1793 April - Upon the breaking out of the War in 1793 His Majestys 28th Regt being at that period the first corps for Foreign service were Quartered at Cork it being apprehended that Guernsey and Jersey might be the first serious attacks of the enemy two Battalions were ordered for their protection

22 April - The 27th & 28th Regiments embarked at Cove the former for Guernsey the latter for Jersey

8 May - The 28th Regt landed at Jersey and encamped four companys on the heights of St. Brelands, four were thrown into the barracks of St. Hilliers, and the two flank company together with the Grenadiers and Light Infantry of the 59th Regt encamped on the Heights between St. Aubins & St. Hilliers, the Eastern part of the Island was occupied by the Battalion of the 59th Regt. In this position we remained a part of the summer during which time great preparations were going forward for a vigourous expedition against the Enemy in the West Indies under Genl Sir Charles Grey of which expedition it was intended we should form a part

14 Septm. - Embarked at the Quay of St. Aubins in the Isle of Jersey. Rendevouzed at Spithead about this time the Enemy made an Eruption into West flanders, had driven the allies from furnes, a Town at that time weakly fortyfied and thinly garrissoned and but a short distance from Ostend the principal Depot of British stores in this critical situation of affairs Sir Chs Grey had been sent over with the troops at that time collected for the West india expedition: as an immediate relief of the Towns most threatened by the Enemy in flanders, four regt had already landed viz, 19, 27, 42, 57, by which means the Enemys were checked and upon the appearance of the Reinforcement consisting of the 3, 28, 54, 59 Regt off the Town of Nieuport, the Enemy hastily abandoned their works during the night and retired upon Dunkirk, the Enemy having relinquished their designs upon Ostend, the Troops that arrived of Nieurport under convoy of the Orpheus, Frigate, were ordered back to Spithead - during our stay in the Road of Nieuport we experienced heavy gales from the southwards

2 Novr - Weighed from Nieuport roads during the day the fleet were becalmed at Ostend but in the Evng the breeze freshened and blew during the night a heavy gale at NE early in the Morg the Eliza Transport, with part of the 28th on board struck on the Kentish knock after beating some minits she wore round and through providence escaped immediate distruction. The fleet were dispersed, four ships only made the Down.

4th - On our arrival at Spithead we were ordered to compleat with all expedition for a West India voyage but we were now destined for more active service in the European World - about the middle of Novem we were informed that we were no longer under the Command of Sir Chas Grey but under the Earl of Moira, and shortly after appeared the following orders

Portsmouth Novem 24. 1793.

His Majesty has been pleased to appoint Majr General the Earl of Moira Commander in Chief of the Forces destined for a perticular Expedition, of which the eight Regiments embarked and now lying at Spithead, 3, 19, 27, 28, 42, 54, 57, 59 are to form a part. His Majesty has been further pleased to make the following appointment for the above Expedition Majr General the Earl of Moira to have the local Rank of Lieut General in the Country where the Army is ordered to serve, Coln Wm. Crosbie to have the local rank of Major General, Coln Lord Cathcart, Coln Chas. Graham, Coln Peter Huntur to have the local rank of Brigadier General. Lieut Coln Honl Francis Needham Adjutant General, Coln Wilbor Ellis Doyle Quarter Master General.

Capt Clinton, Capt Dean, Capt Sebright Aidecamps. The British Infantry are to be formed into Brigades as follows -

Under Majr Genl Crosbie 3, 59, 40
Under Brigr Genl Lord Cathcart 19, 63, 42
Under Brigr Genl Graham 27, 54, 78
Under Brigr Genl Huntur 28, Emign, 57

Lord Moira takes this opportunity to express the happiness he feels in being placed at the head of Troops, whose Zeal, Valour & Disciplin, he regards with the fullest Confidence, he desires that Commg Officers of Regiments will order every person of their respective Regts to be onboard their resepctive Transports by 12 o'clock to morrow morg.

29 Nov. 1793 Head Quarters, Portsmouth.

All Persons belonging to the army are to be on board this day by 3 o'clock and no permission to be granted for going on shore by any commg officer of a Transport unless a licence for that purpose signed by the Genl of the Brigade be obtained. During the Service on which the Troops are now Embarked the Regiment are to be form two deep with close files.

30 Nov - Saturday Spithead. This Morng Admiral McBride in the Flora, Frigate, made a signal for sailing at 19 ock, we weighed and stood for the Needles with a fair wind at 7 PM, let go our Anchor in Jack in the basket Near to Yarmouth in the Isle of Wite

1 Decemr - Sunday. At 3 oclock PM weighed and stood down Channel at 8 PM passed through the Needles

2d - At day light was of Cherbourg stood along at the distance of two leagues, the admiral sent the Druid and Euridyce frigates close under the land, carrying the White Pendant at the Main top gallant Masthead, in hope that the Royalist might have possession of some tenable port or to receive and answer the concerted signals but instead the Frigate was fired on from two small Batterys close on the shore. We have since learnt that the cormagniels were much alarmed at so unexpected a Visit as were along the shores of a rich and fertile looking country we could perceive the signals of alarm spreading from one post to another being thus disappointed we shaped our Course for Guernsey at 12 oclock got into the Race of Alderney formed by the small island of that name and the Main, having a full view of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey and Sark at 2 PM passed through the great Russel and came to anchor shortly after in 20 fathoms in Guernsey Road - The anchorage here is far from good when it blows from the Southwards. On occasions a very heavy swell and makes it dangerous for ships to ride, the road is in a manner surrounded with rocks and ships are often forced to sea for safety. St. Pier the capital of Guernsey is an old irregular built Town with the streets remarkably narrow and dirty. A mile to the westwards is Fort George a small regular fortified square, with a dry ditch, drawbridge and regular casements, its appearance remarkably neat and kept in the most perfect order. The 1st Battalion of His Majestys 78th Regt or Seaforth Highlanders were quartered here at this time.

260 men from each Battalion were ordered to land for the ease of the Transport with their proportion of Officers and Non commissioned officers. 28th Regt sent to Iscard and Battle barracks, the 42d Regiment got upon the rocks, the Troops were some days after got off with great damage.

The Transports in each Column are to steer immediately after the Armed Ship that lead them at the distance of three cables length apart; each division keeping half a mile asunder the Ships to steer after each other as expressed in the above arrangement. In going large the center squadron will steer immediately after the admiral the two others Van and Rear as they may happen to be on the starbord or Larbord quarters of the Flora when the admiral places himself a head of the center division, ships of war are to be careful in keeping the Transports within the limits prescribed.

7th - In consequence of some mistake our troops did not land until the afternoon of this day. At 3 o'clock arrived His Majesty's Frigate the Cresecent, who had been sent in company with the Druid & Liberty brig. to cruize on the French coast by Admiral McBride. The Frigate fell in with a fleet of Storeships but having bad Pilots and not being thoroughly acquainted with the coast, the Druid unfortunately struck upon a rock at the time their shot were flying over the enemy which misfortune compelled them to relinquish the persuit, the Druid making 3 feet water in the hour bore for Plymouth with the Liberty to assist her

8th - Landed our sick amounting to 46 chiefly fevers

9th - at 10 at night it began to blow from the Southwards

10th - It blew a heavy gale at SW & by S with a heavy swell, ships riding very hard, the gale continued without interruption all night

11th - The gale still continuing but wind shifted to the W at 6 in the morning was run foul of by the Amphitrite armed ship our mizen topmast carried away close to the top, the same morning the Henry Transport with part of the 27th Regt drove from her anchors and forced to sea but arrived safely at Spithead, at 11 o'clock got a pilot on board that if necessary the ship might run with greater safety through the little Russel

12th - All the troops, (the sick excepted) who landed on the 7th were embarked, the Echo sloop of war sailed, to seek after the Henry who had been blown from her anchors on the 11th, still blowing hard from the SW

13th - Moderate weather the greater part of the Transports lost their anchors in the heavy gale which lasted from the night of the 9th untill morning of the 13th with little intermission

14th - At 9 in the morning the Admiral made the signal for getting under way. Heavy gale at SSE with a great swell owing to uncommon badness of the weather a great deal of damage ensued, which must always be the case, under such circumstances in a fleet of Transports. The Appollo got foul of the constant Trader and an armed ship, and was so much damaged as to be unfit for sea. The greater part of the ships that got out cut their cables and run to sea. The Wm & Ann left behind her 2 anchors, at 2 o'clock passed through the little Russel, with moderate weather, many officers who happened to be on shore previous to the commencement of the gale, were left behind as no boat could venture to put from shore; lay to all night in hopes the ships remaining in Guernsey road might be able to get out, which they did not acomplish

15th - at 9 in the morning the admiral made a signal to bear to Portland road, with a brisk breeze at NW during the latter part of the day blew very hard, at night it fell calm with a heavy swell ships rolling deep

16th - between 9 and 10 in the morning made the Isle of Wight blowing fresh at NE several Transports and all the Frigates the Euridyce excepted, parted during the preceeding night at 4 o'clock PM passed through the Needles and came to anchor in Yarmouth roads

Thus ended at least for the present the Expedition for the Coast of France under Lieut General the Earl of Moira, an expedition which upon its departure from England the greatest advantages were hoped for from, there remains but little doubt that the Royalist of France were too sanguine in their expectations, and represented to the Government of Brittain the situation of their affairs in a far more flattering and forward state than what they actually were. It requires not one moments reflection to decide on the impossibility of 11 Brittish Battalions and 5000 Hessian, the latter of which had not at this time arrived, attempting an Invasion without prompt, united, and vigorous assistance from those to whose aid they had come but it was far different with this wretched Children of Misfortune they possessed not one single port upon their coast, and along the whole shore from Cherbourg to St. Malloes, nothing was observed but the tricolour flag and the signals for an Enemy and moreover it was said, that there reigned in the army of the Royalist that spirit of equality so distructive of good order and Military Discipline; their chiefs were even afraid to promise the intend succor from England and lead them to the coast least should the Brittish forces not that moment be in sight they might fall victims to the fury of their soldiers, as men who designed to betray them

17th - Weighed and stood for Portsmouth, at 4 o'clock anchored in Stokes bay with a stiff breeze at SW. Those who were the witnesses of this hithertoo unsuccessful Armament from its commencement to its present conclusion, undertaken and carried on in the most vigorous season of the year, in tempestous Seas and dangerous shores may at any future period trust with confidence to the guidance of Providence by whose protecting hand they have been preserved and look forward with hope that in some quarters of the globe their country may reap advantage from their example of Patience and Perseverance

24th - The Admiral made the signal for all officers to repair on board their respective ships

25th - this day we landed 26 sick at Hasler Hospital, being Christmas day we dropt down to the harbour of Cowes in the Isle of Wight, there to remain untill the sick might recover which at this time in the 28th alone amounted to 120 odd

26th - The Regts were landed and marched into country which was daily practised with the expectation of aiding the recovery on the Troops

27th - The admiral with remaining Transports also drop down to Cowes

28th - By the return on this day of our sick had increased to 163 producing a malar of long confinement, if possible it can be avoided - the Practise of marching and exercising the Troops on shore was daily performed