104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
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104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army. The regiment had its origins in the New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry, a unit of fencibles raised for the defence of the colony of New Brunswick in 1803. Recruits were drawn from across British North America, Scotland, Ireland and existing British Army units. The regiment was formally entered into the establishment in 1806 with a strength of around 650 enlisted men but grew to almost 1,100 by 1808. In 1810 the regiment's officers requested that it join the British Army as a regiment of foot. This request was granted on 13 September 1810 and the unit was renamed the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot.
104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot | |
---|---|
Active | 1803-1817 |
Disbanded | 1817 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role |
|
Size | 1,097 enlisted at peak establishment strength |
Colours | Buff facings |
Engagements | War of 1812 |
Battle honours | |
Commanders | |
Colonel of the Regiment | Martin Hunter |
The regiment took part in the War of 1812 against the United States. It undertook a renowned winter march from Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Kingston, Ontario, in 1813 to defend Upper Canada from American invasion. The unit participated in the 29 May Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor, an unsuccessful British attempt to capture a US naval base on Lake Ontario. Its flank companies fought in Niagara later in 1813 and were present in the aftermath of the 24 June victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams. After overwintering in Montreal part of the regiment fought at Cape Vincent, New York, on 14 May 1814. The flank companies were once again detached to fight in the 1814 Niagara campaign, seeing action at the inconclusive 25 July Battle of Lundy's Lane. The regiment was present at the Siege of Fort Erie and took part in the unsuccessful assault of 15 August, during which their lieutenant-colonel, William Drummond, was killed. The 104th fought their last engagement at the Battle of Cook's Mills on 19 October 1814. The unit received the battle honours "Defence of Canada, 1812-1815" and "Niagara, 1814".
The regiment ended the war at Montreal and was renumbered to the 103rd Regiment of Foot in 1816. It was disbanded on 24 May 1817. The lineage of the regiment is claimed by the Canadian Army's The Royal New Brunswick Regiment, though it is not a descendant unit. The 104th's colours have been preserved and were restored as part of the 200th-anniversary celebrations of its 1813 march. A plaque and monument have been erected in Fredericton to honour the regiment.