5th Regiment of Foot

The 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot (nickname "the Shiners" due to their pristine uniforms) was a British infantry regiment until 1881 when it became a county regiment, the Northumberland Fusiliers.

History

The 5th Foot traces its long history back to 1674 when raised as the Irish Regiment to fight the French in Holland under Col. Daniel (O'Brien), IIId Viscount Clare. Being called back to England in 1685 to suppress Monmouth's Rebellion, the regiment became the 5th Regiment of Foot in July of 1751.

American Revolution

The 5th left Monkstown, Ireland on May 7 1774 for Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Their presence was necessary because of strong civil unrest in the area. Arriving in July, 1774 the 5th camped on Boston Common.

1775

On April 19 1775, the Light Infantry and Grenadier Companies participated in the march to Concord, and the resulting fighting at Lexington, Concord, and the march back to Boston. Casualties were five men killed, three officers and 15 men wounded, and one man captured.

On June 17, 1775, after being under siege by Patriot forces for 2 months, the 5th Foot participated in the attack on Patriot fortifications on Breed's Hill (the Battle of Bunker Hill). The Patriot forces were finally driven off after intense fighting.

The 5th Foot was heavily engaged and suffered tremendous casualties:

*Captain George Harris - later a General and 1st Baron Harris wounded in the head and spent 8 months on sick leave
*Captain Jackson - wounded
*Captain Downes - died of wounds 17/06/1775
*Captain Marsden - died of wounds? 12/02/1780
*Lieutenant McClintock - wounded
*Lieutenant Croker - wounded
*Ensign Charlton - wounded
*Ensign Ballaguire - wounded.

*22 rank and file killed. 10 Sergeants, 2 drummers and fifers, 116 rank and file wounded.

1776

After a harsh winter under siege, the entire British Garrison evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776.

After spending two months on board ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 5th sailed to New York to participate in the effort to capture the city from the rebels.

Participated in the Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. The rebel army was routed with heavy casualties. The 5th suffered no reported losses.

Participated in the Battle of White Plains, New York, October 28, 1776. After a sharp fight, the rebels were again routed. Loss of 2 killed and 1 wounded, its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Walcott. Participated in the capture of Fort Washington, New York, November 16, 1776. Thousands of Patriot troops were captured after a short fight. The 5th had no reported losses.

Participated in the capture of Fort Lee, New Jersey, November 20, 1776. The Patriots abandoned the fort before the British arrived, but many supplies and some stragglers were captured. The 5th had no reported losses.

1777

Spent a cold, difficult winter of 1776-1777 quartered near New York City. Skirmishes with the rebels were common.

Part of Howe's campaign to capture Philadelphia, the 5th was engaged at the Battle of Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1777. The 5th was part of the force that broke the Continental Army's center at Chadds Ford, capturing 5 cannon. Casualties: 1 officer, 1 sergeant, and 12 men wounded.

On the morning of October 4, 1777, the British Army was taken by surprise by a Continental attack at Germantown, PA. The 5th helped repel the Patriots after heavy, confused fighting. Casualties: 1 drummer and 9 men killed, 4 officers, 5 sergeants, and 37 men wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Walcott later died of his wounds received at Germantown.

1778-1783

The British Army spent the winter of 1777-78 relatively comfortably in Philadelphia, occasionally skirmishing with the enemy. French entrance into the war necessitated the evacuation of Philadelphia in the spring and a retreat to New York City.

On the difficult retreat through New Jersey, on June 28, 1778 the British Army was attacked at Monmouth Court House. The 5th was involved in the heavy, but inconclusive, fighting. Casualties: 1 officer and several men killed, an unknown amount of wounded.

While in New York, the 5th participated in several raids and skirmishes, including a raid on Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. The rebels had been using the harbor for privateering, and this raid succeeded in destroying many buildings and boats.Embarked from New York on November 3, 1778 for the French West Indies.
December 13, 1778, landed on the island of St. Lucie. The 5th was engaged with a small force of French and captured a 4 cannon battery.

December 18, 1778, a force of 9000 French troops were landed on St. Lucie. The small British force of 1400 men occupied a hill located on the neck of a peninsula. The French were fairly raw soldiers trained to fight in the classic European style of linear battles. The French advanced on the British force several times. The British, veterans of colonial fighting, inflicted a stinging defeat on the French. The French lost 400 killed and 1100 wounded to the British losses of 10 killed and 130 wounded, which included 2 5th Foot officers. As a result of the defeat, the French force abandoned the island. After the battle, the 5th Foot took the white plumes worn by the French soldiers and placed them on their caps as a sign of honor.

After 2 years in the hot, insect-infested, disease-ridden West Indies, the 5th Foot was sent to Ireland in December 1780. The 5th Foot was still in Ireland when hostilities between Great Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the former Colonies officially ended in 1783.

Renaming

On 1 August 1782, the 5th became the "5th (The Northumberland) Regiment of Foot". On 4 May 1836 it became a fusilier regiment and was redesignated as the 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot. With the Cardwell reforms of 1881, the regiment lost its number becoming the Northumberland Fusiliers on 1 July 1881.

ix Old Corps

The 5th Regiment of Foot was one of the 'Six Old Corps', which entitled it to use a badge (St George killing the Dragon) on its Regimental Colours, drums and other devices rather than the typical GR cipher as used by normal Regiments of the Line.

In the center of their colours was an image of St. George killing the dragon, this being their ancient badge, and in the three corners of their second colour, the rose and crown.

Notable members

*Colonel Lord Hugh Percy (later 2nd Duke of Northumberland)
*Captain George Harris (later 1st Baron Harris)
*Lieutenant Lord Francis Rawdon (later 1st Marquess of Hastings)
*General Sir William Medows (1738-1813)

References

External links

* [http://www.northumberlandfusiliers.org.uk Northumberland Fusiliers Regimental Museum]
* [http://www.fifedrum.org/crfd/images/D5.htm FifeDrum.org - 5th Regiment of Foot]
* [http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/military/military2.html Early Canada Historical Narratives - the 5th Regiment of Foot]
* [http://www.silverwhistle.co.uk/lobsters/marsden.html Silver Whistle - Captain Francis Marsden, 5th Regiment of Foot who died of wounds received at the Battle of Bunker Hill]
* [http://www.srcalifornia.com/uniforms/p30.htm American Revolution uniform - British Grenadier, 5th Regiment of Foot]
* [http://www.fifthfoot.org 5th Regiment of Foot - American Revolution Re-enactment group]