# Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Historical Introduction - section VIII

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Section VIII.
THE FRENCH REGIMENTS.
Before attempting a roll and chronicle of the regiments of French refugees in the English army, I quote the gallant and venerable Du Bostaquet’s list of officers of dragoons who joined the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Schomberg in Holland. It appears that before embarkation the Huguenot cavalry were provisionally enrolled in two regiments of blue and red dragoons.
The officers of “the Blues” [les bleus] were Colonel Petit, Captains Desmoulins, Petit, Maricourt, D’Escury, Montroy, Neufville, Vesansay, Montaut, and Bernaste; Lieutenants Quirant, Louvigny, Moncornet, Tournier, Le Blanc, D’Ours, Fontanes, Bernard, Senoche, Serre, and Rumigny; Cornets Martel, Dupuy, Larouvière, De Lamy, Lassaux, Salomon, Larouvière, La Bastide, De Bojeu, De Gaume, and Constnntin.
The officers of “the Reds” [les rouges] were Colonel Louvigny; Captains Bostaquet, La Grangerie, Passy, D’Olon, Vivens, Varenques, and La Guiminière; Lieutenants Boismolet, Mailleray, Clairvaux, Vilmisson, Ea Caterie, D’Ornan, and Rochebrune; Cornets Vasselot, Maillé, Maillé (brother), D’Olon, jun., Du Chesoy, Montpinson, and Ricard.
The French refugee officers and soldiers enlisted with all their hearts in the army of William and Mary; several effective regiments were formed. Some accounts, however, exaggerate the number. There was one regiment of cavalry, also one of dragoons, and three infantry regiments. These were disbanded at the Peace of ​Ryswick. They were re-organised in 1706-7 under different Colonels; and, as in those days each regiment was named after its Colonel, the mistake arose that these re-formed regiments were new and additional regiments. I begin by giving an account of the regiments as originally raised.
I. Schomberg’s Horse — afterwards Ruvigny’s (Earl of Galway’s).
Frederick, first Duke of Schomberg, raised this regiment in England. Dumont de Bostaquet gives a list of its officers, as raised in July 1689 (he omits their Christian names).
The Colonel-in-chief was the Duke. The field officers next to him were Colonel de Romaignac, Colonel de Louvigny, Major de La Bastide, Major le Chevalier de Sainte-Hermine. Each company had four officers in permanent full-pay, — a captain, lieutenant, cornet, and quarter-master. The full-pay officers in the Compagnie Colonelle were Captain d’Avene, Lieutenant Dallons, Cornet le Comte de Paulin, and Quartermaster Vilmisson. The other officers were styled officiers incorpores; they seemed to have received a good sum of money as bounty (un gratification) on being enrolled, but not to have drawn any pay except when on active duty. The names of the captains having the command of companies were D’Avène (or D’Avesnes), De Casaubon, De Belcastel, De la Fontan, De Moliens, De Cussy, De Tugny, and De Varengues. De Bostaquet was an older captain; but having come to us from the Dutch service, he was passed over in the distribution of commands. He says as to the above-named captains, “The officers coming direct from the service of France have been preferred to others, who had quitted her service at an earlier date. This occasions some jealousies and murmurs; but I try to rise above such vexations, as I left my country in quest, not of my fortune, but of liberty of conscience.” The other captains were regimental subalterns with the rank of captain in the army. They were Captains Darènes, Bernaste, Montault, La Roche, La Millière, De Maricourt, Brasselaye, Des Loires, La Coudrière, Valsery, De Hubac, La Fabreque, Vesian, Boncour (sen.), Vesancé, Petit, Des Moulins, Louvigny (jun.), Dolon, Questebrune, D’Antragues, Montargis, Bostaquet, La Grangerie, Saint-Tenac, De Passy, Hautcharmois, La Roquière, Boudon, Champaigné, De Saint-Cyr Soumain, De L’Isle, Monpas, Deppe, Jonquière, D’Escury, Vivens, Baron De Neufville, and Brugières.
The names of the lieutenants, cornets, and quartermasters on permanent full-pay were Lieutenants Dallons, Mazeres, De Salles, Coulombières, Le Cailletière (sen.), Maisonneuve, Braglet, and La Lande. Cornets, Le Comte de Paulin, Maleragues, D’Hours, Le Marquis de la Barre, Vervillon, Couterne, Bancelin and Dumay. Quartermasters, Vilmisson, Thomas, Verny, Lineau, Samson, Ricard, La Roque, and Chapelle.
The other officers were, Lieutenants Maillerays, Clervaux, Rochemont, Blanzac, Boudinot, Londigny, Des Ouches, La Bouchetière, De Lisle, Le Blanc, Tessonière, Lentillac, Duvivier, Pinsun, Dumarest, La Casterie, Boisribeau, Liverne, Mercier, Fontane, Rumigny, Pascal, La Bessède, Chabrières, Pineau, Frement, La Cloche, Moncornet, La Boissonnade, Du Buy, Deserre, Liscour, Boncour (jun.), Cailletière (jun.), Dalbey, Gourdonnel, Bernard, Sisolles, La Batie, Fontanie, Boismolet, Eschelberghe, Augeard, Rouse, Beraud du Pont, La Boulaye, Deschamps, La Brosse-Fortin, Cassel, Dornan, Tournier, La Serre, Chateauneuf, La Malquière, Guiraud, Rouvière, Lavit, Rozet du Causse, Solègre, and Tobie-Rossat. Cornets, Boisragon, Rochemont (sen.), Père de Fontenelles, Blanzac (jun.), Lizardière, Moncal, D’Ericq, Rivery, Lacour, Laserre, Gaubert, Duchesne, La Bastide Barbu, La Rouvière, La Coste, Dolon (jun.), Lubières, Dupuy, Loulin, Boncour (jun.), Lassau, Constantin (sen.), Feron [Teron?], Constantin (jun.), La Basoche, Soumain de Vallière, La Loubière, De Lamy, Grenier, Arabin de Barcelle, Le Roux, Duval, Duchessoy, Lameryes, Théron, La Roque, Beaujeu, Fongrave, Laume, Cambes, Du Lac, and La Balanderie.
From the MSS. in the British Museum, I extract the following list of Officers unable to proceed to Ireland on account of age or sickness:—
Captains — De Passy, Des Moulins, Dequestebrune, Dolon.
Lieutenants — De Boissonade, Du Vivier, Berau-Dupont.
Cornets — De la Bosoche, Beauleu.
Schomberg’s Regiment of Horse arrived in Ireland after the surrender of Carrickfergus, and proved itself to be an admirable corps. Some of the officers were victims of the sickly season at Dundalk. Captain De Brugière and Cornet Bancelin died in the camp. The Chevalier De Sainte- Hermine obtained sick leave, and went homeward, but did not get beyond Chester, where he died. Captain Brasselaye also sailed from the same cause, and died at Windsor. Lieutenant Maillerays was killed in a skirmish with King James’s outposts. Colonel De Louvigny died in winter quarters, as also did Captain La Grangerie, who served in De Moliens’ company along with Dumont de Bostaquet.
​At the Boyne Lieutenant-Colonel De Belcastel, who, at the time of the enrolment of the regiment, had the military rank of Major, and had been made captain of a company, commanded a squadron of cavalry; he made a brilliant charge, in which he was severely wounded; and he afterwards died of his wounds. Captain Montargis, of De Moliens’ company, was with Schomberg, and warned him against exposing himself so much. Captains D.’Avène and Montault and Cornet Vervillon were killed. Captain (Brevet Lt.-Col.) De Casaubon, Captains De Varengues, Hubac, Bernaste, Montault, and Des Loires, and other officers, were wounded.
At the Royal review on the 9th July (o.s.), the strength of the regiment was reported to be 395 men. They were next employed in the first siege of Limerick. A redoubt, which was a troublesome outwork, was taken with the co-operation of a detachment of the regiment, but almost every man was either killed or wounded, or his horse instead of him. Captains La Roche, Hautcharmois et La Roquière, were killed; Cornet Couterne, a very handsome man, was disabled by a wound, and his wounded horse having rolled over him and having died, he lay for three days and three nights on the ground; when he was relieved he could not rally, but died on the night of his removal to the camp.
Colonel de Romaignac (or Romagnac) retired from the army and became a settler in Ireland in 1692. He was a refugee from the Boulonnaise, and his family name was Chalant. He had a daughter married to Rev. John Darassus, refugee pasteur of Dublin. By a will dated Dublin, Dec. 1697, he left his fief of Romagnac and others in Burgundy to his grandson, Charles Peter Darassus.
The Marquis De Ruvigny, who was made Colonel of this regiment on the death of Schomberg, joined it in Ireland in the campaign of 1691. The Marquis commanded a division of the army as a Major-General, and we have already seen how, at the battle of Aughrim, he contributed to the great and decisive victory. Ruvigny’s Regiment here began to earn its celebrity; it was commanded at Aughrim by Lieutenant-Colonel De Casaubon, who did his duty nobly. It was in Lieutenant-General De Schravemor’s division. Victory was gained at the cost to Ruvigny’s of two captains, nine lieutenants, nine cornets, forty troopers, and twenty-six horses killed; and the following were wounded — two captains, one lieutenant, one cornet, and forty-five horses.
The Marquis De Ruvigny, after the pacification of Limerick, remained in Dublin as Commander of the Forces. He forwarded to the War Office in London the following petitions, dated 1692:—
Mainvilliers, who was sent as Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1689 to Londonderry, where he served, is paid at the rate of 15s. a day to the 1st of January last, prays some allowance from that time.
Rochemont, reformed cornet in the Duke of Schomberg’s regiment, who was sent over by his Grace with several others, unfit for service, to be paid in England, and being sick was omitted in the list, prays to be continued in pay.
Luttrell notes, under date 23d June 1692, “Yesterday Monsieur Ruvigny’s regiment (now Viscount Galway) of horse of French Protestants, drew up in Hyde Park, bravely accoutred, having tents by their horses’ side, and sixty horses carrying their equipage, and after marched through the city and are gone for Essex.” “July 5, yesterday Major-General Ruvigny’s regiment of horse embarked for Flanders.” The fact of their actual sailing is noted on the 19th. A correspondent at the seat of war mentions their arrival at King William’s camp on the 2d August. At the battle of Landen, in 1693, Galway’s regiment of horse was led by King William in person, and also by Lord Galway himself. The French regiments served in Holland and “on the Rhine” till the Peace of Ryswick, when they were reviewed before disbandment. I shall copy the lists from the originals in the British Museum.
“The Earl of Gallway’s Regiment of Horse passed review before Major-General Ramsay, 27th July 1698.
| | Trumpeters. | Troopers. |
| The Colonel’s Company, | 2 | 39 |
| Captain La Fabreque’s, | 2 | 39 |
| Captain La Millière’s, | 2 | 38 |
| Lieut-Colonel Verangle’s | 2 | 37 |
| Major Mazeres’, | 1 | 38 |
| Captain De Maupas’, | 1 | 37 |
| Colonel Daulmzargues’ | 2 | 40 |
| Captain de Changinan’s, | 2 | 37 |
| Captain De Bernatre’s, | 2 | 38 |
| | 16 | 343 |
Officers of the Staff.
My Lord Gallway, colonel. Daubussargues, second colonel. Yerangle, 'lieutenant-colonel'. Mazeres, major. La Sarra, chaplain. Rambaud, chirurgien. Moreau, agent.
Standing Officers.
Captains. — Earl of Gallway, Daubussargues, Verangle, Mazcres, Changuion, Bernatre, Maupas, La Fabrèque, Lamillière, La Bouchetière.
Lieutenants. — La Lande, Cambecrose, Pinsun, Salles, Maisonneuve, Colombier, Boisribeau, Dumay.
Cornets. — Francois Lubiéres, Louis Dollon, Yaudière, Gassaud, Dhours, Laroque, Plafay, La Caltiere, Milliere.
Quartermasters.— Saurin, Guyraudet, Mallié, Boyer, Farange, Amatis, Pineau, Chelar, Pellisier.
Reformed Officers.
Captains. — Décury (second major), Desloires, Goulain, Lyverne, Vesian, Rouviere, Fontaune, Cramahé, La Cailtière, La Coudrière, Louis Lamalquière, La Bessede, Chabrieres, Louvigny, Valcery, Clervaux, Guerin, Dallons [Dallory?]
Lieutenants. — Rousse, Isaac Maleray, Dutay, Chapel, St. Cristol, Nicolas, Comarques, Dalés, Drulhon, Thermin, Dimarette, Sijol, Duchesne, Gaubert, Constantin, Therond, Sigoniere, Moncornet, Dumarest, Duval, Constantin, La Rouviere, Ferron, Dornaut, La Roque, Le Blanc, Cambes.
Cornets. — Lasalles, Rigaudie, Jalaquier, De Forneaux, Brunei, Desiles, Dupuis, La Chapelle, Darguy, Dabadie, Dubay, Corbettes, Du Chesne, Savonet, Grangues, Bragnier, S$^{te}$ Maison, Delisle, Louis [Daniel?] Coulon, Dallory, jun.
Officers recommended for promotion on their retirement.
To be standing Captains. — Messrs. Dallons, Lamalquiere, Cramahé.
To be reformed Captains. — Messrs. La Roque, De la Lande, Maisonneuve, Colombier, Salles, D’Arabin, Dornant, Blancard, Du Therond.
To be Lieutenants. — Messrs. De Long Champ, Pineau, Castel, Chateauneuf, La Salles, Pineau, Chelar, Guyraudet, Saurin.
To be Cornets. — Moreau, Galland, Lafontan.
Persons of Note who had served as Privates. (Recommended for pensions on disbandment.)
Brigadiers. — Baltazar Farinel, Marc Rigaudie, Jean Fauché, Jean Hudat, Pierre Gallissian, Louis Raboteau. [Brigadiers were cavalry-sergeants, and eligible for promotion to the rank of Mareschal-des-logis, or quartermaster.]
Messieurs Caspar Pajeon, Louis Pujon, Timothée Lafitte, Jean Beauchamp, Jaques La Bruleray, Abraham Genevrau, Jean Du Chesne, Charles Denie, Jaques Marc, Abell Amabis, Pierre Pineau, Jaques Pineau, Isac Guymet, Benjamin Dumas, Denis Galibert, Pierre Quatrefages, Andre Bertrau, Etienne Jeanbon, Jean Dubuy, A. Bonefoy, L. Danyer, L. Goudeau, H. Salez, _____ Tonquet, A. Corbette, Gabriel Canasille, J. Dumafé, S. Nicolas, Alex. Milliere, _____ Dubose, H. Soignou, Chabot, Fagou, Lapalisle, Vialas.
The following is the substance of a petition forwarded to the government by Lord Galway in 1698:—
“Nicolas de Louvigny, captain in Galway's Horse, whose brother (colonel in the same regiment) died in active service, petitions for a pension. There are dependent on him a large family, his very aged mother-in-law, his wife, two children, and two female relations. He had charge of the regimental funds for the subsidence of the soldiers’ families and for pensions to officers’ widows and orphans, without a farthing’s remuneration, so that he fears he may be out of pocket.”
The senior half-pay officers in 1719 were Colonel Daubussargues and Lieutenant-Colonel Verangle. Its half-pay in 1719 amounted to £2265, and in 1722 to £2294.
Some of the officers came into notice in the reign of Queen Anne, viz., the Comte De Paulin, Messieurs Montargis, La Bouchetière, &c. De Bostaquet says that Cornet Du Teron became an audit lord; probably he held a responsible post in the Exchequer or Audit Office of Ireland. Lieutenant La Boulay became a proprietor ​in Carlow parish of ten acres, which in parochial assessments were called Captain Labully’s fields — granted by the Trustees of Forfeited Estates on June 17, 1703, to “Charles La Boulecy, of Carlow, gent.”
II. La Meloniere’s Foot.
The colonel of this regiment was Major-General de la Melonière. His regiment served in all the Irish campaigns. Captains Barbeau and De Sorman, and Lieut. De Millery were unable to proceed to Ireland. Its most celebrated officer was Captain St. Sauveur, of the grenadier company. In 1689 Colonel Russel, with some cavalry, Colonel Lloyd, with the Enniskilleners, and the refugee captain, were in Sligo. The two former drew off on the approach of General Sarsfield; but St. Sauveur carried some provisions into a fort, and held out. The nights being dark, he dipped some fir deals in tar, and by the light these gave when set on fire, he perceived the enemy advancing towards the fort with an engine called by the Irish a sow. This engine was rendered proof against musket-balls by a fourfold covering of hides and sheepskins; it consisted of strong timbers bound together with iron hoops, enclosing a hollow space. The back part was left open for besiegers to go in; the machine was fixed on an iron axle-tree, and was forced under the wall; then the men within opened a door in front. Captain St. Sauveur, by killing the engineer and one or two more, obliged the rest to retreat, and then he burned the sow. At break of day he forced the Irish to quit a small field- piece which they had planted in the street, and immediately afterwards sallied out and killed many of them. But his provisions were consumed, and there was no water in the fort. He therefore surrendered on honourable terms. As the intrepid Huguenots marched over the bridge, Sarsfield stood with a purse of gold in his hand, and offered every man of them who would engage in King James’ service five guineas, with a horse and arms. They all, however, except one, replied that they would never fight for Papists; and that one, deserting next day, with his gold, his arms, and his horse, got safely to Schomberg’s head-quarters. Captain St. Sauveur died of fever in Lisburn.
At the taking of Athlone, one of its captains, the Sieur de Blachon, was killed. From 1692 to 1698 the regiment was in active service abroad; (see my Memoir of the Duke of Leinster, third Duke of Schomberg). I pass on to the muster of the regiment in 1698.
Staff and Standing Officers.
Major-General La Melonière, colonel.
Lieutenant-Colonels. — Vimar (Colonel in the army). St. Auban.
Major. — La Balme.
Chaplain . — Bonnevall.
Adjutant. — Papot.
Surgeon. — Darquier.
Captains. — La Bastide, Brasselay, Vignoles, La Court, Moncant, Deperay, Desbrosses, Montigny, Rosset, Secqueville.
Lieutenants. — Bordenave, Fraisinet, Massilos, Coulon, Brunvilla [Brunville?], Beraud, Béderatt, Portall, La Motte Grindor, Bigos, Vignaud, Font Ronce (or Fonronce), Longchamp, Ferrand.
Ensigns. — Valada, jun.; Brizac, sen.; Guy de St. Auban, Baucours, Daugilbaud, Glatigny, Delpy, Guarapuy, Dufaux, sen.; Molie, La Melonière, sen.; La Claretiere.
Reformed Officers.
Old Captains. — Danteuill, Cresserau, St. Phillibert, Marechall, D’Lanus, St. Memin, La Motte Belleau, St. Hypolitte, La Commerie, La Sauvagie, La Rize, Ste. Jeme, Labatt.
Lieutenants. — La Coste, Dufaux, jun.; Puichenin, Castelverdun, Mercier, Pelat, Laporte, Papin, Valada, sen.; Daubon, Duglas, Villeneuve, La Lauze, Masse.
Ensigns. — Lafitte, Lafond, Brizac, jun.; Lamecourt, Motie, jun.; Dalbinque, Dapilly.
Officers from the Rhine.
Brigadier De Loches. Colonel La Valette. Lieutenant-Colonel Rintor. Major Dalbon.
Captains. — Bragars, Ruinat, Dussand, Alisieux, Dumeny, Beaulieu, Gassand, Laussan, De Lauze.
Lieutenants. — Bonnabel. Bafignac, Dupuy, Dassas, La Rivaliere.
Ensigns. — Duvivas, Descrs, Desamblards.
Officers recommended for promotion upon their retirement.
To be standing Captains. — Messrs. St. Philibert, La Commerie, La Rize, Fontronce.
To be reformed Captains. — Messrs. Bordenave, Fraisinet, Massilos, Coulon, Laporte, Mercier.
​To be standing Lieutenants. — Messrs. La Charetiere, Defaux, sen.; Delpy, Natalis.
To be reformed Lieutenants. — Messrs. Dufaux, jun.; Soubiron, Francis Claris.
To be standing Ensigns. — Messrs. Janisson, Joseph Gerard Depuichcain, Stephen M.
To be reformed Ensigns. — Messrs. Brasselay, Beaumour.
Persons of Note who had served as Privates. (Recommended for pensions on disbandment.)
Messieurs Peter Grindor, Charles Quinzac, Peter Barcus, David Bellegarde, James Dalterac, Isac Falquier, Peter Massot, Francis Granier, Peter Petat, John Granon, James Guyzot, John Duval, Peter Nicolas, Simon Martin, Joseph Danroche, Charles La Riviere, Dosseville.
The senior officers in 1719 (says Hiberniae Notitia) were Colonel Solomon de Loche and Brigadier and Colonel Vimare (or Veymar). Its half-pay in 1719 amounted to £1925, and in 1722 to £2182.
III. Cambon’s Foot — afterwards Marton’s (Earl of Lifford’s).
Colonel Cambon, or Du Cambon, received the colonelcy of one of the Huguenot foot regiments in 1689. He was also an Engineer; but in Ireland he was indisposed to do duty in that department, and displayed ill-temper and insubordination when the Duke of Schomberg projected some military engineering employment for him. The Duke then intimated to him that he had power to dispense with his services as Colonel of Infantry also. Goulon, reputed to be a great engineer, did not conduct himself well in Ireland; and he and Du Cambon were perpetually quarrelling. Schomberg privately reported to the King this distracting feud, as well as Du Cambon’s insubordination; but, if Dalrymple’s translation were right, Cambon would have been petrified on the spot on being dubbed with the ugly and incomprehensible designation, “a mathematical chicaner!” I believe the expression which Schomberg used meant only “a wrangler over his mathematics” — (chicanier sur ses mathematiques). Cambon profited by Schomberg’s hint and promptly returned to subordination and decorum: so that the very next day he was made Quarter-Master General.
The following officers had been unable to proceed to Ireland on account of age or sickness:— Lieutenants De la Chancellerie, De la Vonte Bemecour, Pegat, and Bourdin. Schomberg defended the colonel from the injurious accusation that his regiment had not 150 men. “I can assure your Majesty,” wrote Schomberg, 10th February 1690, “that though, since they came into winter quarters, many of Cambon’s regiment have died, yet 468 healthy men have survived, and a good recruit of 70 men, who were levied in Switzerland, arrived within these eight days.” One of the officers who died was Le Sieur de Maisonrouge, a captain. At the blockade of Charlemont this regiment and La Caillemotte’s did their duty well; and at the Battle of the Boyne both regiments were much exposed and fought with conspicuous bravery. Mr Story gives us a specimen of Cambon’s temper, though he seems to have overlooked the fact that the Colonel was also Quarter-Master-General. The time of the anecdote is the day after the victory of the Boyne, when the regiments were forming into a camp.
“Monsieur Cambon had almost set his own and my Lord Drogheda’s regiment by the ears, by ordering a detachment of his men to take away by force the grass from the rear of the other regiment. The matter came so high that both regiments were charging their pieces. But my Lord Drogheda ordered his men to their tents, and LieuL-General Douglas ordered Monsieur Cambon to desist from his pretensions. This might have been of dangerous consequence; and yet my Lord was so kind to Monsieur Cambon as not to acquaint the King with it.”
In 1691 Cambon is mentioned among the officers who advised the storming of Athlone. Samuel de Boisrond was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of Cambon’s, 12th September 1690 (he was at the head of the half-pay list in 1719 and 1722, with a pension of £219). At Aughrim this regiment lost one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, and ten soldiers; the wounded consisted of four captains, four lieutenants, four ensigns, and thirty-five soldiers. Luttrell has an entry, headed Deal, Feb. 1693 — “Colonel Cambon was petitioned against by his inferior officers for mismanagement, and stopping their pay, and the King has discharged him.” Poor Cambon seems to have been seized with fatal illness upon this sad catastrophe, and, as a mark of sympathy, the formal appointment of a successor was postponed during the remaining months of his life. This we infer from observing that Colonel Cambon died on August 9th, and that the date of the commission of the Comte de Marton ​as his successor, is August 10th, 1693. The roll of this Regiment, as at 4th February 1698, is preserved at Carrowdore Castle; the officers’ names were the following:—
| Colonel Frederick Guilhaume, Comte de Marton, | 10th Aug. 1693. |
| Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel de Boisrond, | 12th Sept. 1690. |
| Lieutenant-Colonel Francois de Montandre (acting), | 15th Feb. 1693. |
| Major Nicollas de La Cherois, | 1st Aug. 1694. |
| Aide-Major Jean Pepin, | 22d Nov. 1696. |
| Chaplain Jean Jeard, | 1st Aug. 1689. |
| Surgeon-Major Andrè Dupont, | 1st May 1693. |
| Captains Jeremie de Bancous, Paul de Gualy, Louis de Pelissier, Jacques La Rinbiliere, Constantin de Magny, Francois Cabrol, Gabriel de Malbois, _____ Marchais, Cosme de Miuret, _____ La Merze, | 1st Apr. 1689. |
| Captains Theophile La Cour Desbrisay, _____ Aubin, Isaac de L’Aigle, | 1st July 1689. |
| Captain Pierre de Brusse, | 1st Apr. 1690. |
| Captains Daniel de Virasel, Thomas de St. Leger, Alexandre du Loral, Joseph St. Gruy (or, St. Puy?), Paul de Jages, Jean Pepin, Jacob de Graveron, Jacques de Melher, | 25th June 1690. |
| Captains Delandes (9th Sept. 1690), Andre de Moncal (7th Oct. 1691), Guilhame de Poncet (1st Aug. 1694), Jacob de Graveron (29th June 1696). | |
| Lieutenant Daniel de Calvairac, | 18th Feb. 1689. |
| Lieutenants Jean Pepin, Jean La Bussade, Pierre de Combebrune, Isaac La Salle, Jean Vestien, Alcide de Menandue, Jean Charles de Tarrot, Girard de St. Pean | 1st Apr. 1689. |
| Lieutenant Jacques Foissac, | 1st Apr. 1690. |
| Lieutenants Louis de Rivals, Pierre de St. Felice, Daniel La Cherois, Joseph Durban, Louis de Passy, | 15th June 1690. |
| Lieutenants. — Isaac de Bancous (1st July 1691), Ephraim de Falaize (15th Aug. 1691), Dalbis (do.), Noel des Claux (1st Feb. 1693), Gabriel de la Motte (27th Apr. 1693), Jean de Faryon (31st May 1693), Renè de Lestablère (1st Oct. 1693), Dumas (1693-4?), Louis de la Viverie (1st Apr. 1694), Paul de la Billiere (20th Apr. 1696), Simon de Chabert (14th Aug. 1696). | |
| Ensigns. — Louis de Gineste, Francois Maury Desperon, Louis de Vigneul, Jean Francois de Chamard, Louis Royer de Paris, Jacques de la Misegle, Jean de la Galle, Estienne de Riols, | 1st Apr. 1689. |
| Ensigns — Jean Louis Nauranne (18th Aug. 1689), Jean de Boissobre (25th June 1690), Gilbert de Pages (4th Feb. 1691), Jacques du Crozat (7th July 1691), Samuel de Prades (20th July 1691), Daniel Joly de Aernac (25th Oct. 1693), Isaac De Prat (3d May 1693), Jean de Joye (1st Apr. 1694), Henri Domerque (Apr. 1694), Pierre La Pilliere (15th April 1695), Grançay. | |
| [Captain Brule, grenadiers.] | |
The Colonel, Comte de Marton, became Earl of Lifford in 1698, and his regiment has since been known as Lifford’s. In that year it was mustered for disbandment, and the following is the official list:—
The Earl of Lifford, Colonel. Samuel de Boisrond, Colonel. Francois, Marquis de Montandre, Colonel. Nicolas de la Cherois, Major. Chaplain. Jean Pepin, Adjutant. Du Pont, Surgeon.
Captains.— Jeremie de Bancous, Paul de Gualy, Louis de Pelissier, La Rimblière, Constantin de Magny, Theophile Desbrisay, Pierre De Bruse, Daniel de Virasel, Joseph de St Leger, Guillaume de Poncet.
Standing Lieutenants. — Graveron (captain-lieutenant), Calvairac, Lestablère, Pepin, La Sale, Vestien, La Vivarie, Bancous, La Beissade, Combebrune, Falaize, Mainandue, La Motte-Brocas, Deselaux.
Standing Ensigns. — Pagez, Paris, Geneste, Langars, Crozat, Vigneul, Fauranac, Chamar, Fernac, La Misseile.
Old reformed Captains. — Deslendes, Moncal, Minuet, Meslier, Dutaral, Marchais, La Merie, St Puy, Aubin, Cabrol, Delaigle, Malbois.
Old reformed Lieutenants. — Farjout, Durban, Terrot, Chaber, St. Phelix, Rivals, St. Pau, Dumas, Foissac, La Cherois, Passy, Labillere, Dalby.
Old reformed Ensigns. — La Sale, Duprat, Domerque, De Joye, Navez, Dune, Beausobre, Grancé, Radez.
​Reformed Officers come from the Rhine. — Sibourg, lieutenant-colonel; Traport, 'major'; Brugière, 'major'.
Captains. — Laiger, Dupare, Terrot. 'jun'., Desmarest, La Baure, St. Maurice, Dagos, La Coste.
Lieutenants — Martel, Chipro, St. Martin, Lautal.
Ensigns. — Senegas, De Guillin, Sautel, La Rouliere.
Officers recommended for promotion on their retirement.
To be Captains. — Messrs Pepin, Graveron, La Salle, Vesthien, Bouniot.
To be Lieutenants. — Messrs La Salle, Jernac.
To be Ensigns. — Messrs Le Blanc, Fourblanche, Orignac.
Persons of Note who had served as Privates. (Recommended for pensions on disbandment).
Messieurs St. Meard, Duliguier, Jerson, Royal, Bonneval, Degout, Gobert, Fauchier, Rouvien, Langlade, Chatine, sen., Chatine, jun., Riquet, Desperron, Serriere, Pechels, Lavergue, Mimet.
The half-pay of this regiment amounted in 1719 to £1483, and in 1722 to £1925.
4. La Caillemotte’s Foot— afterwards Belcastel’s.
La Caillemotte, younger son of the old Marquis de Ruvigny, was the first colonel of this regiment; and his valiant services in Ireland were done at its head. Of its officers Major De Lavard was killed in 1690 in a skirmish before Charlemont. Captain Dumont, brother of the Sieur Desmahis, De Bostaquet’s relation, died avec une très grand resignation at Lurgan; “Le Squire Bromelay,” described as the lord of the soil, granted him a grave, on the payment of eight shillings for the minister and the poor of the parish. The Colonel was killed at the Boyne. His successor was Pierre Belcastel, a brave soldier and an able officer. In 1691 his regiment lost at Athlone Captains Duprey de Grassy and Monnier, and Lieutenants Madaillon and La Ville Dieu; and at Aughrim its wounded consisted of the colonel, the lieutenant-colonel, 9 captains, 6 lieutenants, 5 ensigns, and 54 privates, while 1 lieutenant and 21 privates were killed. Among the Petitions forwarded through the Marquis de Ruvigny to the king in 1692 are the following:—
René de la Faueille, captain in Belcastel’s regiment, was wounded at the Boyne, and again at Limerick — is also come over for his cure, but wants money — prays his arrears.
De la Pois, another captain in the same regiment, and under the same circumstances, prays his arrears.
The petition from Lieutenant Friard makes a favourable impression, at least as to his good taste in attempting to coin a more elegant noun than refugee, as descriptive of himself and his countrymen in Britain. I extract part of it.
“1692. To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.
“The humble Petition of Charles Friard a French Refugient and late Lieutenant in the Sieur de Rochefort’s, in your Majesty’s Regiment of Foot, under the Command of Monsieur De Belcastel.
“Had served under His Majesty in Holland, and attended him in his voyage to England. Had served in Belcastel’s Foot as lieutenant at the Battle of the Boyne, and before ‘Lymrick.’ Had leave to retire from the service on account of old age.” (Petitions to be continued in pay.)
The following was the muster in 1698:—
Staff and Standing Officers.
Brigadier Belcastel, colonel.
De Monteye, lieutenant-colonel.
De Gastine, major.
Bouniol, chaplain.
Dalbenes, adjutant.
Mazuell, surgeon.
Captains. — Gedeon de la Maria, Anthonius de la Maria, James de Blanzac, Celeriez, Francis de Bourzolles, Tharot, La Meynerie, Pontereau, Bourdigues, La Bastide-Delon, Dupuy.
'Lieutenants'. — St. Martin, Cariez, Simond, Dubuc, Lalande, jun., Girard, Balguerie, Dalmas, Clavier, Petit-Desetangs, Colombiers, Laverniere, Bernay, Saubergue.
Ensigns. — Surville, De Vese, Grandry, Deprez, Pasturell, Bousson, La Tour, Celeriez, jun., La Terrasse, Daugé, Beaufort, Pinchinet.
Reformed Officers.
Captains. — Dalbenas, Darres, Duchesnoy, Fontalba, La Fortelle, Vaury, St. Gabriel, Rossières, Machainville, La Brissoniere, La Lande, sen., Tersson, Brassard.
Lieutenants. — Bermont, La Valette, De Bette, Duhommct, Estannie, Desperandieu, Vernoux, Rossiller, Brian, La Touche, Lagrois, Lavernede, Laferrière, Lacoste.
Ensigns — Senegas, De Lorme, La Boissieré, Nissole, Salvaire, Bonniface.
Officers from the Rhine.
Blosset, lieutenant-colonel; Guirand, lieutenant-colonel; Fonjuliane, major.
Captains. — Faviere, Valogne, Labatie, Dubarry, Lasnauzes, La Colombine, Coursell, Foissac.
Lieutenants. — Melon, Bernonville, La Negrie.
Ensigns. — Compagn, Lugandy, Fabre, Tersson, jun.
Officers recommended for promotion upon their retirement.
To be standing captains. — Messrs. Dufaux-La Motte, Dalbenas, Dampierre, St. Martin.
To be reformed captains. — Messrs. La Lande, jun., Dubuc, Laverniere, Petit-Desetange, Dandouin, Despierre, Janssen-de-Tudebeuf.
To be standing lieutenants. — Messrs. La Coste, De Vesc, Daugé, Surville, Deprez.
To be a reformed lieut. — Pinchinat.
To be reformed ensigns. — Messrs. Valotte, sen., Marescall, Beaucorps, Gaillard, Daubusargue, Gignoux, Longuevergne, Décurie, Chateauvieux, David Ducasse, Vaquez, sen., Vaquez, jun.
Persons of Note who had served as Privates. (Recommended for pensions on disbandment).
Messieurs La Miliere, sen., La Miliere, jun., Valotte, sen., Clavier, jun., Verdier, Lagarde, La Bastide-Delon, jun., Willmesson, sen., Willmesson, jun., Sance Champfleury, Cercler, Hubert, Geneste Beaufort, La Croix, Hillaire, La Roque, Bernard.
The half-pay of the officers of Belcastel’s amounted in 1719 to £857, and in 1722 to £999.
*∗* Official Summary. — The Three French Infantry Regiments passed review before Major-General Ramsey at Ostend, 14th August 1698.
Major-General La Melonière’s. :
| | Sergeants. | Drummers. | Sentinels. |
| Grenadiers — Captain La Bastile’s Company | 3 | 1 | 29 |
| Colonel’s Company | 2 | 0 | 32 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel’s | 2 | 1 | 37 |
| Captain Brasley’s | 2 | 1 | 36 |
| Captain Vignoles’ | 3 | 1 | 27 |
| Captain Montignie’s | 3 | 1 | 27 |
| Captain Le Court’s | 1 | 1 | 30 |
| Captain Sellesville’s | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| Captain Montaut’s | 2 | 1 | 22 |
| Captain De Bross’s | 3 | 1 | 29 |
| Captain Brussett’s | 3 | 1 | 30 |
| Captain Vymar’s | 2 | 1 | 26 |
| Captain Du Pery’s | 3 | 0 | 31 |
| | 31 | 10 | 392 |
| Comte Marlon’s ||||
| Company of Grenadiers | 2 | 1 | 22 |
| Colonel’s Company | 2 | 1 | 21 |
| Marquis Montandre’s | 2 | 1 | 30 |
| Captain Gellie’s | 2 | 1 | 31 |
| Captain Rumbellier’s | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| Captain Du Brisay’s | 2 | 1 | 22 |
| Captain Du Leger’s | 2 | 1 | 33 |
| Captain De Poniett’s | 2 | 0 | 28 |
| Captain Villasell’s | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| Captain Mauye’s | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| Captain Sallessers’ | 2 | 1 | 30 |
| Captain Bancous’ | 2 | 1 | 27 |
| Lieutenant Colonel’s | 2 | 1 | 33 |
| | 26 | 11 | 344 ​ |
| Belcastel’s. ||||
| | Sergeants. | Drummers. | Sentinels. |
| Company of Grenadiers | 3 | 1 | 22 |
| Colonel’s Company | 3 | 1 | 29 |
| Captain Le Maria’s (sen.) | 2 | 1 | 27 |
| Captain Sellerie’s | 3 | 1 | 26 |
| Captain Le Maria’s (jun.) | 2 | 1 | 35 |
| Captain Montainiace’s | 1 | 1 | 23 |
| Captain Tarrott’s | 2 | 1 | 21 |
| Captan le Menery’s | 2 | 1 | 31 |
| Captain Pontero’s | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| Captain Bourdigoe’s | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| Captain La Bastile’s | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| Captain Du Puy’s | 2 | 1 | 20 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel’s | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| | 27 | 13 | 328 |
The above lists of infantry contain Frenchmen only. The whole strength of the regiments may be stated thus:—
| | French. | English. | Scotts. | Irish. | Total. |
| La Melonière’s | 433 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 438 |
| Marton’s | 381 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 404 |
| Belcastel’s | 368 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 398 |
| | 1182 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 1240 |
List of the French Officers who were broken out of the Scotch regiments.
| Captains. — Jaques Dandoins, La Benne, La Tour, Gignoux, Bacalan, Despierre, Sixte, Milon | 3s. | per day. |
| Lieutenants. — Claris, La Moriniere, Du Ry, Aymery | 2s. | ,, |
| Ensign. — Campage | 1s. 6d. | ,, |
Note as to the year 1692.
The king having granted £300 to be distributed among French officers by the Marquis de Ruvigny, major-general commanding the forces in Ireland, the following two lists were drawn up by the major-general in his own handwriting, signed,
Ruvigny.
1. Officers from Ireland about to return. — Captains de St. Maison, De Binestan. Lieutenants. — De St. Sauveur, Cotereau. Sub-Lieutenants. — Binyon, Payre, Bausobre, Lalegre.
2. Officers from France. — Captains De Crusel, De la Barthe, Du Joysel, De Madiane, Du Chesnoy, Moynier, D’Albenas, Darreau, Tremoulet, Cosautier. Lieutenants Massé, Daldebert, Jourdan, Bourdenane, Du Faget, Du Pont de Lard.
Note as to the year 1699.
On 24th Nov. 1699 the Earl of Albemarle intimated to the Earl of Galway that Mr. de St. Maurie Monbrison was to succeed to the pension originally granted to his deceased brother.
5. Miremont’s Dragoons.
Armand de Bourbon, Marquis de Miremont, raised a regiment of horse in the English army under King James II., when his uncle, the Earl of Fevcrsham, was commander-in-chief. This was at the end of that reign. And this regiment, as the Marques de Miremont’s Horse, was recognised by the Prince of Orange, and had quarters assigned to it. I cannot find the date of his receiving the command of the French Refugee Dragoons. As we proceed, the reader will perceive an apparent indication that the French corps was originally under the command of a Colonel Karthazar, and that he was succeeded by the Marquis de Miremont Miremont’s Horse was probably soon disbanded, as King James seems to have left behind him an unnecessarily large squadron of heavy cavalry. Miremont’s Dragoons was in existence on 31st. Dec. 1695, as appears from the registration of the marriage of Captain Addée. And at all events it was a French regiment at the date of the peace of Ryswick, and was disbanded with the others.
​”The Marquis de Miremont’s dragoons passed review at Bruges, 15th August 1698:—
| | Sergeants. | Drummers. | Sentinels. |
| Colonel’s Company | 2 | 1 | 32 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel’s | 2 | 1 | 233 |
| Captain Tanquitt’s | 2 | 2 | 234 |
| Captain Addée’s | 2 | 2 | 32 |
| Captain Minault’s | 2 | 2 | 27 |
| Captain Brivaque’s | 2 | 2 | 33 |
| Major’s Company | 2 | 2 | 40 |
| Compte Movie’s | 2 | 2 | 36 |
| | 16 | 14 | 267” |
Staff.
Armand de Miremont, colonel. Jean de Sayary, lieut.-colonel. Charles Couteaud, major. Francois Durand, chaplain. Pierre Batigne, agent. Philippe St. Sevin, chirurgien. Pierre Aurelle, ajudant.
Capitaines.
Jaques de Lestauquette. Francois Menival. Louis Boisragon. Daniel Addée. William Maurice.
Lieutenants.
Estienne Degulhon (brevet captain.) Captain-Lieutenant Pierre Chalamel. Captain-Lieutenant Pierre Le Clercq. Captain-Lieutenant Pierre Monfort. Pierre Du Fossat. Joseph Davessen. Samuel Dussoul. Jean Monledier.
Cornettes.
Marc Anthoine De Mezerac. Frederic Anthoine Haebreitt. Pierre de Senegas. Reboul de Lonpré. Abel de Castelfranc. Josué Dufaye. Estienne Petitot. Jaques Limarest. Dupon (nouvellement arrivé de France ou il etoit cornet le de dragons; il est frère de Mr. de Brugierè, qui estoit Major en Piemont et sur le Rhin).
Quartermasters.
Pierre Ribot. Pierre Guichcnon. Jaques Michel. Jaques Pontbisson. Pierre Armand. Olivier Malherbe. Jean Boueherie. Jean Cailhot.
Cadets.
Jean Clausade. Francois Degulhon. Jean Lagrave. Pierre Layard. David Masuer. Gedeon de Castelfranc (succeeded Haebreitt as cornet). Philipe Duval. Louis Duval. Frederic Dumeny. Louis de St. Loup. Suzar Thomas. Jean Gerbés. Jean Bertrand.
There is a petition to the King from Charles Coutaud, Major of Dragoons in Barthazar’s, afterwards Miremont’s, praying to be allowed to join his wife and three children at Morges, in Switzerland, without forfeiting his pension, he promising to obey his Majesty’s summons to active service at any time, which summons could be sent through the Ambassador at Berne or through the Marquis d’Arzilliers, resident at Geneva. The petitioner represents that his brother, along with his wife, was executed during the persecutions in France, leaving three orphan children adopted by the petitioner and dependent upon him.
The senior officer of Miremont’s Dragoons on half-pay in 1719 was Lieutenant-Colonel John de Savary. Its half-pay in that year amounted to £605, and in 1722 to £597.
6. Observations on the Huguenot Soldiers as a Body.
These five regiments represent the bulk of the French military refugees. They were disbanded in 1699; but in the wars of Queen Anne they reappeared under new colonels, reinforced by subalterns of a younger generation.
​An English list spells the names of the regiments thus:— Lord Galloway’s, Mormon’s, Martoon’s, Lamellioneer’s, and Belcastle’s.
Hiberniae Notitia calls them Gallway’s, Moliniere’s, Lifford’s, Bellcastle’s, and Miremont’s.
In 1689, died at Dundalk, Monsieur Bonel, son of Fresné-Cantbrun of Caen, by his wife, a daughter of Secretary Cognart In 1690, at the siege of Limerick, the first sortie was repulsed, but it left the Marquis de Cagny mortally wounded; his name was Gedeon-Mesnage, and he was the son of Louis, Sieur dc Cagny, and Marie de Barberie de Saint-Contest; he had married a daughter of a distinguished physician, Francois de Mouginot, and had been, with his father-in-law, imprisoned for two years in the Bastile and in the Castle of Angers; in 1688 he was banished, and he retired to Holland; he died with great constancy and resignation, having often said that he had no wish to survive the Duke of Schomberg; the Marquis de Cagny’s death was deeply regretted by the whole army. At the last assault on Limerick in 1690, Monsieur Martel, grandson of the Baron de Saint-Just, was killed just as he had entered the breach and was shouting Ville gagnée; at the same time were wounded Colonel Belcastel, and Messrs. Bruneval and La Motte Fremontier: the French infantry officers were in the van, and commanded by the Sieur de la Barbé; the English grenadiers were commanded by Le Bourgay, who was taken prisoner. At the same siege was killed Lieutenant Maurice de Vignolles of Belcastel’s, a grandson of Vignolles de Montredon and Claude de Belcastel, his wife.
Old Schomberg wrote from Dundalk, 12th October 1689: “When we arrived [in Ireland], I had not more than 6000 men, no equipages, and the officers of the army not one horse. I was happy that the troops found horses to buy; these did not answer our necessities. Among those who took some horses there are Frenchmen; and, I believe, people are very glad in the letters that they write from hence to lay the blame upon them. I do not take a side either way. Others can inform Your Majesty that the three regiments of French infantry, and their regiment of cavalry, do their duty better than the others.”
Two hundred and fifty Papists had contrived to enrol themselves in those regiments; but a conspiracy having been discovered at Dundalk to promote desertion, they were detected and cashiered. Their ringleader, Captain Du Plessis, and five of the traitors, were tried and executed. The rest were sent prisoners to England, and transported thence to Holland, where they were set at liberty.
It was not from dread of Popery in disguise that the refugee officers were unpopular with some politicians, for the good haters of Protestant strangers were ardent lovers of foreigners, if they were Romanists and Anti-Williamites. It was the French refugees’ honest and immutable attachment to King William that led to the ultimately successful proposal to disband their regiments. And a new stroke of vindictiveness was attempted in 1701 by the Earl of Rochester, the Semi-Jacobite Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland:—
“That which gave the greatest disgust in his administration there,” says Burnet, “was his usage of the reduced officers who were on half-pay, a fund being settled for that by Act of Parliament, and they being ordered to live in Ireland, and to be ready for service there. The Earl of Rochester called them before him, and required them to express under their hands their readiness to go and serve in the West Indies. They did not comply with this; so he set them a day for their final answer, and threatened that they should have no more appointments if they stood out beyond that time. This was represented to the King as a great hardship put on them, and as done on design to leave Ireland destitute of the service that might be done by so many gallant officers, who were all known to be well affected to the present government So the king ordered a stop to be put to it.” (II. 291).
These officers did afterwards tender their services for an expedition to the West Indies to be commanded by the Earl of Peterborough. Some progress had been made in organising a regiment before the withdrawal of that Earl’s commission.
The best account of the granting and withdrawing of Lord Peterborough’s commission to command an expedition to the West Indies may be found in John Locke’s Correspondence. My authority for stating that Huguenot refugee soldiers offered their services to his Lordship, is the following paragraph in a pamphlet, entitled, “The Lawfulness, Glory, and Advantage of giving immediate and effectual relief to the Protestants in the Cevennes”:—
“If Her Majesty can spare none of Her English Forces, there are above 300 French Protestant officers, near half of which are natives of Languedoc, in Her Majesty’s half-pay upon the Irish establishment, who are weary of being idle whilst others are employed abroad in the service of Her Majesty and the nation: and who, if they were encouraged, would undertake ​to raise 6000 Frenchmen, in a month’s time, for the relief of the Cevennes. This I know from the mouth of several of them; and (to persuade such as might question it) I need but mention with what alacrity, diligence, and success, two French Captains in half-pay raised above 100 French dragoons to serve under the Earl of Peterborough in his (then) intended expedition to the West Indies; for the truth of which I appeal to that noble and illustrious Peer.”
The following paper (reprinted from a copy in the possession of the Lefroys of Itchel), proves that the half-pay of the Refugee Officers was paid most irregularly.
The Case of the Officers of the Three French Regiments of Foot commanded by Major-General Lamelloniere, Brigadier-General de Bellcastel, and the Right- Hon. the Lord Lifford, relating to the arrears of pay due to them since the time they were put on the English establishment to the first of May 1699.
That the Parliament in 1698 allowed £34,813, 5s. out of £800,000 granted to his late Majesty for disbanding the army and other necessary occasions, to clear the arrears of pay due to the Lord Gallway’s Regiment of Horse, Major-General Lamelloniere, Lord Lifford, and Brigadier-General de Bellcastel’s Regiment of Foot, then in Ireland, for the time they served there during the war, and until they were put under the care of the Paymaster of the Forces in England.
That although the Lord Coningsby received the said £34,813, 5s. for the purposes aforesaid, yet he paid the said Colonels no more than what would disband the officers present, notwithstanding the account of the absent, as well as those present, were stated to the 1st of May 1699.
That the parties who were absent applied themselves to the Government of Ireland in the year 1700, and by them were referred to the Lord Coningsby, at which time he required them to prove that they were the same persons who had served in those Regiments, or the representatives of them, which they did very fully make appear. That instead of being paid their demands, his Lordship was pleased to tell them, " he had sent their account into England, and that they must apply to the Treasurer there, he not having money in his hands to pay them."
That afterwards the said parties applied themselves to the Treasury in England who referred their petition to the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue in Ireland, to state an account of what was due to every particular Officer, which was done accordingly; a copy whereof was delivered to the Lord Coningsby who did not object to the same.
The same French officers, in the year 1701, in hopes of obtaining what was due to them, presented several petitions to the Lords of the Treasury in England, which were referred to the Lord Coningsby.
The said officers having had no success by their former applications, they again petitioned the Lords of the Treasury; upon which, the Lord Coningsby thought fit, that once more they should prove their several demands; and on the 27th of May 1702 they proved the same accordingly by the accounts and certificates of the Colonels and agents, as they had been stated by the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland, which were examined and found right with his Lordship’s register book by Mr. Pauncefort his Secretary, who then delivered part of the said accounts and certificates to the said officers, but has ever since kept the rest, delaying to deliver the same although he has been earnestly desired to do it.
In the year 1703 the said officers again presented several petitions to the Lord Treasurer, who was pleased thereupon to order the Lord Coningsby to pay twenty-six of the said officers only, whose debts amounted to about £1100 sterling, as appeared by the schedule delivered in to the Treasury. But of these twenty-six officers only one has been paid; the others have continued to entreat the same, though without any success.
Whereupon the said officers have humbly petitioned the Honourable House of Commons for redress, and humbly beg they will be pleased to order the said Mr. Pauncefort to deliver to the petitioners their original account and certificates which he detains, humbly presuming they will be very necessary to prove the justice of their demands; and that your Honours will be pleased to order the Lord Coningsby to lay before this Honourable House an account of what moneys he has received for, and paid to, the said Three French Regiments, that the petitioners may know where to apply themselves for the said arrears; and to afford them such relief, as to your Honours’ justice and goodness shall seem meet.
7. Officers who Served in Piedmont.
Ruvigny, Earl of Galway (then Viscount Galway) had from 1693 to 1696 a regiment, known as Lord Galway’s Regiment in Piedmont. Jacques Saurin (born Jan. 1677, died Dec. 1730), the celebrated pulpit orator, was a student in Geneva about the time of Galway’s appointment to his command in Piedmont. The young refugee scholar, though he had dedicated his life to the use of the spiritual sword, was determined to have one rap at the French dragoons with carnal weapons. ​He accordingly served as a subaltern in the above-named regiment, and when the peace had been arranged, he returned to his studies.
One of the officers in the service of Britain, killed at Piedmont, was Monsieur Brutel de la Rivière, son of Noble Gedeon Brutel de la Rivière, and Demoiselle D’Audemar, his wife, residents in Montpellier (the father became a refugee in Lausanne), and brother of the Pasteur Jean Brutel de la Rivière, refugee in Holland.
Cornet Vilas, of Galway’s Regiment, son of a medical practitioner in Saint Hypolite, was a prominent agent in a plot to surprise Nismes and Montpellicr, and to carry off, to the Anglo-Dutch fleet, Basville, the Duke of Berwick, and other officers of the highest rank, along with the judges and bishops of the two towns — Basville to be executed, the rest to be detained as hostages. The conspiracy failed. Vilas was broken on the wheel, and died with the greatest fortitude, 23rd April 1705. A storm that dispersed the fleet was the immediate occasion of the failure. Two French refugee officers, who were shipwrecked, fell into the hands of their great enemy; Pierre Martin, captain in the English service, was hanged, and Charles de Goulaine, holding a Dutch commission, was beheaded. The expedition had been organised by Major-General Belcastel.
In 1740 Captain Lacan, late of Lord Galway’s regiment of foot in Piedmont, gave information of some Jacobite plots prepared in Holland by Sir George Maxwell, Captain Levingston, and others.
Officers from Piedmont, whose names a committee had struck out of the Irish Establishment, were reinstated in their half-pay to the amount of £1012, by the King’s letter, dated 12th August 1718.
8. Lord Rivers’ Brigade.
The refugee officers were offered congenial employment. Britain and Holland planned a descent upon France in 1706, the Earl of Rivers to command in chief. The Protestants in France were to be invited to rise, and to furnish the principal strength of six regiments, the frame-work of which was to be manned by the refugees. A translation of Lord Rivers’ preamble to his proposed manifesto shows the spirit of the undertaking:—
“Whereas (as is known to everybody) there has, for several years past, appeared in the management of the councils of France an ambitious and restless spirit which has manifested itself by the most outrageous violences against her neighbours without the least provocation on their side; and treaties of peace which had been sworn in the most solemn manner, have been violated with design to usurp a universal monarchy in Europe, the French king being first made absolute master at home: Whereas, in the accomplishment of this design the liberties and privileges of the French nation have been totally overthrown, the ancient rights of the States-General, Parliaments, and Courts of Judicature have been suppressed, the immunities of provinces, cities, towns, clergy, princes, nobility, and people have been abolished, and a great number of innocent persons have been sent to the galleys, or reduced to the hard necessity of abandoning their country, and seeking sanctuary elsewhere: And whereas, in the train of all these violences at home, use has been made of the sunk subjects of France to carry like desolation into other countries, Therefore, the Queen of Great Britain, the Lords of the States-General, Sec, &c, were obliged to enter into engagements for the preservation of their own dominions, and for stopping the encroachments of so encroaching and so dreadful a Potentate.”
The project is thus described: —
“Because the High Allies ardently wish, that the French who at present are reduced to the extremest misery, may not henceforward serve as instruments in enslaving both their countrymen and their neighbours, but may reap the opposite fruit and advantage, Her Britannic Majesty and the States-General have sent a considerable military force and a strong fleet to put arms into their hands . . . to restore the States-General, the Parliaments of France and the ancient rights of all cities, provinces, clergy, princes, nobility, and people, and to secure for those of the Reformed Religion the enjoyment of the privileges stipulated by the Edict of Nantes.” The manifesto was dated London, 25th July 1706.
The six regiments raised in Britain were to form a Brigade, and to have as Colonels, the Earl of Lifford, the Comte de Paulin, Count Francis of Nassau (youngest son of Monsieur Auverquerque), Colonel Sibourg, Colonel Montargis, and Colonel de la Barthe. On its being announced that the Marquis de Guiscard was to command this Huguenot Brigade, Lifford, Paulin, and Montargis declined to serve, and were succeeded by Brigadier Josias Vimare (or Veymar), Colonel Fonsjuliane, ​and Colonel Blosset. I copy from a contemporary printed list the names which formed the skeletons of six regiments:—
1. Colonel Josias Vimare, Brigadier. :
| Lieut.-Col. Jeremiah Bancous, | Major Peter Bruse, |
| Rev. Peter Le Seure, Chaplain. |||
| 2. Colonel Louis Fontjuliane, |||
| Lieut.-Col. John Trapaud, | Major Anthoine La Maria, |
| Rev. Charles La Roche, Chaplain. |||
| 3. Colonel Paul Blossett, |||
| Lieut.-Col. Pierre De Puy, | Major Paul Gualy, |
| Rev. John Rogue, Chaplain. |||
| 4. Colonel Frederick Sibourg, |||
| Lieut.-Col. Balthazar D’Albon, | Major Francis Vignoles. |
| Rev. Bernard Richon, Chaplain. |||
| 5. Colonel Count Francis de Nassau d’Auverquerque, |||
| Lieut.-Col. La Bastide, | Major Constantine Magny, |
| Rev. John Majon, Chaplain. |||
| 6. Colonel John Thomas La Barthe, |||
| Lieut.-Col. John Brasselay, | Major Gideon La Maria, |
| Rev. Isaac l’Escott, Chaplain. |||
The descent upon France was not made. Unfavourable winds prevented the junction of the English and Dutch fleets in sufficient time, and the project was abandoned. But for the reinforcements required for Spain, one dragoon regiment commanded by Count Nassau, and two of infantry under Colonels Sibourg and Blosset, were fully equipped and sent out.
As to Nassau’s Dragoons, we know only the names of officers included among the casualties of the battle of Almanza (1707).
The killed were Captain De Coursel, Lieutenants Ripere and Nollett; wounded prisoners, Major Labatie, Captain Desodes, Lieutenants Sellaries, Rocheblave, Verdchamp, and Du Fau: other prisoners, Captains De Barry, St Maurice, Gignous [Query, Gignoux], Beaufort, and La Ravaliere; Lieutenants Santillie, Compan, Osmond, Lestry, Lostall, and Lescure. [Blosset’s and Sibourg’s were not present at that Battle, but were in garrison at Alicant.]
Of Blosset’s Foot, as finally enrolled, no officer’s name is preserved, except the colonel’s. His descendants seem to have held landed property in the county of Dublin. Towards the end of last century, Miss Blosset [“descended from an ancient French family long settled in Touraine, who, being expatriated at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and seeking an asylum in Ireland, settled in the county of Dublin, where the family estates lie”], married Rev. Dr Henry Peckwell, Chaplain to the Marchioness of Lothian, and Rector of Bloxham-cum-Digby, who died 18th August 1787, aged 40. Mrs Peckwell survived till 28th Nov. 1816. Her only son was the late Sir Robert Henry Peckwell, knight, and her only daughter was Selina Mary, wife of George Grote, sen., and mother of the historian, George Grote, formerly M.P. for the city of London. Sir Robert (who died unmarried in 1828), assumed the name of Blosset, and had for many years a highly respectable forensic reputation as Mr Sergeant Blosset, author of “Reports of Cases on Controverted Elections,” 2 vols., 1804. “He was afterward Lord Chief-Justice of Bengal, where he afforded his countenance in the support and encouragement of Christian missionaries” (See “Lady Huntingdon’s Life and Times," vol. ii., page 200). [Major Paul de Gualy reappears with higher rank.]
Sibourg’s Foot were quartered in Alicant during the memorable siege. The garrison of the Castle of Alicant was besieged by the French and Spaniards in 1708, and held out all winter. The enemy undermined part of the fortress and gave warning to the garrison, that, if afraid, they might surrender; and two British engineers were allowed to come out and examine the mine. On their report a council of war resolved to hold out still. The enemy then sprang the mine, and, as far as the demolition of the castle was concerned, it proved a failure. But Major-General Richards and Colonel Sibourg, out of curiosity, had approached too near, ​and other officers followed them to avoid the imputation of fear. The consequence was that they were blown up and buried in the ruins of the one bastion that was hurt. Thus died, on March 4, 1709, Colonel Sibourg, Major Vignolles, and above thirty officers and soldiers. The senior surviving officer, Lieut.-Colonel D’Albon, continued to hold out till the 18th April, when a capitulation was agreed to; the garrison marched out with two pieces of cannon and every mark of honour, and were conveyed by the British fleet to Minorca.
“A Person of Honour” (1740), in his history of the two last wars, gives some additional particulars on the authority of the enemies’ engineer and of Colonel Sibourg’s “gentleman;” the following is a summary:—
The French general having invited the officers to inspect the mine, Colonel Thornicroft and Captain Page, a Huguenot engineer, went; and on their return they reported to the garrison that the mine was a sham. On the morning fixed for the explosion, the enemy again gave warning, and the country people, who also received notice, went to the surrounding heights to look on from a safe distance. Sitting over their wine the night before, every one observed that General Richards was tormented by a great fly, which was perpetually buzzing about his ears and head, and that he appeared to be gloomy, thinking this annoyance a bad omen. In the morning a large party of officers went upon the doomed battery, and the General hurried to get off; but Colonel Sibourg jocularly said that they would go off without loss of time, but that they must first drink Queen Anne’s health where they stood; and he sent his “gentleman” for two bottles of wine. The “gentleman,” returning with the bottles, observed Captain Daniel Weaver, shouting that he would drink the Queen’s health with them, leap upon the battery; in a moment the mine was sprung, and blew up the Captain along with the General, Colonel Sibourg, Colonel Thornicroft, and at least twenty more officers.
Most of the officers of Nassau’s, Sibourg’s, and Blosset’s were entitled to the original half-pay fund. The rest were provided for, as appears in the list of Half-pay officers in 1718, “ Under Lord Rivers, £346, 15s.”
9. Dragoon Regiments in Portugal.
Lord Galway raised six regiments of Portuguese dragoons, all in British pay, and entirely commanded by British and refugee officers. Luttrell says, “Aug. 9, 1709. Letters from Lisbon of the 4th (n.s.) say that Generals Ogilvy and Wade had presented to the king several English and French officers in order to command his horse, who made objections, saying he never intended his regiments should be commanded by all foreigners, but that each should have half Portuguese officers — to which Lord Galway answered, that ours and his would be always disagreeing, and thereby hinder the operations of the campaign.” The regiments were disbanded in 1711. Their Colonels were Major-General Foissac, Lieutenant-General Desbordes, Major-General Paul de Gualy, Colonel Bouchetière, Colonel Magny, and Colonel Sarlande.
Several of these names have already appeared in our lists. The military rank prefixed to the first three names is the rank the officers attained to before their death. Balthazar Rivas de Foissac followed John Cavalier in the lists as Brigadier in December 1735, and Major-General in July 1739. John Peter Desbordes survived all his comrades; he became Brigadier in 1727, Major-General in 1735, and Lieutenant-General in July 1739. The two officers, as to whom some biographical information has been preserved, are De la Bouchetière and De Gualy.
Paul de Gualy was a son of Pierre de Gualy, Sieur de la Gineste. As a captain of infantry he came to England with William of Orange. He was enrolled as captain in Du Cambon’s, 1st April 1689, and served under that colonel in Ireland. He shared in all the campaigns of that regiment, under the colonelcy of the Comte de Marton (Earl of Lifford). He was enrolled as a major under Colonel Blosset for service in Spain and Portugal, and was rewarded with the above-mentioned colonelcy. He wore his laurels for more than a quarter of a century. According to Beatson, he became a brigadier on 12th March 1707; he appears in the list of major-generals in December 1735. He died in July 1737, in his 77th year. He had a brother, François, also a military officer, who founded a Dublin family.
Colonel de la Bouchetière had been a lieutenant in De Casaubon’s company in Schomberg’s in the Irish campaigns, and a captain in Galway’s in 1698, and was a trusted associate and intimate friend of the Earl of Galway. His memory was long extolled in Waterford by the heads of two distinguished refugee families, who had been in his regiment in Portugal, namely, Captain Francquefort and the Chaplain, the Rev. Philip Amaury Fleury.
Cardinal Alberoni, the Prime Minister of Spain, was so bent on displacing the Duke of Orleans from his post of Regent of France, that he never could desist from ​intrigues. And in the year 1719 he actually solicited the French Protestants to rise in rebellion. The British government heard an alarming report (which they too readily believed), that the Protestants were always watching to give trouble, and that they meditated a rising in the South. Mr. Craggs, the Secretary of State, despatched Colonel de la Bouchetière to Paris, with the following letter to the Earl of Stair:—
“Whitehall, April 11, 1719. — His Majesty having had many accounts of the disturbance which the Protestants of France often take occasion to create, and thereby disquiet His Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans’ administration, who, notwithstanding the favourable disposition he may have towards them, yet is rendered unable to shew them any indulgence by their unseasonable and tumultuous proceedings — and these, perhaps, fomented by declared enemies to His Majesty as well as to the Regent — has commanded me to signify to your Excellency that you would assure His Royal Highness, in the most engaging terms, of His Majesty’s great desire to contribute what he can for the ease and tranquillity of His Royal Highness’s government in this and all other occasions. Wherefore the king, believing his credit among a set of people that are Protestants might be of some weight, has judged it for the Regent’s service to send to them a person in his name to let them know how much he considers it for their interest as well as their duty to behave themselves with decency and quietness. The bearer hereof, Colonel de la Bouchetière, is the person appointed by the king for that purpose, and His Majesty would have you recommend him in the best manner to His Royal Highness, so that he may receive all fitting countenance and protection.”
The bad consciences of several intolerant members of the French government and magistracy had caused them to be alarmed by a small incident, and to be frantically unscrupulous in exaggerating it. To repeat their false history and foolish vaticinations was a piece of drudgery which the British government ought to have been ashamed to undertake.
M. Charles Coquerel, in his “Eglises du Désert chez les Protestants de France” (vol. i., page 91), mentions that Cardinal Alberoni, being bent upon obtaining the post of Regent of France for Philip V. of Spain, intrigued with the Protestants of the Cevennes and the Lower Languedoc, stirring them up to rise in rebellion against the Duke of Orleans, in 1719. Monsieur de la Bouchetière, colonel de cavalerie au service de la Grande Bretagne, was despatched to Poitou, his native province, to dissuade the inhabitants from encouraging the Spanish plot. He reported that the Huguenots were patriotic on principle, and would not rise at the instigation of any foreigner; that there was no danger except from driving them to desperation by fanatical and persecuting edicts; and that before his visit they had packed off the Cardinal’s emissaries. [Colonel de la Bouchetière appears often in the Southampton French Register.]
Besides the officers of French regiments, there were many others enrolled in the other corps of the British army. Skelton said truly concerning the French Protestant refugees, “They have shown themselves brave and faithful in the army, just and impartial in the magistracy. For the truth of the former assertion, the noble carriage of Sir John Ligonier is a sufficient voucher; and for that of the latter the mayoralty of Alderman Porter.”
* ↑ Puissar’s regiment was an English infantry regiment; what Dumont de Bostaquet calls “Le regiment de l’Anié,” must have been the English regiment of cavalry commanded by Sir John Lanier.
* ↑ Accidentally I copied two lists of this one regiment, so that my readers have the result of a collation.
* ↑ Despatch, No. 2.
* ↑ Despatch, No. 3.
* ↑ Despatch, No. 17.
* ↑ The following officers were unable to proceed to Ireland on account of age or sickness: Captain De Villenune, and Lieutenant De Londais.
* ↑ Trenchard, in his pamphlet against Standing Armies, greatly exaggerated the number of French refugee soldiers. I copy his tabular statement:— No of Companies. Officers. Non-Commissioned Officers. Privates. Total. Galway’s Horse, 9 113 45 531 689 Miremonts’s Dragoons, 8 74 144 480 698 Matton’s Foot, 13 83 104 780 967 Galway’s Horse, 13 83 104 780 967 La Melionère’s do., 13 83 104 780 967 Belcastel’s do., 13 83 104 780 967 436 501 3351 4288
* ↑ I am indebted for this paper to Sir J. H. Lefroy’s “Notes and Documents relating to the family of Loffroy.” (Some of the years were misprinted, but I have corrected them.)
* ↑ Two brothers, Frederic and Charles Sibourg, were reputed to be illegitimate sons of Charles, 2d Duke of Schomberg. Of Frederic we shall speak in the text. Charles was Lieut. Colonel of Mainhardt, Duke of Schomberg’s Horse till 1711, and was Colonel of that regiment from 1713 to 1720. He was made Governor of Port-William in Scotland; he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General, and died 25th January 1733, leaving a widow, a son, a daughter, and the reputation of being worth £80,000. His wealth, however, consisted chiefly of South Sea Stock, and neither his widow nor Charles his son administered to it. It was not till 8th May 1758, that his daughter Catherine, wife of Richard Reade, Esq., came forward, and was sworn to administer.
* ↑ The Stair Annals, vol. ii., p. 106.
* ↑ A Protestant, according to the laws of Louis XIV., in and after 1685, had no legal existence in France. If caught in the practice of Protestant worship, he was sent to the galleys as an apostate Romanist. Any Protestant pastor, convicted either of conducting public worship or of administering sacraments, or of solemnizing a marriage, or of officiating at a funeral, was executed. The Duke of Orleans maintained all the Edicts against Protestant worship, and did nothing to improve the condition of the French Protestants.
* ↑ Knight’s English Cyclopedia of Biography gives the credit of preserving tranquillity in the South of France to Jaques Basnage de Beauval, refugee pasteur of the Hague. The writer of the article Basnage, says:— “The Duke of Orleans, regent of the kingdom, fearing lest the new converts [i.e., the Protestants, according to their only legal designation] of Dauphiny, Poietou, and Languedoe, should be excited to insurrection by the emissaries of Cardinal Alberoni, begged Basnage, in 1719, through the Count de Morville, then ambassador in Holland, to write to those whose fidelity had been assailed, and to urge them by his exhortations to the obedience which they owed to their king. Basnage accordingly addressed to them a Pastoral Instruction, which was reprinted at Paris by order of the court, and distributed in the suspected provinces.”