene saw an opportunity to stop and turn to do great damage to the redcoats. 

Battle of Guilford Courthouse

By March of 1781 Greene’s army received much needed reinforcements. Eight hundred Continentals of the Virginia line and fifteen hundred Virginia militia (many having previously served in the American army as regular troops) under the command of Brigadier General Isaac Hunger joined him. So too South and North Carolina militia numbers increased under the commands of Thomas Sumpter and Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. On March 15^th, Greene was through running. He aligned his army of approximately 4,400 men in three lines; the Carolina militia – considered the weakest up front, followed by the Virginia militia off in the woods, and the best men on the strongest ground – 1,400 Continentals posted before Guilford Courthouse.  Artillery was placed with the Continentals and along flanks.

Cornwallis accepted the offer of battle and after marching his army of 1,900 officers and men sixteen miles, he approached Guilford Courthouse by mid-day. The redcoats crossed a small creek and began deploying. Lt. Col. Webster, still commanding a brigade of the 23^rd and 33nd, moved to the left of the road keeping the 23^rd close and the 33^rd off on the wing. Major General Alexander Leslie formed his men to the right of the road with the 2^nd Battalion of the 71^st nearest to the 23^rd and the von Bose Hessian regiment to the right of the 71^st.  Behind Webster in reserve to plug holes was the 2^nd Battalion of Guards, some Hessian Jaegers (riflemen), and the Guards light and grenadier companies. Behind Leslie was the 1^st Battalion of Guards. Behind the reserves was Tarleton’s cavalry with artillery in the center first line.

Webster rode in front of his brigade and yelled charge. The 23^rd and 33^rd started off at a jog with muskets and bayonets pointing forward. Sharpshooters shot down the occasional redcoat until they came within 40 yards of the North Carolina militia. The entire line volleyed, cutting down swaths of the 23^rd at their legs or led smashed chests. Webster spurred in front of the 23^rd and shouted “Come on my brave Fusiliers!” The regiment rushed the militia with bayonets before the Americans could have time to reload. Captain Saumarez of the 23^rd later noted with pride, “No troops could behave better than the regiment…they never returned the enemy’s fire but by word of command and marched on with the most undaunted courage.” The brigade carried on another 400 yards through the sparse woods until they came across a ridge that separated the first and second defensive lines. As the brigade came down the slope, the 33^rd had veered off further to the left and the 23^rd the right to avoid what they thought was brush. In this gap was Colonel Steven’s Virginia militia. As the two British lines passed, the Virginians poured shot into the 23^rd and 33^rd’s flanks.  The fighting at this point became very hot with both sides pursing smaller groups of men back and forth across the ridge.

The 23^rd continued for some time to clear the ridge of Virginia militia. The reason they did not rally as a single unit may have been the fact their commander, Captain Peter, had been shot in the leg early on and taken from the field. Cornwallis had taken the field alongside the 23^rd, having called up the Guard reserve that became intermingled with the 23^rd.  Officers tried to organize this sector while further to the left, Lt. Col. Webster kept the 33^rd and Hessian Jaegers together as they came forward. It was about an hour since the battle started that Webster’s men emerged from the woods in front of the Maryland and Delaware Continentals with their artillery. So too, many of the militia who had retreated before the British advance had joined the Continental line. As British soldiers fell left and right, Webster was hit and went down. With the 33^rd continuing the attack in front, the 2^nd Brigade of Guards were able to push back the left line of Continentals, threatening their flank. This was a crisis moment for the Americans. It is at that moment that Washington’s dragoons hit the 2^nd Guard ferociously, killing and running down nearly every man in the regiment as they wheeled back and forth. The remnants of the Guard raced back down the hill.

As Washington raced his troops after the fleeing British, Cornwallis ordered his artillery to fire upon the melee. British grape shot down both Washington’s troops and their own men, but the American cavalry charge was stopped. This allowed Cornwallis to rally the 23^rd and the remnants of the 2^nd Guard, along with the 71^st Battalion for the last and final assault on Greene’s Continentals. With this last Herculean effort, the British marched up the hill into the guns of the Americans who slowly drew back in an organized retreat. Once the rise before the Courthouse was obtained, the 23^rd was ordered to pursue the Americans. They did so for two miles, capturing two more cannon before called off.

The battle was over. Cornwallis could claim a victory, but at what price. One quarter of his troops had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Lt. Col. Webster, the pride of the 33^rd, died two days later from his wounds. That night it rained incessantly and by the next day, fifty more British had died from their wounds. Greene’s army was intact and remained a threat. And Cornwallis was no options left. Head south to Charleston to call off the campaign, or head north into Virginia where he could obtain supplies and reinforcements from British troops campaigning in Virginia. After a brief spell at Wilmington, on the North Carolina coast, he chose the latter, which ultimately led his army to Yorktown.

Battle of Yorktown

By June, Cornwallis’ troops had traversed Virginia towards the coast and were in Williamsburg.  The 23^rd was still led by Captain Thomas Peter. The light infantry company had rejoined their regiment for a short period before drafted as mounted light infantry, joining Tarleton on his raids into the countryside. Forbes Champaign, who had successfully led the 23^rd at Camden was put in charge of the light company. The Grenadier company, which did not sail south with the 23^rd, remained with the 1^st Battalion in New York. By now, of the 400 who began the campaign with Cornwallis, fewer than 200 Fusiliers trudged behind Captain Peters.  By mid-August, the 23^rd crossed the Peninsula from the James to the York River and arrived at Yorktown.

Cornwallis set about defending the town. The 23^rd was tasked to construct a redoubt west of Yorktown along a ridge that overlooked a swampy creek. By mid-September, Cornwallis expected the arrival of transports from New York City to remove his worn-out troops.  Two bits of information filtered into Yorktown; that Washington was marching a large force of Continental and French troops towards Yorktown, and the British fleet had lost a battle to the French off the Virginia capes. Both proved to be true as what was supposed to be the British army’s salvation, was becoming a trap in which there would be no escape.

On September 5, 1781, the 23^rd were given custody of a redoubt to the west of town in the shape of a four-pointed star. The work would become known as the Fusiliers’ Redoubt and would play a key role in the defense of Yorktown from an attack in the direction of York River. So too, the 23^rd was responsible for the ground behind that sloped down a hundred yards to a creek, beyond which was another small work or redan with inner defenses. On the night of September 30^th, the French made their appearance before the Fusilier Redoubt. Musket fire was exchanged. By morning’s light, the redcoats discovered the French had begun digging defenses just 450 rods in front of their redoubt.  

Present in the redoubt were 130 fusiliers, thirty marines, and some gunners who manned two 12 pounder cannon and small mortars called coehorns. Many of the men were sick, yet not enough to be carried off to one of the makeshift hospitals. Captain Peter had gone down with fever so the redoubt and 23^rd was under the command of Captain Apthorpe. He was a New Englander and the only Fusilier officer still serving with the regiment who had been present in Boston back in 1775.  The redoubt was critical for the British defense as if the French were able to take it, they could easily lob cannon into the town. Therefore the 23^rd constructed a strong fortification; a ditch six fee deep in front with sharpened tree trunks driven into the ground to thwart anybody climbing the steep walls to the redoubt’s lip. Inside were gun platforms with firing steps. The 23^rd lived and cooked in makeshift tents and when the alarm was sounded, they would grab their muskets and step up to the firing positions. On October 1^st, the French and Americans began the siege in earnest, bringing up the heavy 24-pound cannon and digging parallels.

On October 6^th, just after dark, the French decided to push their advance once more against the Fusilier Redoubt. As they tried to construct a battery forward of their trench, Apthorpe ordered his men to lay down a hail of lead. A rocket was shot up from the redoubt and a two-hour assault was finally beat back by the redoubt’s defenders.  By October 9^th, all the French and American cannon were in place to begin bombarding. The bombardment fell down upon the British day and night. On Oct. 11^th, Washington ordered another parallel be built 400 yards from the British line, however two British redoubts were in the way, numbered 9 and 10. On the night of October 14^th, redoubt number 9 was attacked by the French and the Americans, under the leadership of Colonel Alexander Hamilton, attacked redoubt number 10. The 23^rd defending the Fusilier Redoubt was subjected to a diversionary attack a half hour earlier to draw British guns away from the assaulting French and Americans.  During this period of bombardment, the Fusilier Redoubt was subjected to a continual and vicious bombardment. Men’s bodies became clouds of blood and bone as massive 24-pound shells ripped through their bodies.

The 23rd and a Desperate Attempt to Spike American Guns and Evacuate Yorktown

On the evening of October 12^th, the 23^rd foot was replaced with the 17^th Foot. The 23^rd would join a total of 350 British veteran regulars in an attempt to attack and spike the American guns, giving Cornwallis more time in hopes of rescue by British transports. On the night of October 15, all the British guns opened fire while British troops sallied forward in a desperate attempt at destroying American guns. By 9PM the British returned, but only eleven guns were spiked; however, so poorly that by the next day all eleven guns returned to shelling Yorktown. The next day, British troops marched down to the river and climbed into long boats, bound for Gloucester Point across the river where another British force under Tarleton awaited. With some of the 23^rd part of this exodus, the boats soon returned with bad news; squalls would hinder any further attempt and the operation was called off. The bombardment only intensified. Cornwallis met with his senior officers and a decision was made.

The End

 On the morning of October 17, 1781, a lone drummer appeared along the British lines followed by an officer waving a white handkerchief. The bombardment stopped. The officer was blindfolded and taken behind the American line. Negotiations for Cornwallis’ surrender was concluded.  By agreement, the British were to march the two miles from Yorktown to the American lines where they would surrender their weapons and colors. French and American troops lined up each side of the road to observe as the British and German allies filed by. The order of march was done by seniority with the 23^rd coming behind the Guards and 17^th Foot. One American soldier eyed the 23^rd with particular interest. William Hewitt of the 1^st New Hampshire had deserted the 23^rd in March of 1775 to join the patriot rebellion. He noted that there were very few left of his old unit. Just a few dozen men of the Royal Welch emerged from Yorktown. Only two dozen men of Champagne’s light infantry remained across the river. Just sixty-seven rank and file were considered fit for duty while 120 of the Fusiliers remained sick or wounded in makeshift hospitals. So small was the 23^rd that the victors did not notice the absence of colors at the head of their unit. In all, 4,000 arms were stacked on the surrender field. A similar ceremony took place across the York River at Gloucester. Yet 3,000 troops were too sick to put in an appearance. A total of 7,668 troops, more than 1,000 sailors, and several hundred loyalists and servants were surrendered that day.

All rank and file would remain in captivity. However only enough officers were needed to supervise the throng of captives, the rest were free to go. The night before the surrender, officers throughout Cornwallis’ army drew lots to see who would march alongside their privates and sergeants as captives, while the others were free to return to New York as non-combatants or travel back to England. Only one Captain was needed to command the 23^rd and it fell to Captain Thomas Saumarez. The lieutenants then drew straws to see who would remain captive and the youthful seventeen year old Lt. Calvert wrote that “it was my lot to be on this service,” while joined by two others of his rank.

Captain Thomas Peters had been sick through much of the siege and was free to go. As acting commanding officer of the 23^rd, he was determined to deny the enemy one last triumph over his Fusiliers. He detached the 23rd’s two colors from their staffs. He and another officer each wrapped a flag around their bodies, concealing them beneath their uniforms, before boarding a transport, the Earl of Mulgrave, that was destined for Charleston and then to New York. Other officers of the 23^rd granted their freedom, such as Apthorpe and Champagne, chose to travel overland to New York. The rank and file and few officers whose bad luck forced them into captivity were escorted from Yorktown by the Virginia militia to Winchester. In January, 1782, the 23^rd were moved to a large detention compound near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was a grueling march in winter and when they arrived, they were ordered to build their own stockade, a pen of wooden posts. There they met remnants of Burgoyne’s army who had spent the last four and a half years in confinement. Officers remained on their honor and were free to live outside the prison, though having to pay for the room and board.  The main body of approximately 200 Fusiliers at Lancaster ended their imprisonment on May 9, 1783.  Captain Saumarez received the honor of leading the first detachment of British prisoners back to New York. The column included remnants of the 17^th, royal artillery, and light infantry, some five hundred men in all. In New York, the 23^rd rejoined their grenadier company and in November, 1783, boarded transports for their return to England.

The following is taken from the 23^rd Regiment of Foot Royal Welch Fusiliers American Reenactors: “The next two hundred years of regimental history added many laurels and Battle Honors to the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The campaigns and wars are numerous include Wellington’s Peninsular campaigns, Waterloo, the Crimean War, India, Peking, the Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, and most recently the Gulf War. In 1989, the regiment celebrated 300 years of service, a celebration in which the Royal Welch Fusiliers in America were honored to be a part of.”  One of the few regiments to retain its original title, in March 2006 the Royal Welch Fusiliers was amalgamated with the RRW and became 1st Battalion Royal Welsh with RRW as the 2nd Battalion.

Video by the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum at Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales

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RESOURCE

Donkin, Major Robert. Military Collections and Remarks.  1777: Published by Major Donkin and printed by H. Gaine, New York, NY.

Dudley Major C. H.  Military Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers 23^rd Foot, Vol II.

 Royal Welch Fusiliers 23^rd Regiment of Foot.  “Royal Welch Fusiliers in America.”  

Urban, Mark.  Fusiliers The Saga of a British Redcoat Regiment in the American Revolution. 2007: Walker and Company, New York, NY.