Regimental History of the 35th During the French & Indian War

1751

1 July, issue of a sweeping Royal Warrant, numbering all regiments of the army, and bringing some amount of standardization to equipment, uniforms, and distinctions. In this year the Regiment was quartered between Athlone, and Clare Castle.

1752-1753

The 35th moves to quarters in Kinsale.

1754-1755

The Regiment marches to garrison in Dublin.

28 May, 1754 Skirmish at Jumonville Glen helps to spark the French and Indian War.

1 July, 1754 a French force advances on the Great Meadows, and Fort Necessity.

9 July, 1755 General Edward Braddock’s force routed at the Battle of Monongahela.

1756

In March, the 35th is moved from Dublin to Plymouth in preparation to be sent to North America.

15 April, the up to strength half of the Regiment, under Lt. Colonel Monro, sets sail for New York; the under strength half, under Major Fletcher, remains in England to recruit and would not set sail until July.

16 June, Monro’s detachment arrives in New York harbor and marches for “Camp Mohock” outside of Albany.

14 August, surrender of Fort Oswego to a French army under General Montcalm.

4 September, Fletcher’s detachment arrives to unite the Regiment. Winter quarters established in Albany.

1757

18 March, Rigaud’s assault on Fort William Henry begins.

29 March, already marching toward Fort Edward from Albany, five companies of the Regiment, under Monro, reach Fort William Henry. Five companies under Major Fletcher to remain as a garrison of Fort Edward.

23 July, ambush at Sabbath Day Point.

3 August, French and allied troops under General Montcalm take up positions around Fort William Henry to prepare for a siege.

9 August, Lt. Colonel Monro surrenders Fort William Henry to General Montcalm after a heavy siege, the remains of the Regiment march out of the fort to the entrenched camp.

10 August, the “Massacre” of Fort William Henry sees the dissolution of the surrendered column; modern estimates put casualties between 50 and 80.

15 August, Monro arrives at Fort Edward under French escort.

3 November, Lt. Colonel Monro dies in Albany from “…an apoplectick Fit, going down Stairs from Lord Loudon’s Levee…” The Regiment sails to New York, then Marches to Philadelphia for winter quarters.

1758

22 April, the 35th sails from Philadelphia, making way toward Halifax.

9 May, the Regiment arrives in Halifax to prepare for a campaign against Louisbourg. 28 May, the fleet leaves for Louisbourg.

8 June, the 35th participates in the landings at Kennington Cove. Over the next few days the British forces begin the investment of Louisbourg.

8 July, General Abercrombie’s army retreats from it’s failed attempt on Fort Carillon on Lake Champlain.

26 July, Louisbourg surrenders.

20 September, the Regiment lands at the mouth of the St. John’s River, taking possession of abandoned French works, renaming them Fort Frederick.

21 November, five companies sail to Annapolis-Royal, three remain at Fort Frederick, two are dispersed to towns in Nova Scotia for winter quarters.

1759

9 May, the 35th reunites all companies at Annapolis-Royal and prepares to sail to Louisbourg for the campaign against Quebec.

27 June, the army lands at Isle Orleans.

26 July, French forces abandon Fort Carillon.

31 July, the Grenadier company of the Regiment participates in the ill-fated assault on Beauport.

13 September, the Regiment takes part in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, famously routing the French Royal Roussillon Regiment. Generals Montcalm and Wolfe are both mortally wounded. The city would surrender five days later. Winter quarters, such as they were, are made in Quebec.

1760

28 April, the Regiment, having spent a restless winter in a largely destroyed Quebec, marches to meet Chevalier de Levis’ army in the Battle of Sainte Foy. The English army retreats behind the walls of Quebec to endure a siege.

17 May, after the arrival of a British fleet, the French force retreats toward Montreal.

13 July, five companies of the Regiment sail towards Montreal under General Murray, the others remain in Quebec as garrison.

8 September, Montreal surrenders to General Amherst after a three-pronged advance by Generals Amherst and Murray, and Colonel Haviland. The garrisoned elements of the 35th march to capture the French fort Jacques-Cartier on Cap Sante the next day. The regiment goes into winter quarters between Montreal and Quebec.

25 October, King George II dies suddenly, prompting the succession of George III.

1761

1 June, The 35th is ordered to march to Crown Point, arriving on 4 July.

27 July, the Regiment makes for Forts Ticonderoga, George (near to the site of the former Fort William Henry,) and Edward.

4 August, the 35th halts it’s southward march at Albany where it immediately boards transports bound for New York.

8 August, the Regiment reaches Staten Island.

22 September, coronation of King George III.

11 November, the 35th sails toward Barbados to prepare for the Caribbean Campaign, arriving on 23 December.

1762

5 January, the fleet sails for Martinique, reaching it the next day.

24 January, Grenadiers of the 35th take part in the assault on the French redoubts around Port Royal.

4 February, Fort Royal surrenders to General Monckton.

25 April, the Regiment is employed in repairing the fort and it’s buildings.

6 May, the 35th sails from Port Royal toward Havana, landing on 7 May. The Mora Fort would be placed under siege three days later.

29 May, pickets from the Regiment are engaged by a Spanish sally from the fort.

20 June, Lt. Colonel Henry Fletcher was promoted to Brevet-Colonel.

22 July, the 35th is again engaged by a sally from the Mora Fort.

30 July, a breach is opened, and the fort is stormed by a detachment from the 90th Foot and four companies of the Regiment; the Spanish garrison is routed and retreats toward Havana.

14 August, Grenadiers of the Regiment take possession of Havana’s Land Gate. The Spanish garrison would march out ten days later.

30 August, The 35th takes up garrison duties in Havana.

1763

15 January, an express from Jamaica confirms that peace is being settled.

10 Februrary, the Treaty of Paris is signed, formally ending the conflict between France and Great Britain, with Spain and Portugal in agreement.

30 June, Spanish ships enter Havana harbor for the return of the province to Spain.

9 July, the Regiment sails to take possession of Florida stopping at St. Augustine on 28 July, then sailing on to Charlestown, South Carolina, anchoring there on 7 August. Not having a pilot familiar with Florida, the 35th would set for Port Royal in Jamaica, arriving there the first week of November, leaving five days later on the tenth.

30 November, the Regiment lands at Pensacola and begins to improve the defenses there.

1764

For the entirety of the year the 35th Regiment of Foot was employed in garrison duties, occasionally sending detachments to Mobile, Alabama, as well as up the Mississippi.

10 August, the Colonelcy of the regiment is conferred upon Colonel Henry Fletcher.

1765

18 July, orders are received detailing the replacement of the Pensacola garrison.

25 July, the Regiment sails for Mobile.

17 September, the 35th sails for England, by way of Havana, landing in Portsmouth on 2 December.


Sources

Castle, Ian, and Graham Turner. 2013. Fort William Henry, 1755-57 : A Battle, Two Sieges and Bloody Massacre. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.

Dunne, Kenneth. n.d. “The 35th Regiment of Foot and the British Artillery at the Siege of Fort William Henry and the Role of Lord Loudoun, James Campbell, August 1757.” Www.academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/30884306/The_35th_Regiment_of_Foot_and_the_British_Artillery_at_the_Siege_of_Fort_William_Henry_and_the_Role_of_Lord_Loudoun_James_Campbell_August_1757.

Franklin, Carl E. 2016. British Army Uniforms from 1751- 1783 : Including the Seven Years’ War and the American War of Independence : Including Both Cavalry and Infantry an Illustrated Guide to Uniforms, Facings and Lace. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military.

Hattendorf, John B. 2019. A Redcoat in America : The Diaries of Lieutenant William Bamford, 1757-1765 and 1776. Warwick, England: Helion & Company.

Hughes, Ben. 2014. The Siege of Fort William Henry : A Year on the Northeastern Frontier. Yardley: Westholme.

Trimen, Richard. 1873. An Historical Memoir of the 35th Royal Sussex Regiment of Foot. Compiled by Richard Trimen. Southampton: Southampton Times Newspaper.

“David Morier (1705?-70) – Grenadiers, 34th, 35th and 36th Regiments of Foot, 1751.” n.d. Www.rct.uk. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.rct.uk/collection/405591/grenadiers-34th-35th-and-36th-regiments-of-foot-1751.

“35th Regiment of Foot, 1757.” n.d. Www.wbritain.com. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.wbritain.com/product-store/35th-regiment-of-foot-1757.

“35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot | National Army Museum.” n.d. Www.nam.ac.uk. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/35th-royal-sussex-regiment-foot.