CHAPTER XV BETWEEN THE WARS WHAT the experiences of the 33rd were while the 1782. officers and men were prisoners of war it is impossible to say. The officers were at liberty to go on parole either to England or New York, and it may be assumed that the majority availed themselves of the privilege, with the exception of those who were told off in the proportion of one to fifty soldiers, to look after the men while they were detained as prisoners. Lord Cornwallis, still Colonel of the regiment, returned to England, but while a prisoner on parole he was invited to accept the post of Governor-General of India, and Commander-in-Chief of the forces there-a proof that "neither the Government nor the English people blamed him" for the disaster at York Town. The odium of that catastrophe was fixed on Germain, who, as Fortescue suggests, was blind to facts, and deaf to wise counsel, jealous of the commanders in the field, and appallingly ignorant of the elements of war, which he had the audacity to direct. Cornwallis declined the tempting offer. The troops who surrendered at York Town were divided into their regiments, and detained within Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, but where the 33rd were quartered is not exactly determined. Probably they went to Lancaster. When Peace was signed the depleted regiment marched to New York. Several of the non-commissioned officers and privates, when they were no longer prisoners of war, requested their discharge on the plea that they had fulfilled the terms 1783-91. of enlistment, but in a letter written from the AdjutantGeneral's Office in New York, on the 13th of June, 1783, the officer commanding the 33rd was informed that although the Preliminaries of Peace had been signed, his men would have to wait until news came of the completion of the Definitive Treaty. A month later Orders came from Head-quarters, in New York, dated July 29th, 1783, that the Quarter-Masters and camp Colour men, with their Camp Colours, of the British Grenadiers, 23rd, 33rd, 38th, 3rd, 60th, 4th, 71st, British Legion, Queen's Rangers, King's Own Regiment, New York Volunteers, and others were to meet Captain Gilfillan, Deputy Quarter-MasterGeneral at Franklin's House, at the head of Newtown Creek, at eight o'clock on Friday morning, the Ist of August, in order to mark out ground for those corps to encamp on. Then on the Saturday, the 33rd were with the others to march and encamp on the ground so marked out. This affords information as to the location of the regiment when the soldiers were no longer prisoners of war. One important question exercised the minds of the soldiers of the 33rd. What had become of their colours? It was suggested that they were destroyed to prevent them from falling into the enemy's hands. As for the Hessian regiments, it is asserted that Madame Riedesel secreted the colours in her mattress, and so saved them, while it was given out that they had been destroyed when it was known that Cornwallis was about to surrender. This rumour was spread concerning the colours of the 33rd, and for a long time this was held to be the case. The anxious inquiries answered when James Savage wrote the "History of Taunton" in 1822. In that book he said, "The old tattered colours of the 33rd regiment of foot, under which the men were engaged in several actions during the revolutionary war with North America, are hung up in the chancel of this church (St. Mary Magdalen). On the arrival of that regiment in this town, after the peace of 1783, they had new colours presented to them, which were consecrated here, and the old ones deposited in the vestry." In 1832 the old colours of the 33rd were removed from the church, the authorities apparently not caring to preserve them there. They were presented to Colonel Kemys-Tynte, whose grandfather, General Johnson, was Colonel of the 33rd at the Battle of Dettingen. On hearing that the colours had been taken from the church, Major Dansey remonstrated, and requested their restoration to St. Mary's. Colonel Kemys-Tynte, after some negotiation, learning that the old Dettingen colours of the 33rd were in Halifax (Nova Scotia), said he would hand over the colours brought from Taunton church into Major Dansey's possession. Major Dansey replied that he had in his possession a very old pair of colours of the 33rd which he would bring to Colonel Kemys-Tynte, and the exchange was accordingly made.1 The 33rd remained at Taunton so long that they received the local name of the Taunton Regiment, and it can reasonably be conceived that the colours would thus get to Hallswell, near Taunton. When the 33rd returned to England they were so depleted as not to number more than 162 rank and file. The officer in command received the following communication, which will go some way towards showing what quarters were assigned to the regiment on their arrival: "It is His majesty's Pleasure that you cause the 33rd Regiment of Foot under your command lately arrived from North America to proceed in the Transports to Deptford, where they are to disembark, and be quartered at Greenwich, until such time as you shall judge necessary to proceed to Taunton, to which place they are to 1 The above information was furnished by St. David M. Kemys-Tynte, Esq. march from Greenwich by the shortest and most convenient Route, and remain until further Order. You will also acknowledge the receipt of this Order. Wherein the Civil Magistrates and all others concerned are to be assisting in providing Quarters, impressing Carriages, and otherwise as there shall be occasion. Given at the War Office this 7th Day of September, 1786. By His Majesty's Command. Officer Commanding the 33rd It is said that the 33rd marched later on to Halifax, in Yorkshire. Their stay in that county nearly coincided with a change in the title of the regiment; for in 1782 county titles were given to all British regiments except those that were Royal. The idea behind this Order, issued on the 31st of July, 1782, was, that a connection between the regiments and the counties should exist, in order to assist in recruiting. The 33rd were designated the "Ist West Riding of Yorkshire Regiment." This county connection was given because nearly all the men serving with the regiment during the American War had been recruited about Leeds and Halifax. The soldiers of the regiment at the same time became popularly known as the "Havercake Lads," the recruiting sergeants resorting to the humorous practice. of sticking an oat cake, called a "Havercake," on the points of their swords, and going through the West Riding towns and villages thus. The call for recruits was liberally responded to. Yet there were times when even such a popular regiment as this found a difficulty in maintaining its establishment. Recruiting was, on the whole, in a far from satisfactory condi tion, and the depôts received but a desultory supply of recruits. In too many cases men were secured by foul means. They deserted almost immediately, so that the regiments scarcely ever reached full strength. There came a time when each man who entered the ranks had his price, for the nation was faced with such possibilities of war that the raising of the army to war strength was vital. Although the recruiting parties were constantly active, as in 1787, recruits could not be had until a bounty of three guineas was offered. It cost the Government two guineas more for each man obtained, that being the sum paid to the recruiting sergeant. Even then there was a disinclination to enlist, and it was stated officially that "The whole country is overrun with recruiting officers and their crimps, and the price of men has risen to fifteen guineas a head at least." The reason was not far to seek. The bounty was large, but the men regarded the pay as wholly inadequate. The would-be recruit, moreover, had heard of the various stoppages from his pay, and saw at a glance that what was left for himself was practically nil. Take the figures as they actually were. What with pay at 6d. a day, and 12s. 2d. a year poundage, and bread allowance at the rate of 10d. a week, the soldier's money for a year was £12 9s. 31d. But there were deductions for food to the amount of £7 16s. od. a year, and stoppages for various articles of clothing which the soldier was obliged to possess, amounting to £3 5s. 5d. II IS. 5d. was the sum taken from the soldier yearly, so that only 18s. 10d. was left to him for spending money. The wonder is that under such circumstances we had an army at all. The Navy was in a like difficulty, and when it was realised that whatever branch of the Public Service suffered it must not be the Navy, several battalions were sent to the ships for service in the fleet. As a consequence the home force was seriously depleted. |