For King, Constitution, and Country by Robert Dozier

Author:Robert Dozier [Dozier, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Europe, Great Britain, General, France, Revolutionary, Modern, 18th Century
ISBN: 9780813186047
Google: ZUcoEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Published: 2021-10-21T22:13:14+00:00

CHAPTER VI

THE LOYAL VOLUNTEERS

In March 1794 the loyalists of England quit the realms of debate and entered into full-fledged physical opposition to their enemies, the radical artisans. In the belief that invasion was inevitable sooner or later, and convinced that the radicals in England were not only assisting the French in preparations for that invasion but planned to join the invaders once they landed, the loyalists stepped forward to offer their money, their exertions, and finally themselves as defenders of the internal and external security of the nation. The loyal volunteers grew to a force of over 300,000 before peace was concluded in 1802, and when war was resumed against Napoleon the same number volunteered again. This was the third and climactic effort of the loyalists and was the most successful in its desired results. Until the vague threats of the French were clarified, indeed until the French proved their competence to execute those threats, the volunteer movement grew sporadically, stimulated more by supposed dangers to internal peace posed by domestic radicals than by the possibility of a military confrontation with French soldiers. At last there was an attempt to direct and control patriotic and loyal emotions into a channel which would satisfy the aspirations of the people and demonstrate their determination to get on with the job. The indecision of 1793 was over.

Prevention continued to occupy the major place in loyalist activities. As with the addressors in May 1792 and the associators in November 1792–January 1793, the success of the loyal volunteers makes it difficult to evaluate their services to the nation. Moreover, as the inspiration of the radicals burned itself out in Paris, and as some of the English radicals continued their emotional commitment to overthrow the state long after any such possibility existed, the role of the loyalists changed also. Originated with a dual purpose, protection of the internal and external defense of the country, as the internal threat died away the external took prominence until the loyalists were gradually transformed into patriots.

At the beginning of this analysis, it would be wise to clarify the use of the term volunteer. Until 1794 it was used in the normal sense by government officials, newspapermen, and correspondents. It meant simply anyone who offered his services to government in any capacity. Some of the earlier independent regiments “raised for rank” in 1793, for instance, called themselves volunteers. The 82nd Regiment of Foot, raised by Charles Leigh in September 1793, preferred to call itself “The Prince of Wales Volunteers.” Lord Paget’s 80th Regiment of Foot styled itself “The Staffordshire Volunteers,” George Nugent’s 85th Regiment called itself “The Buckinghamshire Volunteers,” and so on. Enlistees in the army or navy, regardless of the amount of their bounties, were often termed volunteers in 1793. In that sense, in spite of the press gangs and crimps, one might argue that England had a volunteer army and navy. Conscription was confined to the militia, but even here those men drafted by ballot could hire a substitute

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