Fencibles
Encyclopedia
The Fencibles were army
regiment
s raised in the United Kingdom
and in the colonies for defence against the threat of invasion during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars
in the late 18th century. Usually temporary units, composed of local volunteers, commanded by Regular Army officers, their role was, as their name suggests, confined to garrison
and patrol duties, freeing the regular Army units to perform offensive operations. They had no liability for overseas service.
They included naval forces known as "River Fencibles", made up of boatmen on the Thames and other southern English towns and cities, as well as Sea Fencibles
, who, among their other duties, manned small commercial vessels converted to coastal defense.
The title has also used by a small number of American units.
unit raised by the British in Nova Scotia
in 1775, that successfully withstood an attack by Patriot
forces under Jonathan Eddy
at the Battle of Fort Cumberland
.
's The Year of the French Fencibles are raised by Cornwallis
and other generals to combat the Irish Rebellion of 1798
. Fencibles were a sort of substitute militia often composed of Scottish tenants.
in 1803 to 1805.
in the regular army). All but one of these regiments saw action in the War of 1812
. They were disbanded in 1816, after the end of the war. See also Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry
.
"A regiment consisting of two battalions of natives to be, under the denomination of the "Bombay fencibles," raised from the inhabitants of Bombay, Salsette, and Caranjah, on condition of not being liable to serve out of the said bounds; at the * pay to each private of 5 rupees 2 quarters per month, besides cloathing: which last they will receive from the honorable company."
The 5th battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry
was raised from the Bombay Fencibles as the 1st Battalion the 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in December 1800.
were raised and sent to New Zealand for the defence of the early settlers there. They were settled in a variety of outlying places around Auckland, though they in the end did not participate in the following Maori Wars.
unit has used the name since 1993.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s raised in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and in the colonies for defence against the threat of invasion during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
in the late 18th century. Usually temporary units, composed of local volunteers, commanded by Regular Army officers, their role was, as their name suggests, confined to garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
and patrol duties, freeing the regular Army units to perform offensive operations. They had no liability for overseas service.
They included naval forces known as "River Fencibles", made up of boatmen on the Thames and other southern English towns and cities, as well as Sea Fencibles
Sea Fencibles
The original Sea Fencibles were a naval militia established to provide a close-in line of defense to protect the United Kingdom from invasion by France during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars...
, who, among their other duties, manned small commercial vessels converted to coastal defense.
The title has also used by a small number of American units.
American Revolutionary War
The Royal Fencible Americans was a LoyalistLoyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
unit raised by the British in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1775, that successfully withstood an attack by Patriot
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
forces under Jonathan Eddy
Jonathan Eddy
Jonathan Eddy served for the British in the French and Indian War and for the American Patriots in the American Revolution. After the French and Indian War he settled in Nova Scotia as a New England Planter, becoming a member of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia. During the American...
at the Battle of Fort Cumberland
Battle of Fort Cumberland
The Battle of Fort Cumberland was an attempt by a small number of militia commanded by Jonathan Eddy to bring the American Revolutionary War to Nova Scotia in late 1776...
.
Irish Rebellion of 1798
Fencibles were raised for the entirety of the British Isles. In Thomas FlanaganThomas Flanagan (writer)
Thomas Flanagan was an American professor of English literature who specialized in Irish literature. He was also a successful novelist. Flanagan, who was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, graduated from Amherst College in 1945...
's The Year of the French Fencibles are raised by Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
and other generals to combat the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
. Fencibles were a sort of substitute militia often composed of Scottish tenants.
French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Fencible units were raised in the United Kingdom during the early years of the war, but by the Peace of Amiens in 1802, all Fencible Regiments had been disbanded and those members willing to continue serving had been transferred to regular army regiments, though some Fencibles were raised again to meet the threat of Napoleon's invasion of EnglandNapoleon's invasion of England
Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom at the start of the War of the Third Coalition, although never carried out, was a major influence on British naval strategy and the fortification of the coast of south-east England. French attempts to invade Ireland in order to destabilise the...
in 1803 to 1805.
War of 1812
In the early years of the 19th Century, five regiments of Fencibles were raised in Canada, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, liable for service in North America only (although the New Brunswick Fencibles volunteered for general service and became the 104th Regiment of Foot104th Regiment of Foot
Five regiments of the British Army have been numbered the 104th Regiment of Foot:*104th Regiment of Foot , raised in 1761*104th Regiment of Foot, raised in 1782*104th Regiment of Foot , raised in 1794...
in the regular army). All but one of these regiments saw action in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. They were disbanded in 1816, after the end of the war. See also Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry
Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry
Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry was a short lived regiment in Canada during the early 19th century.The regiment was originally raised in Scotland but a rumour circulated that the regiment would be moved to the British colonies in the West Indies. The West Indies at the time were hot,...
.
Bombay Fencibles
The Bombay Fencibles were raised in 1799 by the following order of the Bombay Army:"A regiment consisting of two battalions of natives to be, under the denomination of the "Bombay fencibles," raised from the inhabitants of Bombay, Salsette, and Caranjah, on condition of not being liable to serve out of the said bounds; at the * pay to each private of 5 rupees 2 quarters per month, besides cloathing: which last they will receive from the honorable company."
The 5th battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry
Maratha Light Infantry
The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
was raised from the Bombay Fencibles as the 1st Battalion the 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in December 1800.
Maori Wars (New Zealand)
In 1847 the Royal New Zealand Fencible CorpsRoyal New Zealand Fencible Corps
The Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps was formed in 1846,following the conclusion of the northern war against Hone Heke. The Governor, George Grey, had requested military forces for the defence of the early settlers in New Zealand, instead of supplying regular military forces the English Parliament...
were raised and sent to New Zealand for the defence of the early settlers there. They were settled in a variety of outlying places around Auckland, though they in the end did not participate in the following Maori Wars.
Standards
Fencible regiments were less effective than regular troops for military duties, with problems of lack of education and disease. The men would take part in inter-regimental brawls and attacks on soldiers. Some regiments of Fencibles, however, were noted for exceptional service.American use
A small number of units raised before and during the Civil War used the title "fencibles". Example include the Texas Fencibles and the Bellefonte Fencibles (one of the ancestor units of the 112th Regiment). A Texas unit called the Panther City Fencibles existed from 1883 to 1898, and a modern Texas State GuardTexas State Guard
The Texas State Guard is one of three branches of the military forces of Texas, reporting to the Adjutant General, and under the command of the Governor. The other branches of the State Military Forces of Texas are the Texas Army National Guard, and the Texas Air National Guard.-History:The Texas...
unit has used the name since 1993.