Revolutionary War Historical Article
In the Service of the King
The 23rd Regiment of Foot or the Royal Welsh Fusiliers
by Donald N. Moran
Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from the February 2008 edition of the Liberty Tree Newsletter. The information presented herein was provided by Jack Pritchard of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusilier Reenactment group.
In order to fully understand the American Revolution, our readers need to have some knowledge of the British military. We have selected the 23rd Regiment of Foot, also known as the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. This Regiment fought us from Lexington (1775) until the evacuation of New York City in 1783. In order to follow the brief history related herein, it is necessary to know how a British regiment was organized. Each Regiment was divided into ten companies - one was a Grenadier Company, differed by the wearing of the bear skin helmet, one was a Light Infantry Company differed by a small leather helmet and the were known as the flank companies. The 8 remaining Companies were known as the Battalion Companies wearing the traditional tricorn hat.
The 23rd Regiment was established on March 16th, 1689 by King William III. Seven years later it became known as The Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Regiment distinguished itself in several campaigns in Europe.
The 23rd was transferred from Southern England to New York City, arriving on June 10th, 1773, and disembarking on the 14th. They were quartered there through the summer and following winter.
In the spring of 1774 they were transferred by order of General Thomas Gage to join him at Boston, Massachusetts. The summer, fall and winter were quiet. However in the spring, General Gage ordered an expedition to march to Concord and seize the military supplies that the Colonials had stored there. The flank companies of the 23rd were part of this expedition along with the flank companies of the 5th, 10th, 18th, 38th, 43rd, 52nd and 59th regiments and they were placed under the command of Major John Pitcairn (Royal Marines) and Colonel Francis Smith (10th Regiment). They crossed the Charles River on the night of April 19th and marched on Concord. They met their first opposition at the village of Lexington where the first shot of the American Revolution was fired and then proceeded to Concord. Upon arriving, the Grenadiers were sent into town to destroy the military stores while the Light Infantry was dispersed to secure the area. Fighting broke out at the North Bridge forcing the Light Infantry to withdraw. Colonel Smith ordered the expedition to march the 15 miles back to Boston, and seeing the numbers of Colonials gathering, he sent a courier back to Boston requesting reenforcement.
The Colonials attacked the column, taking advantage of any cover they could find along the road. The light infantry was deployed along the flanks of the column and the 23rd was assigned to fight a rear guard action. The British suffered appalling casualties. They reached Lexington, and were relieved by the reenforcement column, led by Colonel Earl Percy. The march continued back to Boston and was attacked most of the way. The 23rd maintained the rear guard for seven miles and was relieved by the Royal Marines. The 23rd suffered 4 killed, 27 wounded and 6 missing. The entire expedition suffered 269 killed or wounded.
Consider what they had accomplished. They marched 15 miles to Concord, then 15 miles back to Boston in a running battle, and against four times their number, albeit, untrained militia. Few troops possessed that level of discipline and certainly lesser troops would have surrendered.
On May 11th, King George appointed Major General Sir William Howe the colonelcy of the 23rd and he relieved Lieutenant General Thomas Gage as Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in North America. In mid-June the British observed that Americans were fortifying the heights on nearby Charlestown peninsula. Howe decided to attack. On June 17th, 1775, the majority of the British army was ferried across the Charles River and formed up for an attack. Howe decided to use the Light Infantry and made a flanking attack along the shoreline of the Mystic River. The Light Infantry Company of the 23rd was selected to lead said attack, followed by twelve companies of Light Infantry.
Unfortunately for the attacking infantry, the targeted position was commanded by one of the most competent of the American Officers -- John Stark of New Hampshire. His men, protected by makeshift fortifications, were strongly posted. With bayonets fixed, the Light Infantry charged and were cut down by fierce volley fire. A second, then a third charge, was made only to the devastation of the Light Infantry. The survivors withdrew and were repositioned on the flank of the massed Companies of the Grenadiers.
The Grenadiers and Battalion Companies launched three consecutive charges against the fortifications on Breed’s Hill ( Bunker Hill ). The Grenadiers of the 23rd led the charge. On the third attempt they were successful and drove the Americans from the peninsula.
This was a costly victory. Forty percent of the attacking forces were killed or wounded. The bravery of the 23rd cost them dearly. Only seven men of Light Infantry and five men of the Grenadier Company were fit for duty. Fortunately for the Regiment, the Battalion Companies had been held in reserve and did not take an active part in the battle. The best men of the Battalion Companies were selected to fill the ranks of the flank companies.
Although Howe had captured the Charlestown peninsula, he did not break the siege. Eight months later Patriot General George Washington received the much needed artillery from Fort Ticonderoga and fortified Dorchester Heights, dominating Boston. General Howe then had to evacuate Boston. The British sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
General Howe’s army was reenforced while in Nova Scotia and thus were ready to renew the fight for North America, They sailed to New York arriving at Staten Island on July 2nd, 1776. Howe launched his operations on August 22nd, having been further reenforced by General Sir Henry Clinton and a large Hessian force bringing his combat strength up to 31,625 of all ranks and 24,464 fit for duty.
The 23rd was selected by General Howe to skirmish and threatened the main American line while the main army advanced through Jamaica Pass and flanked the American line, forcing them to retreat to Brooklyn Heights. General Washington and his army escaped that night by crossing the East River to Manhattan under the cover of a dense fog.
The 23rd next saw action on September 15th, when they were ferried from Long Island to Kip’s Bay where they successfully landed. They formed a defensive line in case the Americans counter attacked.
On the 22nd, the Regiment was to cross the Hudson and capture Paulus Hook, New Jersey, but it was called off owing to severe weather. Instead they were turned out to witness the execution of Captain Nathan Hale.
In October, the 23rd again made an amphibious landing, this time at Pell’s Point in Westchester County. The American defenses there, led by Colonel John Glover, prevented their establishing a beachhead, so they moved further up the coast, landing at Throg’s Neck. They then advanced on Washington’s Army at White Plains. On October 28th they clashed with Washington’s Army at Chatterton’s Hill, White Plains. After driving the Americans back from White Plains, they marched south and attacked Fort Washington. On November 14th the Fort fell, with the capturing of 2,818 Americans. General Washington decided not to try and defend Fort Lee which was directly across the Hudson River. At this time the 23rd went into winter quarters in New York City, while elements of the British army pursued Washington across New Jersey.
On March 23rd, 1777, detachments from the 23rd Regiment sailed up the Hudson River on several transports protected by a frigate and assaulted the town of Peekskill. The town was a major supply depot for the Americans. They burned the wharfs and storehouses. The 500 man raiding party was unopposed and suffered no casualties.
On April 26th, a detachment from the 23rd again participated in an amphibious raid along with 250 men from each of the 4th, 5th, 27th, 44th and 64th Regiments. This time the raid was on Danbury, Connecticut, destroying the American stores there. They burned 19 houses, 22 barns and storehouses. Among the supplies lost were 1,700 tents. The Connecticut militia failed to defend the town. However, militia units from the area were called up, under the leadership of Benedict Arnold and David Wooster. Wooster was killed in this action while attempting to prevent the British raiders from escaping. Several spirited skirmishes ensued, resulting in 20 killed and 80 wounded on the American side and 154 killed or wounded on the British side. The British leadership, thus preventing another Lexington and Concord event, is to be credited. Benedict Arnold was promoted to Major General in the Continental Army for his part in the action.
On July 21st, 1777, General Howe and the majority of the British troops, including the 23rd, boarded 265 ships in New York Harbor sailed south to along the New Jersey Coast then up the Delaware River to the Head of Elk, Maryland. There were l17,000 soldiers, including cavalry, artillery and their supplies which disembarked and started marching toward Philadelphia.
At the same time, British General John Burgoyne and 7,173 men were marching south from Quebec. Howe’s decision to attack Philadelphia rather than attack the Hudson Highlands and link up with Burgoyne proved fatal to Burgoyne. He surrendered his army at Saratoga on October 17th, 1777.
General Washington marched his Continental Army to stop General Howe. On September 11th, The two armies clashed at Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania. The 23rd was put under the command of Hessian General Wilhelm Knyphausen and assigned to the right flank of the line of battle. The main part of the army under Generals Howe and Lord Charles Cornwallis marched north and crossed the upper fords, thereby flanking the American defensive position. Washington was forced to retreat. The British inflicted 1,200 casualties on the Americans, and suffered 577 killed or wounded.
Howe pursued Washington and Philadelphia was abandoned by Washington. He launched a counterattack at Germantown. However, the 23rd was occupying Philadelphia and was not involved in that battle.
The 23rd spent the winter in Philadelphia, while the Americans suffered at Valley Forge. There were some skirmishes, however, there is no record of the 23rd being involved. Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton replaced General Howe as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and received orders to evacuate Philadelphia and return to New York City. There was concern that with France entering the war, New York needed to be reenforced by the British.
Departing Philadelphia on June 18th, 1778, the British Army started their march across New Jersey. General Washington decided to pursue. The armies met at Monmouth Court House, New Jersey, resulting in a major battle in 100 degree heat. Some of the fighting was hand-to-hand. The Light Infantry Company of the 23rd launched a bayonet charge saving their Grenadier Company from certain destruction. That night, the Army broke camp and continued their march to New York with further engagement by Washington. The battle cost the British 358 killed and wounded, and 62 died of heat stroke. The American losses were somewhat lower.
In late July the 23rd was transferred to the Royal Navy to serve as Marines Part of the fleet sailed for Newport, Rhode Island,on August 6th, arriving on the 9th. The French fleet arrived and a full scale sea battle ensued. A storm of hurricane strength came in and prevented further action. The British fleet returned to New York on September 4th and spent the rest of the fall and winter in New York.
In late May 1779 the Army resumed offensive action. On the 27th a large detachment sailed up the Hudson River including elements of the 23rd and captured Fort LaFayette (on Verplancks Point) and Stony Point.
General Clinton ordered another amphibious raid on Connecticut sending a substantial force including the 23rd. They captured New Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk, where the military stores and some buildings were burned. Upon completing this mission, the 23rd returned to New York City. They were immediately ordered to the West Indies. However upon receipt of intelligence that a large French fleet had arrived in the Caribbean, those orders were cancelled.
General Sir Henry Clinton decided that there was a better chance of winning the war by moving the scene of action to the South. He therefore set sail on February 12th, 1780, with a large contingent of the British Army to South Carolina arriving at North Edisto on St. John’s Island some 30 miles from Charleston. Among the troops were the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Siege of Charleston started in April and by May 11th General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered the American Garrison. His surrender left the South almost defenseless, with only a few small bands of Colonials resisting the British occupation.
Lt. Colonel Nesbit Balfour of the 23rd Regiment was appointed Commandant of the British Garrison at Charleston. General Sir Henry Clinton returned to New York, leaving General Charles Cornwallis to subdue the rest of the South.
The American Congress replaced captured General Lincoln with Major General Horatio Gates who had taken all the credit for the victory over British General John Burgoyne at Saratoga. Gates, at the head of a force of Continental Infantry marched to South Carolina. On August 16th, 1780, the two armies met at Camden. The 23rd occupied the right wing of Cornwallis’ army. The American Army soon collapsed and were routed. Gates rode 60 miles ahead of his devastated army. The figures vary but it appears the American lost 1,700 killed, wounded and captured. Cornwallis lost 2 officers and 66 men killed, 18 officers and 238 men wounded.
Sergeant Roger Lamb, a diarist, saw this victory as personal revenge. He had served in the 9th Regiment of Foot and had been captured at Saratoga by Gate’s soldiers. He escaped, made his way to New York City, and upon his request was assigned to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He carried one of the 23rd colors in the battle.
Lord Cornwallis continued his conquest of the South marching on North Carolina, establishing posts as he advanced. One of these, Polk’s Mill, was protected by twenty men from the 23rd commanded by Lieutenant Guyon. They successfully drove off a large force of militia in a hard fought skirmish. About this time Cornwallis received word that British Major Patrick Ferguson and his loyalist regiment was annihilated at King’s Mountain, with Ferguson having been killed and slightly more then 1,000 men lost.With this severe loss, Lord Cornwallis marched his army back to South Carolina. He established a base camp at Winnsborough, South Carolina.
Another severe blow was struck on Lord Cornwallis’ forces. On January 17th, 1781, Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton was completely defeated at Cowpens by American Brigadier General Daniel Morgan. Tarleton, who barely escaped capture, lost 66 officers, of whom 39 were dead, 229 men wounded and 600 captured. Lord Cornwallis ordered his men to destroy all their excess baggage to speed up their march, and began to pursue General Morgan. On February 1st, they arrived at at Cowan’s Ford on the Catswba River. American Militia General William L. Davidson was on the opposite shore to resist the crossing. Being the only ford in the area it had to be forced. Lord Cornwallis ordered the Battalion of Guards and the 23rd to fix bayonets and charge across the shallow river. They were successful. In the ensuing fight General Davidson was killed. The 23rd pursued the retreating militia, along with Tarleton’s cavalry, until the chase was completely frustrated by bad weather.
There being little chance of catching up with Daniel Morgan and his army, Lord Cornwallis returned to Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Major General Nathaniel Greene replaced General Horatio Gates as commander of the American forces in the South. When he and his reconstituted Southern Army entered North Carolina, Lord Cornwallis saw an opportunity to regain the advantage in the South. If he could smash this new threat, total victory would soon follow. He marched his army to confront Greene. The two forces met at Guilford Court House on March 15th. This action became a brutal fight for survival - - General Green’s Continentals and Militia standing steadfast against Lord Cornwallis’ attacking regulars. The 23rd was instrumental in driving back Light Horse Harry’s Light Dragoons and supporting infantry. The 23rd was also credited with pushing back Colonel William Kirkwood’s valiant Delaware Continentals at bayonet point.
Pushing forward through a corn field, the 23rd entered a wooded area encountering the second line of the American position. After a one-half hour fire fight, they forced the Americans back. When they faced the third American defensive line, the 23rd fell back. To the right of the 23rd position the fighting became particularly brutal as General Greene launched a counter attack. The 23rd reeled, with their fifes and drums ringing out, lowering their bayonets, they charged. Their opponents were the 1st Maryland Continental Regiment. After a few minutes of desperate fighting the Marylanders gave way and the American line collapsed and retreated.
This victory was extremely costly. The British losses were 532 officers and men, of which 93 were killed outright and another 50 died of wounds within hours. The American losses were 312 killed or wounded.
Lord Cornwallis knew that a sizable British Force was in Virginia under command of the American traitor, Benedict Arnold, now a British Brigadier General. He decided to link up with these troops.
Arriving at Petersburg he joined up with Arnold. From there the reenforced army marched on Richmond and then Williamsburg. While in Williamsburg Lord Cornwallis received intelligence that Governor Thomas Jefferson and some members of the Virginia General Assembly were in Charlottesville. Cornwallis ordered Lt. Colonel Tarleton and his dragoons, reenforced by a detachment of the 23rd mounted on confiscated horses to capture them.
Unknown to them, a Patriot named Jack Jouett learned of this plan and galloped to Jefferson’s home, Monticello, some 120 miles away, and warned him in time to escape.
Orders came from Sir Henry Clinton in New York that he anticipated an attack on that city by General Washington’s army and the newly arrived French. Cornwallis was to detach a sizeable portion of his army and send them to New York via sea. He therefore marched his army to Portsmouth to embark those troops. On July 16th, 1781, while crossing the James River, the Marquis de Lafayette attacked Cornwallis’s rear guard, in an attempt to cut them off. However, Cornwallis was aware of their approach and prepared a trap. Only nightfall saved the Marquis and his men. The 23rd was on the right flank of the army and did not participate.
Before reaching Portsmouth it was learned that Washington and the French were enroute to Virginia - - also learned was that a sizeable French fleet was sailing up from the West Indies - - Cornwallis’ situation was in jeopardy.
Cornwallis selected the small port village of Yorktown and marched his army there. He intended to wait for either reenforcements from New York or evacuation by the Royal Navy. In the meantime, he ordered his troops to fortify the town. The 23rd was ordered to erect a redoubt at the right flank of the British defense line. By being assigned to this position, Cornwallis was acknowledging his esteem of the Regiment, as the right flank was considered an honor. The redoubt was named the "Fusilier Redoubt"”.
On September 28th the American and French armies commenced the siege. Lord Cornwallis realized how badly outnumbered he was and decided to consolidate his forces and withdraw his men from the outer works.
The Franco-American army started their siege tactics by erecting a parallel trench along the length of the British fortifications. They placed artillery batteries at strategic points along the parallel. On October 6th they commenced the bombardment of British defenses. Shortly after the bombardment began, the French launched an attack on the Fusilier Redoubt. The attacking force consisted of 3,000 French troops, which included several companies of grenadiers. The 120 men of the 23rd, along with about 40 Royal Marines fought them off. All three attacks were repulsed with heavy losses.
The Franco-American siege continued and a second, much closer parallel was constructed. On the night of October 14th, the American Light Infantry under the command of Alexander Hamilton attacked Redoubt Number 10, and a large French force attacked Redoubt Number 9. The attackers carried both key positions.
The French fleet defeated the Royal Navy’s attempt to reenforce Yorktown and drove the British fleet back to New York. Tthe loss of the two redoubts, and a shortage of food and ammunition left Lord Cornwallis no choice but to surrender his army.
On October 19th, British General Charles O’Hara of the 1st Battalion of the Guards represented Lord Cornwallis at the surrender ceremony and the entire Yorktown garrison marched out and laid down their arms.
Part of the surrender terms was the surrendering of all the Regimental Colors. The proud Royal Welsh Fusiliers were not about to comply with that order. Captain Thomas Peter and another officer wrapped the Regimental Colors around their bodies and under their uniforms. After being paroled and sent back to England, they concealed the flags in their baggage. Today the colors of the 23rd from Yorktown, are hanging in the Regimental Chapel in Wrexham, England.
On November 15th, the surrendered 23rd arrived at Winchester, Virginia under the command of Captain Thomas Saumarez. He had volunteered to attend to the Regiment while they were prisoners of war.
The POW’s at Winchester Virginia were marched to New York at the end of the war and joined the rest of the British Army evacuating New York. In January 1784, the 23rd or The Royal Welsh Fusiliers sailed for England, ending eight years of war.
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The Story of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Doesn’t End There!
We are very fortunate here in Southern California to have the reenactment group portraying the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (the 23rd Regiment of Foot). They are part of the Brigade of the American Revolution. There is no way we can understate the assistance and advice they have given our SAR reenactment groups in spite of being our honorable adversaries at the reenactments. George Mack, the leader of the 23rd, portrays Captain Joseph Ferguson, of Company F. He is shown on the far left. On the far right is Jack Pritchard who portrays Lieutenant William Woodd. Both the portrayed men were members of the 23rd during the Revolution. George has been our guest speaker and was the sent to the Valley Forge Teachers program by the State Society.
Over the years, the 23rd and our Commander-in-Chief guards have reenacted battles at the Marching through History Exhibition. The 23rd has participated in many of our annual Massing of the Colors Events at Forest Lawn. In 2006, we met at Yorktown for the 225th Anniversary of that battle.
The 23rd kindly transported our flags and muskets. Our Special Thanks go to the 23rd and their members.
....Don Moran, Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
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