Napoleonic Archive 16 – Memoirs of Lieutenant General Henry Clinton’s 6th Division
This is the second of a series bringing numerous small memoirs or series of letters from a single brigade or division to allow in depth comparison of the actions of these formations. They primarily cover the Peninsular War, but some also cover in depth Home Service, service in Egypt in 1801 and indeed some go on into the 1815 campaign. I make no apology for incorporating all of this material as it covers many aspects of regimental life often rarely discussed and will prove a treasure trove for historians. It contains no less than 14 individual memoirs
Letter regarding the death of Sgt Bennett 61st at Salamanca
Diary of Captain John Alexander Wilson 2nd Foot
Lt Thomas Blackwell 36th Foot
Captain Roderick Murchison 26th Foot
Lt Alexander Campbell 42nd Foot
Private James Gunn 42nd Foot
Private Andrew Dowie 42nd Foot in Egypt
Ensign George Gerrard 42nd Foot
Captain Donald Williamson 42nd Foot
Captain John Sinclair 79th Foot
Captain Neil Douglas 79th Foot
Captain John Ford 79th Foot
Letters of Private John Bald 91st Foot
1810
The 6th Division was not formed until 6 October 1810, although a number of its constituent regiments were involved in the 1808 and 1809 campaigns in Portugal and Spain. Initially the Division consisted of Major General Alexander Campbell’s Brigade which was taken from the 4th Division; and adding Eben’s Portuguese Brigade.
| Brigade | Commander | Regiments Included |
| 1st Brigade | Brigadier General
Richard Hulse |
1/11th
2/53rd 1/61st 1 Comp 5/60th |
| Portuguese Brigade | Brigadier General
Baron Frederick Eben |
8th Line
Loyal Lusitanian Legion |
1811
On 5 March 1811 a newly organised Brigade under Brigadier General Burne was added, this Brigade was further strengthened on the arrival of 1/32nd which arrived in Portugal in early July. On 14 March the Loyal Lusitanian Legion was removed from the Portuguese Brigade and replaced by the 12th Line Regiment.
| Brigade | Commander | Regiments Included |
| 1st Brigade | Brigadier General
Richard Hulse |
1/11th
2/53rd 1/61st 1 Comp 5/60th |
| 2nd Brigade | Brigadier General
Robert Burne |
2nd
1/32nd 1/36th |
| Portuguese Brigade | Brigadier General
Baron Frederick Eben |
8th Line
12th Line |
Alexander Campbell went to India in November 1811, leaving the Division in the temporary command of Burne.
1812
The formation of the Division remained the same throughout most of 1812, except that Lieutenant General Henry Clinton was given command, which he retained until the end of the war (apart from breaks in England). Hulse was transferred to 5th Division on 31 July, leaving Colonel Bingham in command until the amalgamation of brigades in November.
| Brigade | Commander | Regiments Included |
| 1st Brigade | Brigadier General
Richard Hulse |
1/11th
2/53rd 1/61st 1 Comp 5/60th |
| 2nd Brigade | Brigadier General
Robert Burne |
2nd
1/32nd 1/36th |
| Portuguese Brigade | Brigadier General
Baron Frederick Eben |
8th Line
12th Line |
In November 1812 the two British Brigades were amalgamated, with most of the regiments forming Provisional Regiments and Stirling’s Brigade was added from the 1st Division, with the newly arrived 1/91st being added on 28 November.
On 6 December 1812, the 2nd and 2/53rd were amalgamated as the 2nd Provisional Battalion and 2/24th and 2/58th as the 3rd Provisional Battalion and both were transferred out to the 4th and 7th Divisions respectively.
The command of the Portuguese Brigade was handed to the Conde de Rezende in April, but he was relieved by Madden in November when Rezende was invalided.
December 1812
| Brigade | Commander | Regiments Included |
| 1st Brigade | Brigadier General
James Stirling |
1/42nd
1/79th 1/91st 1 Comp 5/60th |
| 2nd Brigade | Brigadier General
Robert Burne |
1/11th
1/32nd 1/36th 1/61st |
| Portuguese Brigade | Brigadier General
George Madden |
8th Line
12th Line |
1813
In 1813 the two British Brigades were Stirling’s and Hinde’s, but Pakenham took command from January to June while Clinton was absent in England. Clinton was absent again and Pack took command on 22 July, but on 28 July Pack was wounded at Sorauren and Pakenham temporarily took over again. Colville then took command on 8 August, but just after the Passage of the Bidassoa Clinton returned again. Pack was appointed to command the 1st Brigade instead of Stirling and Lambert got the 2nd Brigade over Hinde. Madden commanded the Portuguese Brigade until October, when Douglas of the 8th Line took command at the Nivelle.
July 1813
| Brigade | Commander | Regiments Included |
| 1st Brigade | Brigadier General
Denis Pack |
1/42nd
1/79th 1/91st 1 Comp 5/60th |
| 2nd Brigade | Brigadier General
Samuel Hinde |
1/11th
1/32nd 1/36th 1/61st |
| Portuguese Brigade | Brigadier General
George Madden |
8th Line
12th Line |
In 1814 the 6th Division remained the same with the same commanders.
1814
| Brigade | Commander | Regiments Included |
| 1st Brigade | Brigadier General
Denis Pack |
1/42nd
1/79th 1/91st 1 Comp 5/60th |
| 2nd Brigade | Brigadier General
Samuel Hinde |
1/11th
1/32nd 1/36th 1/61st |
| Portuguese Brigade | Brigadier General
James Douglas |
8th Line
12th Line |
Commanders of the 6th Division
| Major General Alexander Campbell | October 1810 – November 1811 |
| Major General Robert Burne | November 1811 – February 1812 |
| Major General Henry Clinton | February 1812 – January 1813 |
| Major General the Honourable Edward Pakenham | January 1813 – June 1813 |
| Major General Henry Clinton | June 1813 – July 1813 |
| Major General Denis Pack | July 1813 – July 1813 |
| Major General the Honourable Edward Pakenham | July 1813 – August 1813 |
| Major General the Honourable Sir Charles Colville | August 1813 – October 1813 |
| Major General Henry Clinton | October 1813 – April 1814 |