33rd actions during Revolutionary War

Formed in 1702 as Huntington’s Regiment, as regiments at that time took the name of the Colonel taking it over it.  It was officially registered as the 33rd Regiment of Foot in 1715. The regiment served in Austria, France, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, America, Canada, Germany and India and the Indian Ocean islands as part of a Royal Navy Raiding Squadron and the Crimean War. 

Motto:     Virtutis Fortuna Comes  (Latin: "Fortune is the companion of virtue") 

Mascot: Indian elephant

The American Revolution 1776 thru 1783

The 33rd itself had a good reputation for its professionalism and capability, which was seemingly unequalled by any other regiment of the British Army for some time. It was because of their professionalism in the field during the American War of Independence, that the regiment was given the nickname ‘The Pattern’; the regiment then became the standard of soldiering which all other regiments should attain.

The 33rd saw much action during the American War of Independence, with its first engagement at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island (First Siege of Charleston) in early 1776, when British forces attempted an assault on that city’s defences. In August 1776 the 33rd were involved in the Battle of Long Island. After heavy fighting which lasted several days, the Americans evacuated their remaining forces to Manhattan. The British were victorious. The British forces suffered about 400 casualties, and the Americans over 2,000. The New York area remained in British control until late 1783.

The Company's next action came in September 1776 at the Battle of Harlem Heights. It was a small skirmish: besides some Hessian troops, the only other British regiment was the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot. The British force, initially without the 33rd, encountered Knowlton’s Rangers, a scouting force sent by George Washington. A small skirmish ensued with the Americans subsequently retreating. Washington then sent another force to lure the British further up the northern plateau, which he held, along with a second force to move around the flank of the British. The British took the bait and advanced further up the plateau. The American flanking force was encountered by the British, which showed them the imminent danger they faced. After some further fighting, the British retreated to a field, where they were joined by the 33rd and a number of Hessian battalions. After further fighting, the Americans retreated.

The Company was also involved in the Battle of Fort Washington during 1776. After that, the 33rd was not involved in a major battle until September 1777, when they took part in the Battle of Brandywine, where the British suffered 550 casualties and the Americans about 1,000. The Company took part in further action that year, at the Battle of Germantown and the Battle of White Marsh, where they fought the Americans who had retreated from the fighting at Germantown.

The following year was just as active, with the 33rd seeing action at the Battle of Monmouth, an engagement that became the largest one-day battle of the war. The 33rd was also part of the defence of Newport and Quaker Hill.

Two years later, in 1780, the 33rd took part in the Siege of Charleston. While the siege was going on, The Battle of Monck's Corner was fought on April 14, 1780. outside the city of Charleston. The Loyalist British Legion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, surprised an American force stationed at Monck's Corner, and drove them away. The action cut off an avenue of escape for Benjamin Lincoln's besieged army. Aside from the British Legion, and the 33rd Foot and 64th Foot led by Lt. Col. James Webster was part of the action.  Lt. Col. Webster's Crown Forces included Loyalists, the American Volunteers, led by Maj. Patrick Ferguson.

 By May 12, the American General Benjamin Lincoln began to negotiate terms of surrender and the Seige of Charleston ended.   The following day Lincoln, along with over 7,000 American soldiers, surrendered to the British forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Henry Clinton. In August that year, the 33rd were involved at the Battle of Camden, a victory for the British. Approximately 324 British were killed or wounded and about 1,000 Americans were killed or wounded, with another 1,000 being taken prisoner.

Guilford Court House

The year 1781 proved to be the deadliest but most successful year for the 33rd. The regiment took part in the Battle of Wetzell’s Mill, but the more famous action took place that same month during a battle at Guilford Court House.

On 14 March 1781, Lord Cornwallis, the British commander, was informed that General Richard Butler was marching to attack his army.

 With Butler was a body of North Carolina Militia, plus reinforcements from Virginia, consisting of 3,000 Virginia Militia, a Virginia State regiment, a Corp of Virginian “eighteen-month men” and recruits for the Maryland Line. The Americans had a force of some some nine to ten thousand men in total. During the night, further reports confirmed the American force was at Guilford Court House, some 12 miles (20 km) away. Cornwallis decided to give battle, though he had only 1,900 men at his disposal.

At dawn on 15 March 1781, before the men had a chance to have breakfast, Cornwallis started for Guilford, arriving there at mid-day. Banastre Tarleton’s Light Dragoons had been in the vanguard of the approach up the road and were briefly engaged by Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee’s dragoons just short of the Guilford Court House. Light Horse Harry Lee withdrew, having suffered badly at the hands of Tarleton’s Light Dragoons.

After a twenty-minute cannonade, Cornwallis began his attack around 1:30 pm. His left flank, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Webster, was made up of the 33rd and the 23rd Regiments, supported by the Grenadier company and 2nd Battalion of the Brigade of Guards

The British troops advanced under heavy musket fire. Webster's 33rd attacked the right flank of the American second line and managed to push it back.  Lt. Col. Webster and the 33rd then attacked the American third line. After that, the American counterattack led to a confused situation. Meanwhile, Tarleton's Light Dragoons charged the right flank. . On 15 March 1781, at Guilford Courthouse Lieutenant Colonal James Webster was severely wounded and died 2 weeks later, aged 41, at Elizabethtown, NC.   

At the close of the battle of Guilford Courthous, the American troops then withdrew.  The British held the field of battle and technically defeated the American force.  The battle had lasted only ninety minutes. The British lost over a quarter of their own men. The 33rd suffered 11 killed and 63 wounded out of a force of 300.

The 33rd also fought at the Battle of Green Spring in July of that year. Their last engagement of the war was at the Siege of Yorktown, when they were part of the outnumbered British forces. The British surrendered on 19 October, having little ammunition, food and supplies left.