It's been awhile since I've last posted, but real life has been hitting me hard here the past couple of weeks. I haven't painted in ages, and frankly my mojo has flown far, far away. However, life marches steadily on.
I thought I'd share an article here I wrote after a conversation I had with some of my online-gaming friends (video games, not table-top games). I play a game called Mount & Blade: Napoleonic Wars, which is a first-person shooter set in the Napoleonic Wars. It is fantastic. Many gamers who play M&B form their own "regiments," and it was in a conversation (and the subsequent Wikipediaing that followed) with my regiment about an impending name change that I came across the name of an obscure, Irish Fencible regiment from the French Revolutionary Wars: The Ancient Irish Regiment of Fencible Infantry. My Google-fu proved weak in finding much about the unit, and this piqued my interest. Here I've been with a university degree in history with little chance to use it, and along comes a research challenge! So I set out to gather up the many fragments of information strewn about the web and put them in a single, convenient place. So here, in all its glory, is my article detailing the Ancient Irish Fencibles:
--------------------------------------------------------
The Ancient
Irish Regiment of Fencible Infantry
By Charlton "Chuck" Claywell
The term "Fencible" is a word of uncertain
origin, with the implication that suggests it is derived from the term
“defensive” itself. Fencibles were typically regiments raised for local defense
at, and only for, a special crisis. The engagement on the part of the men in the Regiment was completely
voluntary. These corps were a type of Militia, and under the conditions
of their establishment, at the time of their initial formation during the Seven
Years War, such units could not be detached to serve in any district other than
their own. The year 1799 saw the most Fencible Regiments ever concurrently in
existence, with thirty-one regiments of cavalry and forty-five regiments of
infantry. The Ancient Irish Regiment of Fencible Infantry is unique in being
the only Fencible unit to have served in a battle overseas.
Service Details
Ireland: 4-5
June 1799-January 1800
Minorca: January
1800-July 1801
Egypt:
July-November 1801
Malta: November
1801-18 March 1802
England: March/April-10
August 1802
Regimental History
The Ancient Irish Regiment of Fencible Infantry was raised
on either 4 or 5 June 1799 (not all sources agree as to which) in Dublin,
Ireland. The Regiment’s first (and apparently only) colonel was Thomas Judkin Fitzgerald,
a magistrate from County Tipperary.
The Baronetcy of Lisheen was
later created for him on 5 August 1801 as a reward for suppressing the United
Irish Rebellion of 1798 in County Tipperary as High Sheriff of Tipperary. Colonel
Fitzgerald was known for his excessive use of the cat o' nine tails during his
suppression of the revolt, and it was said in his obituary that "The
history of his life and loyalty is written in legible characters on the backs
of his fellow countrymen.” Despite his controversial rebellion-suppression
tactics, Colonel Fitzgerald was nonetheless permitted to raise The Ancient
Irish Regiment as a reward for his services.
As the Ancient Irish was forming in 1799, the British
government decided to disband all of the Fencible regiments whose service was
restricted solely to Great Britain and Ireland, only excepting those regiments which
had volunteered for service in Europe. The Ancient Irish was one of the few
Fencible regiments that volunteered for European service. The Ancient Irish,
after volunteering, were put on the same footing as any other regiment raised
for service abroad i.e., one of the field officers was to have permanent and
progressive rank, and the soldiers' services were to count as army service
towards a pension should they afterwards transfer to the army.
Leaving Ireland, the Ancient Irish was first sent to
Minorca in January 1800. Upon their arrival the men of the Regiment were found
to be undisciplined, and the British government had only provided half of them
with arms. After a few months training on Minorca the Regiment was sufficiently
ready to free better-trained regiments on the island for duties elsewhere, and for
a time were considered for an attack on Cadiz, but were diverted to Egypt as
Cadiz had succumbed to plague.
The Ancient Irish arrived in Egypt in July 1801, serving
as reinforcements to General John Hely-Hutchinson, who commanded the
British forces besieging the city of Alexandria. The Ancient
Irish Fencibles believed they had enlisted for European service only; when more
troops were required in Egypt, however, the regiment was treated without regard
to their terms of service and was ordered to embark for Africa. The men
complained, stating the terms of their enlistment, but their complaints fell on
deaf ears and they reluctantly embarked. However, when they found themselves
ashore in Egypt and were ordered to march forward from the beach to join the
army before Alexandria, the regiment decided to make a virtue out of necessity,
and with good humor they pulled off their hats, and, with three cheers, cried
out, "We will volunteer now!" The Ancient Irish formed part of
Brigadier General Blake’s VI Brigade (along with the 1st and 2nd
Battalions of the 20th Regiment of Foot and the 24th
Regiment of Foot) and served in his operations against the city of Alexandria,
which spanned from 9 August to 26 August 1801. On 17 August, one member of the
rank and file of the Regiment was killed in action outside Alexandria.
In November 1801, three hundred thirty men of the Ancient
Irish Fencibles arrived at Malta, and by 1
January 1802 the rest
of the regiment had followed. On 17
March—St. Patrick's
Day—the Irish Regiments garrisoned on Malta were excused from mounting guard.
The men had permission to get as drunk as they pleased, and at a very early
hour evident symptoms of inebriation were to be seen among both the Ancient
Irish Fencibles and 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot, another Irish
regiment stationed in Malta. The next day, The Ancient Irish Fencibles embarked
for England.
The Ancient Irish Regiment of Fencible Infantry was
disbanded 10 August 1802, possibly in England. This is supported by a notice
dated 11 May 1802 which states a William Osborn Hamilton of the Ancient Irish
was promoted to Major; certainly the Regiment could not have been disbanded
earlier. The balance of existing records concerning men who served in the
Ancient Irish have discharge dates in 1802. Nearly all the Fencible corps had
disappeared by the end of the year 1802, most immediately following the
cessation of hostilities in Europe as a result of the Peace of Amiens in March.
Many of the men who had served in these Fencible regiments enlisted for general
service in the regular Army.
Colours and Decorations
Sadly, little is known about the Colours (Regimental flags)
of the Ancient Irish. Fencible
regiments carried the usual stand of King's and Regimental Colours. Of the
known Fencible Colours, the most common format was to have the regimental title
in the center of each Colour, surrounded by the Union Wreath.
Two members of the Ancient Irish Regiment of Fencible
Infantry were awarded Military General Service medals with “Egypt” clasps: one
to a Walter McCreary, aged 20 of Donegal, Ireland, the other to an Ensign
George T. Burke. McCreary’s medal is extant today; Burke’s has been lost to
history.
Uniforms
Unfortunately,
few specifics of the uniform worn by the Ancient Irish Fencible Infantry are
known; little is known about the uniforms of most Irish Fencible
regiments. Generally, Fencible regimental uniforms conformed to regulations;
even so, there was a wide array of variations worn in Egypt, including both
long and short coatees and tropical jackets of the type worn in the West
Indies. There was also a wide array of headgear, from early stovepipe shakos to
large 1796 Pattern hats to tropical round-hats, as well as Tarleton helmets and
bearskins being worn by some light and grenadier companies, respectively. What is known, however, is that the
buttons worn on the coats of The Ancient Irish Regiment consisted of an Irish
harp in relief surrounded by the Regiment’s name.
Organization
Like other Fencible regiments, the Ancient Irish was
organized into ten companies. The number of men in a Fencible regiment varied
widely over time as men volunteered or were taken from these regiments to serve
in regular Army units. However, a sample establishment for a Fencible regiment
would typically include: One Colonel, One Lieutenant-Colonel, One Major, and
Five Captains; each of the ten companies would contain One Lieutenant, One
Ensign, Three Sergeants, Four Corporals, Two Drummers and Seventy-One Privates.
On Malta (November 1801-18 March 1802), the Ancient Irish
Regiment boasted the following strength: 21 Commissioned and Warrant Officers, 54 Noncommissioned officers, 240 rank
and file fit for duty, and 93 rank and file sick, accounting for 421 total
officers and men out of an official establishment of 688.
Muster Rolls
Sadly, no muster rolls exist for the Ancient Irish, and
details surrounding the men who served in the regiment is widely scattered.
This is an incomplete list of the men who served in the Ancient Irish Regiment
of Fencible Infantry from its establishment in 1799 to the Regiment’s discharge
in 1802.
|
Rank*
|
Name
|
Birthplace
|
Discharge Date**
|
Age at Discharge
|
Notes
|
|
COL
|
Thomas Judkin Fitzgerald
|
Tipperary
|
--
|
48
|
Appointed
1st Baronet of Lisheen, Co Tipperary on 5
August 1801
|
|
LTC
|
Charles Griffiths
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Appointed
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ancient Irish on 11 December 1800, whilst on
Minorca
|
|
LTC?
|
James Forster
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Unsure
rank 1799-1802; on half-pay with the Ancient Irish until promoted from
Lieutenant-Colonel to Colonel, 4 June 1814.
|
|
MAJ
|
William Osborn Hamilton
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Attained Majority on 11 May 1802
|
|
CPT
|
George Guy Carleton
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
CPT
|
Edward Atkin
|
--
|
16 February 1802
|
--
|
Promoted
to Ensign in the 50th (Queen’s Own) Regt. Of Foot on discharge date.
|
|
CPT
|
Daniel Hogan
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
|
CPT
|
Thomas Castletown
|
Tipperary
|
--
|
--
|
Paymaster
|
|
CPT
|
[Given Name Unknown] Collins
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Fought
a duel near Waterford, Ireland, in mid- December 1802
|
|
CPT
|
Uaiacke Atkin
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Left
Ancient Irish when promoted in North Cork Militia
|
|
LT
|
Timothy Fitzpatrick
|
--
|
16 February 1802
|
--
|
Promoted
to Ensign in the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regt. Of Foot
on discharge date.
|
|
LT
|
Pierce Galway
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Promoted from Ensign
|
|
LT
|
Edward Fitzgerald
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Promoted from Ensign, replacing Lieutenant Dillon.
|
|
LT
|
[Given Name Unknown] Dillon
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Resigned
commission; replaced by Edward Fitzgerald
|
|
ENS
|
George Thew Burke (alias Bourke)
|
Tipperary
|
--
|
26
|
Awarded
Military General Service Medal w/ “Egypt” Clasp for service with Ancient
Irish. Formerly the Regiment’s Serjeant-Major.
|
|
ENS
|
Henry Malone
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Gentleman promoted to Ensign, filling the billet opened
by Lieutenant Fitzgerald’s promotion.
|
|
Rank*
|
Name
|
Birthplace
|
Discharge Date**
|
Age at Discharge
|
Notes
|
|
--
|
Henry Herrick Beecher
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Appointed Regimental Adjutant 26 June 1799.
|
|
--
|
Walter McCreary
|
Donegal
|
1802
|
20
|
Discharged
to Chelsea Pension; invalided home as a result of impairment to his
eyesight sustained in Egypt. Awarded Military General Service Medal w/ “Egypt” Clasp for service
with Ancient Irish
|
|
--
|
Patrick Fitzpatrick
|
Belfast
|
1802
|
28
|
Served 11 years before discharged in 1802.
|
|
--
|
Patrick Murphy
|
Cluenna
|
1802
|
23
|
Served 2 years, 3 months.
|
|
--
|
John Shorthell (alias Shorthall)
|
Tallow
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 12th Royal Veteran
Battalion
|
|
PVT
|
James Furlong
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Awarded
Military General Service Medal for service with the 35th (Royal
Sussex) Regt. of Foot; subsequently awarded an “Egypt” Clasp for prior service
with Ancient Irish
|
|
--
|
Martin Fitzgerald
|
Middletown
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 8th Royal Veteran Battalion, the 98th
(Prince of Wales’s) Regt. Of Foot, and the 4th Royal Veteran
Battalion.
|
|
--
|
Michael Nugent
|
Hamford
|
1802
|
51
|
Served
in the 50th (Queen’s Own) Regt. Of Foot and 82nd
(Prince of Wales’ Volunteers) Regt. Of Foot prior to joining the Ancient
Irish, having served 26 years.
|
|
--
|
John Ryan
|
Cashel
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 50th (Queen’s Own) Regt.
Of Foot
|
|
--
|
John Kain
|
Killoughly
|
1802
|
25
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
John Burke
|
Galbally
|
1802
|
32
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
Andrew Whelan
|
Crooks
Town
|
1802
|
23
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
Patrick Fin (alias Finn)
|
Roscrea
|
1802
|
29
|
Served 3 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
Richard Finn
|
Roscrea
|
1802
|
22
|
Served 3 years, 4 months.
|
|
--
|
James Gray
|
Ardee
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 63rd (West Suffolk) Regt. of Foot and the 1st Garrison
Battalion.
|
|
--
|
David Sykes
|
Belfast
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the Royal Artillery Drivers.
|
|
--
|
Patrick Mannix
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion.
|
|
--
|
John Walsh
|
Kearia
|
1802
|
28
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
Arthur Leary
|
Youghall
|
1802
|
58
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
James Hutchinson
|
St. Kearns
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion.
|
|
--
|
Matthew Byrnes
|
Killavany
|
1802
|
27
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
John French
|
Dromale
|
1802
|
43
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
Rank*
|
Name
|
Birthplace
|
Discharge Date**
|
Age at Discharge
|
Notes
|
|
--
|
John Starr
|
Ardrony
|
1802
|
24
|
Served 3 years, 4 months.
|
|
--
|
Patrick Fitzpatrick
|
Belfast
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 4th Royal Veteran Battalion and the 12th Royal Veteran
Battalion.
|
|
--
|
Patrick Flynn
|
Castle Lyon
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 20th (East Devonshire) Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
Philip Ryan
|
Anno Carthy
|
1802
|
36
|
Served 3 years, 4 months.
|
|
--
|
Thomas Shea
|
Thurles
|
1802
|
23
|
Served 3 years, 4 months.
|
|
--
|
William Walsh
|
Nenagh
|
1802
|
29
|
Served 3 years, 4 months.
|
|
--
|
Thomas Cruise
|
Tubber
|
1802
|
30
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
Solomon Thompson
|
Aurlin
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 50th (Queen’s Own) Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
Leonard Doyle
|
Ballymore Eustace
|
1802
|
40
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
John McCormack
|
Mullingar
|
1802
|
41
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
Roger Toole
|
Dumhhenay
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
Peter Moffatt
|
Crosmolina
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 27th (Inniskilling)
Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
John Gateley
|
Curna
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 32nd Light Dragoons, the 20th (East Devonshire) Regt. of Foot,
and the 6th Royal Veteran Battalion.
|
|
--
|
Edward Powell
|
Sigart
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 27th (Inniskilling)
Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
Peter Dealy
|
Birr
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 26th (Cameronian) Regt.
of Foot.
|
|
--
|
John McGussin (alias McGushin)
|
Brissole
|
1802
|
30
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
|
--
|
William Baldwin
|
Kilkenney
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 12th Dragoons.
|
|
--
|
James McDonogh (alias McDonough)
|
Newry
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 50th (Queen’s Own) Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
John Coolroy
|
Neynoe
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 27th (Inniskilling)
Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
Alexander McCarty
|
Arthenray
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 17th (Leicestershire)
Regt. of Foot and the Royal Navy.
|
|
--
|
Thomas Dorey
|
Dublin
|
--
|
--
|
Later served in the 17th Light Dragoons.
|
|
--
|
John Maher
|
Helligh
|
--
|
--
|
Later
served in the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regt. of Foot.
|
|
--
|
Michael Carew
|
Hacketstown
|
1802
|
26
|
Served 2 years, 6 months.
|
*Modern rank abbreviations are in use
**Only marked where records specifically mention a date;
where not specified in records, discharge date can be assumed to be 10 August 1802
Sources
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=104851
https://books.google.com/books?id=HjhKAQAAMAAJ
https://books.google.com/books?id=uflAAQAAMAAJ
https://books.google.com/books?id=RWA3AAAAMAAJ
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15398/page/1016/data.pdf
History of the British
Expedition to Egypt: To which is Subjoined, a Sketch of the Present State of
that Country and Its Means of Defense, By Lt. Col. Robert T. Wilson,
1803
A Military History of Perthshire, 1660-1902, Edited by the Marchioness of Tullibardine,
1908
Shoulderbelt
Plates of the Fencible, Militia, and Volunteer Regiments By Major H. G. Parhyn, The Connoisseur, an Illustrated Magazine for Collectors, March
1922
Cobbett’s
Political Register, Volume 1, By
William Cobbett, 1802
A History
of the British Army, Volume IV, Part II, By Sir
John William Fortescue, 1906
The British National Archives
---------------------------------------
If you've read the whole article, thanks a lot. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. This really has been a labor of love for me here the past couple of days, and I hope that this might help someone out in the future. Thanks again!
-Chuck
