French Foreign Regiments
In 1798 the French were preparing an expedition for Ireland, ready to sail from Brest under General Jean Hardy. Among the troops assembled were were 623 men in a foreign brigade. This consisted of the regiments Lee, 102 men; Ferdut, 230; O’Meara, 133; de la Chastre, 158.
Does anyone know what the history of these units is?
As for the commanders, apparently O’Meara was born in Dunkirk and entered service in, 1776, and was in America in 1780-83. Then he served in Saint-Domingue with the Dillon Regiment until 1795). General Lee had enrolled in 1748, and was a général de brigade by July 1796.
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From "The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Databook"
27 August 1798 - Clash at Castlebar, Connaught - French victory:
French forces -GdB Humbert:
70DBdeLigne (2nd battalion)
IRs Lamoureux, Lee, O'Meara, La Chatre & Feydur (about 1 company each)
12th Hussars (11 men)
3rd Chasseurs a Cheval (1/2 squadron)
Total: about 1,000 men
Casualties: probably very light
British Forces - MG Lake:
6th Foot (1 company)
Lord Roden's Fencible Dragoons (1 squadron)
Longford Militia (1 batn)
Kilkenny Militia (1 batn)
Fraser's Fencibles (1/2 batn)
Galway Volunteers (1 company)
6th Dragoon Guards (4 squadrons)
Artillery
Total: around 5,000 men
Losses: about 400 men, 10 guns & 8 colours!
Comment in the book: Apart from the 6th Foot, the artillery (100 men) and Roden's Fencibles, the Anglo-Irish force panicked & fled. The quantity of colours claimed to have been taken seems most excessive for the regiments present.
Sources given as: Fortescue, Bodart & Charrie.
8th September 1798, capitulation at Ballinamuk:
French as before plus artillery, about 1,100 men
All were captured along with 12 guns & 1 colour (2nd battalion 70DBdeLigne)
British Forces - FM Lord Cornwallis:
6th Foot (1 company)
Lord Roden's Fencible dragoons (1 squadron)
various Irish Militia units,
artillery
circa 8,000 men, no casulaties
Comments: 250 Irish rebels were taken; 36 of these were hanged after drawing lots for the privilege. The colour of the 2nd battalion 70DBdeLigne (taken by Private Toole of the Armagh Militia Regiment) may now be seen in St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.
Sources: Fortescue & Bodart