MEMOIRS AND SERVICES OF THE
EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT
FROM 1793 TO 1907
INCLUDING
THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE REGIMENT
IN THE WEST INDIES, AFRICA, THE PENINSULA,
CEYLON, CANADA, AND INDIA
LONDON
HUGH REES, Ltd.
119, PALL MALL, S.W.
1908
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
THE EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT
“CAPE OF GOOD HOPE”
“TALAVERA.” “BUSACO.” “FUENTES D’ONOR”
“CIUDAD RODRIGO”
“BADAJOS.” “SALAMANCA.” “VITTORIA”
“NIVELLE”
“ORTHES.” “TOULOUSE.” “PENINSULA”
“CENTRAL INDIA”
This Memoir of the Services of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment,now 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was originally arranged andprepared for publication, from September, 1793, “in which year theRegiment was raised,” to September, 1863, by Brevet Major EdwardWilliam Bray, who was then serving with the Regiment. The laterhistory, from 1864 up to present time, has been collected from theAuthentic Records preserved in the Regimental Orderly Room.
Meerut,
December, 1907.
Part I contains the Services of 1st Battalion, from1793, the date of its being raised, to 1817, when the 1st and2nd Battalions were amalgamated at the Cape of Good Hope.
Part II contains the History of the 2nd Battalionfrom 1804 to 1814, and the Services of the Regiment during thePeninsular War.
Part III contains the Services of the Regiment inCeylon from 1814 to 1829.
Part IV contains the Services of the Regiment from 1829to 1848, including its Services in Canada.
Part V contains the Services of the Regiment in India,including the Indian Mutiny, from 1849 to 1857.
Part VI contains the Services of the Regiment from 1858to 1863, including the campaign of 1858 in Central India.
Part VII contains the Services of the Regiment from1864 to 1907, including the campaign of 1881 in South Africa.
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MEMOIRS
OF THE
EIGHTY-THIRD REGIMENT
In September, 1793, Major William Fitch obtained a letter of serviceto raise a regiment, which, after being numbered, became the 83rd, itsformation bearing date 28th September, 1793, and of which the major wasappointed lieutenant-colonel commandant. The regiment was embodied atDublin, and quartered in the old Custom House at Essex Bridge for abouttwo months, when it was called upon to take a portion of the garris