Major General Robert Sterling’s Regiment of Foot

English raised regiment of foot serving in Ireland under Inchiquin

• September: Parliament commissions Colonel Sterling to raise a regiment for service in Munster¹⁾
• September: Sterling authorised to impress men either in the West Country or South-East England²⁾

• March: More money ordered to be paid to Sterling to complete his regiment.
• May: Three Hampshire companies ordered to join Sterling's regiment.
• July: Sterling ordered to raise men by beat of drum.
• August: Regiment crosses from Minehead to Youghall

• November: Battle of Knocknanuss?

• October: Sterling governor of Cork

Sterling's original commission called for him to raise his men either in the south-east or south-west of England. In September 1646 the regiment was named as part of an intended brigade to be commanded by Lord Broghill but was soon substituted by Colonel Grey's regiment. After Sterling's removal from command the regiment continued in existance although no new colonel appears to have been appointed. During 1649 a number of it's officers under Major Ryves (by then probably a Lt Col but just possibly a full Col.) were involved in the surrender of the Munster ports to the Cromwellians.

A Scotsman, before the cessation Sterling served as Lt Col to Colonel Lawrence Crawford’s Regiment of Foot under Ormonde. His position as Major General to the Munster forces may be explained either by previous military experience or the fact that as a Scot he was outside of the provence's factional infighting. In September 1647 he was removed from his command after the interception of letters he had written to various Scottish commanders in Ulster sounding them out on possible anti-New Model Army actions. However, he returned and was again serving under Inchiquin by October 1648. He may well have resumed command over at least part of his old regiment

Ryves or Reeves seems to have commanded the regiment after Sterling's removal although his promotion to colonel is in doubt. After taking a leading role in the surrender of the Munster ports to Cromwell he was given his own regiment, Colonel William Reeves’ Regiment of Foot.

Various Officers mentioned in connection with raising the regiment in England³⁾

• Lieutenant Colonel Jephson
• Captain Heyford
• Captain Thomas Greene
• Captain William Thornehill
• Captain Burrell

August 1647 ⁴⁾

• Colonel Robert Sterling
• Lieutenant Colonel [John Jephson?]⁵⁾
• Major William Ryves / Reeves
• Captain Butler
• Captain Hawley / Dawley
• Captain Hefford / Heyford
• Captain Grihams / Grymes
• Captain Michaell / Mighill⁶⁾
• Captain Bent
• Captain Cope

• Major Crawford? (On 30/08/47 Sterling wrote “This day I have made Cartysburn major to my own regiment”⁷⁾ This would appear to be a reference to a member of the family of Crawford of Cartesburn. Possibly Cornelius born 1601 or his son Hugh born 1625. Interestingly Cornelius's mother was a Sterling)⁸⁾

1649 Major General's regiment⁹⁾

• Lieutenant Colonel Broe
• Major Craford

• 28 August 1647: 457 men + officers