Richard Cannon - Historical Record of the First Regiment of Foot

Tangier's Rescue by John Ross, fol. 1681.

Tangier's Rescue by John Ross, fol. 1681.

"This day the Scots and their grenadiers charged first, if there was any time at all between their charging: for, like fire and lightning, all went on at once." — Tangier's Rescue.

Tangier's Rescue.

Four colours were captured in this action; one by Dumbarton's Scots, one by the Admiral's battalion, one by the English horse, and one by the Spaniards. Three guns were also taken; two by the Foot Guards, and one by the battalion of Marines and Seamen.

The following return shows the loss sustained by the British troops in this engagement: —

The First Regiment of Foot Guards was for several years designated the Royal Regiment . There was also at this period a Royal Regiment in Ireland , which was sometimes styled Foot Guards. This corps adhered to King James II. at the Revolution in 1688. One battalion had previously arrived in England, and, being composed of papists, it was disbanded by William III. The men were confined a short time in the Isle of Wight, and afterwards transferred to the service of the Emperor of Germany. The other battalion fought in the cause of James II. in Ireland, until the surrender of Limerick in 1691, when it proceeded to France, and remained in the French service until it was disbanded.

The author of the account of this review here means two battalions of the 1st Foot Guards.

War-Office Records.

War-Office Records.

Sixteen field-pieces were employed. Nine were sent from the Tower of London, and seven from Portsmouth.

Lediard, and several other historians, attribute the preservation of the King's army from a complete overthrow at Sedgemoor to the excellent conduct of the Royals, in being under arms so quickly as to be able to hold the rebels in check until the other corps had time to form their ranks.

Fountainhall's Diary, p. 59.

War-Office Establishment Book.