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King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons, by Richard Cannon

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Title: Historical Record of the Third, Or the King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons
       Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in
              1685, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846.

Author: Richard Cannon

Release Date: November 10, 2015 [EBook #50421]

Language: English

Character set encoding: UTF-8

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING'S OWN REGIMENT LIGHT DRAGOONS ***




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[Pg i]

[Pg ii]

London: Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

[Pg iii]

GENERAL ORDERS.

HORSE GUARDS, 1st January, 1836.

His Majesty has been pleased to command, that, with a view of doing the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who have distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the British Army shall be published under the superintendence and direction of the Adjutant-General; and that this Account shall contain the following particulars, viz.,

---- The Period and Circumstances of the Original Formation of the Regiment; The Stations at which it has been from time to time employed; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations, in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies, &c., it may have captured from the Enemy.

[Pg iv]

---- The Names of the Officers, and the number of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, Killed or Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the Place and Date of the Action.

---- The names of those Officers, who, in consideration of their Gallant Services and Meritorious Conduct in Engagements with the Enemy, have been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour.

---- The Names of all such Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates as may have specially signalized themselves in Action.

And,

---- The Badges and Devices which the Regiment may have been permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted.

By Command of the Right Honourable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
Commanding-in-Chief.

John Macdonald.
Adjutant-General.

[Pg v]

PREFACE.

The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour by which all who enter into its service are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.

Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable object than a full display of the noble deeds with which the Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have preceded him in their honourable career, are among the motives that have given rise to the present publication.

[Pg vi]

The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the "London Gazette," from whence they are transferred into the public prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on the Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their orders, expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill and bravery; and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour of their Sovereign's approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most highly prizes.

It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies) for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic account of their origin and subsequent services.

This defect will now be remedied, in consequence[Pg vii] of His Majesty having been pleased to command that every Regiment shall in future keep a full and ample record of its services at home and abroad.

From the materials thus collected, the country will henceforth derive information as to the difficulties and privations which chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so long a period, been undisturbed by the presence of war, which few other countries have escaped, comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service, and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or no interval of repose.

In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,—on[Pg viii] their sufferings,—and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which so many national benefits are obtained and preserved.

The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance, have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and their character has been established in Continental warfare by the irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against superior numbers.

In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the Corps employed; but the details of their services, and of acts of individual bravery, can only be fully given in the Annals of the various Regiments.

These Records are now preparing for publication, under His Majesty's special authority, by Mr. Richard Cannon, Principal Clerk of the Adjutant-General's Office; and while the perusal of them can[Pg ix]not fail to be useful and interesting to military men of every rank, it is considered that they will also afford entertainment and information to the general reader, particularly to those who may have served in the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.

There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or are serving, in the Army, an Esprit de Corps —an attachment to everything belonging to their Regiment; to such persons a narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of the great, the valiant, the loyal, have always been of paramount interest with a brave and civilized people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes who, in moments of danger and terror, have stood "firm as the rocks of their native shore;" and when half the World has been arrayed against them, they have fought the battles of their Country with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of achievements in war,—victories so complete and surprising, gained by our countrymen, our brothers, our fellow-citizens in arms,—a record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant[Pg x] deeds before us, will certainly prove acceptable to the public.

Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished Officers will be introduced in the Records of their respective Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value and importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth.

As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment will be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.

[Pg xi]

INTRODUCTION.

The ancient Armies of England were composed of Horse and Foot; but the feudal troops established by William the Conqueror in 1086, consisted almost entirely of Horse. Under the feudal system, every holder of land amounting to what was termed a "knight's fee," was required to provide a charger, a coat of mail, a helmet, a shield, and a lance, and to serve the Crown a period of forty days in each year at his own expense; and the great landholders had to provide armed men in proportion to the extent of their estates; consequently the ranks of the feudal Cavalry were completed with men of property, and the vassals and tenants of the great barons, who led their dependents to the field in person.

In the succeeding reigns the Cavalry of the Army was composed of Knights (or men at arms) and Hobiliers (or horsemen of inferior degree); and the Infantry of spears and battle-axe men, cross-bowmen, and archers. The Knights wore[Pg xii] armour on every part of the body, and their weapons were a lance, a sword, and a small dagger. The Hobiliers were accoutred and armed for the light and less important services of war, and were not considered qualified for a charge in line. Mounted Archers[1] were also introduced, and the English nation eventually became preeminent in the use of the bow.

About the time of Queen Mary the appellation of "Men at Arms" was changed to that of "Spears and Launces." The introduction of fire-arms ultimately occasioned the lance to fall into disuse, and the title of the Horsemen of the first degree was changed to "Cuirassiers." The Cuirassiers were armed cap-à-pié, and their weapons were a sword with a straight narrow blade and sharp point, and a pair of large pistols, called petronels; and the Hobiliers carried carbines. The Infantry carried pikes, matchlocks, and swords. The introduction of fire-arms occasioned the formation of Regiments armed and equipped as infantry, but mounted on small horses for the sake of expedition of movement, and these were styled "Dragoons;" a small portion of the military[Pg xiii] force of the kingdom, however, consisted of this description of troops.

The formation of the present Army commenced after the Restoration in 1660, with the establishment of regular corps of Horse and Foot; the Horsemen were cuirassiers, but only wore armour on the head and body; and the Foot were pikemen and musketeers. The arms which each description of force carried, are described in the following extract from the "Regulations of King Charles II.," dated 5th May, 1663:—

"Each Horseman to have for his defensive armes, back, breast, and pot; and for his offensive armes, a sword, and a case of pistolls, the barrels whereof are not to be und^r. foorteen inches in length; and each Trooper of Our Guards to have a carbine besides the aforesaid armes. And the Foote to have each soldier a sword, and each pikeman a pike of 16 foote long and not und^r.; and each musqueteer a musquet with a collar of bandaliers, the barrell of which musquet to be about foor foote long and to conteine a bullet, foorteen of which shall weigh a pound weight[2]."

The ranks of the Troops of Horse were at this period composed of men of some property—generally[Pg xiv] the sons of substantial yeomen: the young men received as recruits provided their own horses, and they were placed on a rate of pay sufficient to give them a respectable station in society.

On the breaking out of the war with Holland in the spring of 1672, a Regiment of Dragoons was raised[3]; the Dragoons were placed on a lower rate of pay than the Horse, and the Regiment was armed similar to the Infantry, excepting that a limited number of the men carried halberds instead of pikes, and the others muskets and bayonets; and a few men in each troop had pistols; as appears by a warrant dated the 2nd of April, 1672, of which the following is an extract:—

"Charles R.

"Our will and pleasure is, that a Regiment of Dragoones which we have established and ordered to be raised, in twelve Troopes of fourscore in each beside officers, who are to be under the command of Our most deare and most intirely beloved Cousin Prince Rupert, shall be armed out of Our stoares remaining within Our office of the Ordinance, as followeth; that is to say, three corporalls, two serjeants, the gentlemen at armes, and twelve soldiers of [Pg xv]each of the said twelve Troopes, are to have and carry each of them one halbard, and one case of pistolls with holsters; and the rest of the soldiers of the several Troopes aforesaid, are to have and to carry each of them one matchlocke musquet, with a collar of bandaliers, and also to have and to carry one bayonet[4], or great knive. That each lieutenant have and carry one partizan; and that two drums be delivered out for each Troope of the said Regiment[5]."

Several regiments of Horse and Dragoons were raised in the first year of the reign of King James II.; and the horsemen carried a short carbine[6] in addition to the sword and pair of pistols: and in a Regulation dated the 21st of February, 1687, the arms of the Dragoons at that period were commanded to be as follows:—

"The Dragoons to have snaphanse musquets, strapt, with bright barrels of three foote eight inches long, cartouch-boxes, bayonetts, granado pouches, buckets, and hammer-hatchetts."

After several years' experience, little advantage [Pg xvi]was found to accrue from having Cavalry Regiments formed almost exclusively for engaging the enemy on foot; and, the Horse having laid aside their armour, the arms and equipment of Horse and Dragoons were so nearly assimilated, that there remained little distinction besides the name and rate of pay. The introduction of improvements into the mounting, arming, and equipment of Dragoons rendered them competent to the performance of every description of service required of Cavalry; and, while the long musket and bayonet were retained, to enable them to act as Infantry, if necessary, they were found to be equally efficient, and of equal value to the nation, as Cavalry, with the Regiments of Horse.

In the several augmentations made to the regular Army after the early part of the reign of Queen Anne, no new Regiments of Horse were raised for permanent service; and in 1746 King George II. reduced three of the old Regiments of Horse to the quality and pay of Dragoons; at the same time, His Majesty gave them the title of First, Second, and Third Regiments of Dragoon Guards: and in 1788 the same alteration was made in the remaining four Regiments of Horse, which then became the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Regiments of Dragoon Guards.

[Pg xvii]

At present there are only three Regiments which are styled Horse in the British Army, namely, the two Regiments of Life Guards, and the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, to whom cuirasses have recently been restored. The other Cavalry Regiments consist of Dragoon Guards, Heavy and Light Dragoons, Hussars, and Lancers; and although the long musket and bayonet have been laid aside by the whole of the Cavalry, and the Regiments are armed and equipped on the principle of the old Horse (excepting the cuirass), they continue to be styled Dragoons.

The old Regiments of Horse formed a highly respectable and efficient portion of the Army, and it is found, on perusing the histories of the various campaigns in which they have been engaged, that they have, on all occasions, maintained a high character for steadiness and discipline as well as for bravery in action. They were formerly mounted on horses of superior weight and physical power, and few troops could withstand a well-directed charge of the celebrated British Horse. The records of these corps embrace a period of 150 years—a period eventful in history, and abounding in instances of heroism displayed by the British troops when danger has threatened the nation,—a period in which these Regiments[Pg xviii] have numbered in their ranks men of loyalty, valour, and good conduct, worthy of imitation.

Since the Regiments of Horse were formed into Dragoon Guards, additional improvements have been introduced into the constitution of the several corps; and the superior description of horses now bred in the United Kingdom, enables the commanding officers to remount their regiments with such excellent horses, that, whilst sufficient weight has been retained for a powerful charge in line, a lightness has been acquired, which renders them available for every description of service incident to modern warfare.

The orderly conduct of these Regiments in quarters has gained the confidence and esteem of the respectable inhabitants of the various parts of the United Kingdom in which they have been stationed; their promptitude and alacrity in attending to the requisitions of the magistrates in periods of excitement, and the temper, patience, and forbearance which they have evinced when subjected to great provocation, insult, and violence from the misguided populace, prove the value of these troops to the Crown, and to the Government of the country, and justify the reliance which is reposed on them.

ON THE INSTITUTION
OF
LIGHT CAVALRY
IN
THE BRITISH ARMY.

The records of the military events of the remote ages speak of heavy-armed horsemen being accompanied by others mounted and equipped for light services. The Barons and Knights, who rode the powerful horses celebrated by historians, and took the field completely cased in steel, had a few light-armed attendants; the feudal horsemen were variously armed; and the practice of employing Light, as well as Heavy Cavalry, was adopted, to a limited extent, by several commanders of antiquity. Armour, proof against arrow, lance, and sword, and men and horses of colossal appearance, in whom the greatest amount of weight and physical power, consistent with a moderate share of activity, could be combined, were however held in the highest estimation; but eventually the great advantage of having a portion of Cavalry in which lightness, activity, and celerity of movement, might form the principal characteristics, was discovered. The introduction of fire-arms occasioned[Pg xx] armour to be gradually laid aside, or limited to a few heavy horsemen; superiority of weight was no longer thought so necessary; and in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the use of Light Cavalry became more general than formerly.

During the seventy years' war between Spain and the United Provinces of the Netherlands, Prince Maurice of Nassau (afterwards Prince of Orange) selected a few English and Dutch heavy-armed Lancers, and constituted them Carabineers, for skirmishing, and other services of a similar character. The Emperor of Germany formed regiments of Hungarian Hussars, who were light men on small horses. The Carabineers were of an intermediate class, being much heavier than the Hussars, and lighter than the English Lancers and Cuirassiers, who rode powerful horses, and wore armour on the head, body, and limbs. The French monarchs adopted the practice of having a few Carabineers in each troop of Horse; and, in 1690, Louis XIV. added a troop of Carabineers to each Regiment of Cavalry. During the campaign of 1691, these troops formed a Carabineer brigade; but their motley appearance, and the defects of the plan, occasioned them to be constituted a regiment of Carabineers, and clothed in blue. In 1693 the French King added a regiment of Hussars to the Cavalry of his army.[7]

In England the same principle was partially[Pg xxi] carried out; the heavy horse laid aside their armour, excepting cuirasses; they were mounted on horses of less weight than formerly, and they were supplied with carbines by King Charles II. In 1685, King James II. raised several independent troops of Light Horse, and one of them (Sir Thomas Burton's) was retained in his service until the Revolution in 1688, when it was disbanded. In 1691-2 King William III. constituted the Seventh Regiment of Horse, now Sixth Dragoon Guards, a corps of Carabineers, as an honorary distinction, and for the performance of services for which the other regiments of Horse, being Cuirassiers, were not well adapted. The object was to combine with strength and power a greater degree of activity and speed than was to be found in the Cavalry at that period; and His Majesty appears to have contemplated having several corps of this description in his service, as he designated this the First Regiment of Carabineers; but no second regiment was formed.[8] In 1694 a troop of foreign Hussars formed part of the Army commanded by King William in Flanders.[9]

During the wars of Queen Anne the Regiment of Carabineers was again supplied with cuirasses, and was mounted on the same description of horses as the other regiments; retaining, however, the title of Carabineers. The activity, size, [Pg xxii]weight, and strength of the horses ridden by the British Cuirassiers and Heavy Dragoons, with the bravery and muscular powers of the men, established their superiority in continental warfare over the Cavalry of other nations; they acquired great celebrity in the valley of the Danube and on the plains of the Netherlands, in the early part of the eighteenth century, under the renowned John Duke of Marlborough; and after the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the reputation of the British Horse and Dragoons was so high that no alteration was thought necessary, and many years elapsed without any attempt being made to revive the practice of having either Carabineers, or Light Horse, in the British Army.

The great utility of the Light Cavalry of the continental armies had, in the mean time, become apparent. Improvements in military tactics, and in the arming and equipment of corps, were taking place in various countries; and a spirit of emulation extending itself to Great Britain, on the breaking out of the rebellion in 1745, his Grace the Duke of Montague evinced his loyalty and public spirit by raising a Regiment of Carabineers for the service of King George II.; at the same time, his Grace the Duke of Kingston, with equal zeal and generosity, raised, at his own expense, a Regiment of Light Horse. The latter regiment approximated, in the lightness of the men, horses, and equipment, to the Hussars of the continental armies; the Duke of Montague's Carabineers were of a heavier description of Cavalry.

[Pg xxiii]

At this period the old Cavalry Regiments rode black horses (excepting the Scots Greys) with docked tails; but the Duke of Kingston's Regiment was mounted on light horses of various colours, with swish or nag tails. The accoutrements were as light as possible: the men carried short carbines slung to their sides by a moveable swivel, pistols, and light swords inclined to a curve.

The usefulness of the Duke of Kingston's Regiment of Light Horse was proved in Scotland, where it served under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and was found qualified for every description of service; the light horses traversing hilly grounds with facility. It distinguished itself on several occasions, particularly at the battle of Culloden, on the 16th of April, 1746, when it charged the clans with signal gallantry, and evinced great spirit and activity in the pursuit of the rebel army upwards of three miles from the field of battle. The Duke of Cumberland was highly pleased with its behaviour during the period it was under his command; and the conduct of the Light Horse throughout the contest reflected credit on the noble peer who had raised them.

The rebellion being suppressed, the regiment was, in consequence of the conditions on which the men had enlisted, directed to be disbanded; but the Duke of Cumberland so highly approved of its conduct that he obtained permission to embody as many of the men as would re-enlist, as his own Regiment of Light Dragoons.

[Pg xxiv]

His Majesty's thanks and particular satisfaction were communicated to His Grace the Duke of Kingston, for his zeal and affection for His Majesty's person and Government; and His Grace was desired to convey to the officers and soldiers His Majesty's high sense of their loyalty, activity, and gallant behaviour, at a period of national danger. The regiment was afterwards disbanded at Nottingham, and nearly every man engaged in the Regiment of Light Dragoons, of which, as a signal mark of honour and distinction, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland was appointed Colonel.

The Duke of Cumberland's Light Dragoons were mounted on active nag-tailed horses, from fourteen and a half to fifteen hands high. The men were from five feet eight to five feet nine inches in height; and their equipment was upon a new and light plan, but retaining the cocked hat of the Heavy Dragoon pattern. This regiment served in the Netherlands, with the Army commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland: its general usefulness was fully established, and it distinguished itself at the battle of Val, in 1747. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle having put an end to the war, it returned to England, and was disbanded in 1749.

From this period the value of light horsemen was more appreciated in England than formerly; the general utility of this arm, on home and foreign service, had been fully proved; and at the commencement of hostilities with France, in[Pg xxv] 1755, King George II. resolved to possess the advantage of a body of Light Cavalry in the approaching contest. His Majesty accordingly commanded a troop of Light Dragoons to be added to the First, Second, and Third Regiments of Dragoon Guards, and First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and Eleventh Regiments of Dragoons. The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Irish Horse (now Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Dragoon Guards), and the Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Dragoons, being on the Irish establishment, did not receive the same addition.

These troops of Light Dragoons were mounted, armed, equipped, and trained, according to specific instructions, calculated to render them available for the services for which they were designed. Several of them were reviewed in Hyde Park by His Majesty; and their neat appearance, celerity of movement, and the spirited and exact manner in which they performed their evolutions, were much admired.

Nine of these troops were formed into a brigade in 1758, under the command of one of the King's aides-de-camp, Colonel George Augustus Eliott, of the Horse Grenadier Guards; and they were employed in the expeditions to the coast of France under Charles Duke of Marlborough and Lieut.-General Bligh. They landed in France twice; skirmished with the French Cavalry; and throughout these enterprises they evinced activity,[Pg xxvi] spirit, and general usefulness. After their return to England, they were augmented to 125 men per troop.

At this period, the war on the Continent had involved most of the European states; and the extended and active operations which were taking place in Germany rendered it necessary for a British force to join the Allied Army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. This gave rise to a further augmentation of the Army; and the increased estimation in which Light Cavalry was held induced the King to give directions for the raising of entire Regiments of Light Dragoons, in addition to the five Regiments of Horse, three of Dragoon Guards, and fourteen of Dragoons, already on the British and Irish establishments. The following corps were accordingly embodied:—

Light Dragoons.

Incorporated in 1759.

Fifteenth, in England, by Colonel George A. Eliott;—now the Fifteenth, or the King's Hussars.

Sixteenth, in England, by Lieut.-Colonel John Burgoyne;—now the Sixteenth, or the Queen's Lancers.

Seventeenth, in Scotland, by Captain Lord Aberdour;—disbanded in 1763.

Eighteenth, in England, by Lieut.-Colonel John Hale;—now the Seventeenth Lancers.

[Pg xxvii]

Nineteenth, in Ireland, by Lieut.-Colonel Lord Drogheda;—numbered the Eighteenth in 1763; constituted Hussars in 1807; and after performing much valuable service at home and abroad, it was disbanded at Newbridge, in Ireland, in 1821.

Incorporated in 1760.

Twentieth, in Ireland, by Captain Sir James Caldwell;—disbanded in 1763.

Twenty-first, or Royal Foresters, in England by Lieut.-General the Marquis of Granby, and Colonel Lord Robert Sutton;—disbanded in 1763.

After the peace of Fontainebleau, three of these corps were disbanded, and the other four continued in the service. The light troops attached to the heavy regiments were also disbanded, but a few men of each troop were afterwards equipped as Light Dragoons.

A more perfect knowledge of the efficiency and capabilities of Light Cavalry, acquired during the campaigns in Germany and Portugal, had advanced the estimation in which that arm was held; and, in 1768, the Twelfth Dragoons (one of the heavy regiments raised by King George I. in 1715), underwent a change of equipment and clothing, and was constituted a corps of Light Dragoons, by General Carpenter, in Ireland.

This alteration served as a precedent for subsequent changes; and further experience, during the American war, from 1775 to 1783, con[Pg xxviii]firming the value of Light Cavalry, the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Regiments of Dragoons were changed from heavy to light. The Light Dragoons attached to the heavy regiments were incorporated into newly-raised corps, and the following regiments of

Light Dragoons

Were embodied in 1779.

Nineteenth,—by Major-General Russell Manners;—disbanded in 1783.

Twentieth,—by Major-General Richard Burton Phillipson;—disbanded in 1783.

Twenty-first,—by Major-General John Douglas; —disbanded in 1783.

Twenty-second,—by Lieut.-Colonel John Lord Sheffield;—disbanded in 1783.

Embodied in 1781.

Twenty-third,—by Lieut.-General Sir John Burgoyne, Baronet, for service in India, and was numbered the Nineteenth after the peace in 1783. This regiment signalized itself on numerous occasions in India, and was rewarded with the honour of bearing on its guidons and appointments the Elephant, with the words Assaye and Seringapatam. The word Niagara was also added in commemoration of the gallantry of two troops, in the year 1813, in North America. In 1817 it was consti[Pg xxix]tuted a corps of Lancers. It was disbanded in Ireland in 1821.

Thus a few years had produced a great change in the British Army. Twenty-five years previously to the termination of the American war there was not a single Light Dragoon Regiment in the Service, and in 1783 there were seventeen; four of them were disbanded at that period, and thirteen retained in the Service.

Soon after the termination of the American war, the French monarch having, by aiding the rebellious British provincials, taught his own subjects a lesson of insubordination, was deprived of the reins of government; and the violent conduct of the French revolutionists in the West Indies occasioned the Twentieth or Jamaica Regiment of Light Dragoons to be raised in 1791 by Colonel Henry F. Gardner, for service in that island. Besides its services in Jamaica, detachments of this regiment served at Malta; Sicily; at the taking of the Cape of Good Hope, in 1806; at the capture of Alexandria, in 1807; at the attack on Monte Video; in Portugal; at Genoa; and on the eastern coast of Spain; and acquired the honour of bearing the word Peninsula on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in Ireland in 1818.

War with France commenced in 1793, and was followed by augmentations to the Army. It was not found necessary to add a single Heavy Cavalry Regiment; but the following Regiments of

[Pg xxx]

Light Dragoons

Were incorporated in 1794.

Twenty-first,—by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Beaumont. This regiment served at the Cape of Good Hope and in India thirteen years; a detachment was sent to do duty at St. Helena, when Napoleon Buonaparte was removed thither. This regiment was disbanded at Chatham in 1820.

Twenty-second,—by Major-General William Viscount Fielding;—served in Great Britain and Ireland;—disbanded in 1802.

Twenty-third,—by Colonel William Fullerton;—served in Great Britain and Ireland;—disbanded in 1802.

Twenty-fourth,—by Colonel William Loftus;—served in Great Britain and Ireland;—disbanded in 1802.

Twenty-fifth,—by Major-General Francis Edward Gwyn. This regiment was numbered the Twenty-second after the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. It served with reputation in India; was employed at the reduction of Java; signalized itself on several occasions; and was rewarded with the royal authority to bear the word Seringapatam on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in England in 1820.

Raised in 1795.

Twenty-sixth,—by Lieut.-General R. Manners;—numbered the Twenty-third in 1803.[Pg xxxi] This regiment served in Egypt, Portugal, Spain, Flanders, and France; and its distinguished conduct was rewarded with the honour of bearing on its guidons and appointments, the Sphinx, with the words Egypt, Peninsula, and Waterloo. In 1816 it was constituted a corps of Lancers. It was disbanded in England in 1817.

Twenty-seventh,—by Major-General Wynter Blathwayte;—numbered the Twenty-fourth in 1804. This regiment served in India, distinguished itself at the battles of Ghur and Delhi, and was permitted to bear the Elephant, with the word Hindoostan, on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in England, on its arrival from Bengal, in 1819.

Twenty-eighth,—by Major-General Robert Lawrie;—served in Great Britain, Ireland, and at the Cape of Good Hope;—disbanded in Ireland in 1802.

Twenty-ninth,—by Major-General Francis Augustus Lord Heathfield;—numbered the Twenty-fifth in 1804. This regiment served in India, and was at the reduction of the Isle of France. It was disbanded at Chatham, on its arrival from India, in 1819.

Raised in 1794.

Thirtieth,—by Lieut.-Colonel J. C. Carden;—disbanded in 1796.

Thirty-first,—by Lieut.-Colonel William St. Ledger;—disbanded in 1796.

[Pg xxxii]

Thirty-second,—by Lieut.-Colonel H. J. Blake;—disbanded in 1796.

Thirty-third,—by Lieut.-Colonel J. Blackwood;—disbanded in 1796.

Soon after the re-commencement of hostilities with France in 1803, the Seventh, Tenth, Fifteenth, and Eighteenth Light Dragoons were equipped as Hussars. Since the termination of the war in 1815, the Third and Fourth Dragoons have been changed from heavy to light; the Ninth, Twelfth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Light Dragoons have been constituted Lancers; and the Eighth and Eleventh Light Dragoons have also been equipped as Hussars.

At this period (1847), the Cavalry of the British Army consists of twenty-six regiments—thirteen Heavy and thirteen Light; and is composed of three regiments of Cuirassiers, ten of Heavy Dragoons, four of Light Dragoons, five of Hussars, and four of Lancers.

[Pg xxxiii]

THE THIRD,

OR

THE KING'S OWN REGIMENT

OF

LIGHT DRAGOONS,

BEARS ON ITS APPOINTMENTS

THE WHITE HORSE,

ON A RED FIELD WITHIN THE GARTER,

WITH THE MOTTO

"NEC ASPERA TERRENT:"

ALSO THE WORDS,

"SALAMANCA"—"VITTORIA"—"TOULOUSE"—"PENINSULA,"

To commemorate its Gallant Conduct in Spain and France from 1811 to 1814;

AND THE WORD

"CABOOL, 1842,"

For its distinguished Services in Affghanistan in 1842.

[Pg xxxiv]

CONTENTS.

3rd Light Dragoons.

[To face page 1.

[Pg 1]

HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
THIRD, OR THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT
OF
LIGHT DRAGOONS.

James the Second ascended the throne of England on the 6th of February, 1685, and four months only had elapsed, when his nephew, James Duke of Monmouth, erected the standard of rebellion on the western coast, and, having been joined by upwards of three thousand men, proclaimed himself king. To oppose Monmouth and his rash adherents, the King obtained from Parliament a grant of four hundred thousand pounds, and augmented the strength of his army. Among the loyal yeomen and artisans who arrayed themselves under the banners of their sovereign, a number of young men from Berkshire, Middlesex, Herts, and Essex, were formed into five independent troops of Dragoons under Captains Richard Leveson, John Williams, Thomas Hussey, Edward Lea, and Francis[Pg 2] Russel. These five troops, with an old independent troop of Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Strather, were attached to the Royal Dragoons under John Lord Churchill, (afterwards the great Duke of Marlborough,) whose regiment was thus augmented to nine hundred men, and from these additional troops the corps which now bears the distinguished title of the "Third, or King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons," derives its origin.

Captain Russel's troop rendezvoused at Chelsea and Knightsbridge, and having been speedily mounted and equipped, it was attached to the three Scots regiments of foot which had arrived from Holland, and ordered to join the army; but the insurgent bands having been overthrown at Sedgemoor on the 6th of July, it halted at Bagshot; and proceeding to London on the 13th, was present at the execution of the Duke of Monmouth on the 15th of that month.

Although the insurrection was thus speedily suppressed, and the executions which followed were sufficiently numerous to intimidate the disaffected, and prevent a second appeal to arms of a similar character, yet the King resolved to retain a considerable number of the newly-raised forces in his service. On the 17th of July several troops of Dragoons were formed into a regiment, (now the fourth light dragoons,) under the command of Colonel John Berkeley; and in the beginning of August, four of the additional troops attached to the royal dragoons, with one troop[Pg 3] from Berkeley's regiment, were incorporated; at the same time another troop was ordered to be raised, and the six were constituted a regiment of which His Grace the Duke of Somerset was appointed Colonel, and Alexander Cannon, from a regiment of foot in the Dutch service, Lieutenant-Colonel, by commission dated the 2nd of August, 1685. The regiment thus formed is the subject of this memoir; its Colonel being Lord-Lieutenant of Somersetshire, had commanded the militia of that county during the rebellion, and his regiment was honoured with the title of the "Queen Consort's Regiment of Dragoons;" and being composed of troops raised previously to those of Berkeley's regiment, it obtained precedence of the last-mentioned corps[10].

The establishment was fixed by warrant under the sign manual, bearing date the 1st of January, 1686, from which the following is an extract.

[Pg 4]

During the summer the regiment was encamped on Hounslow Heath, where it was reviewed by the King; it was also encamped on the same ground in the summer of 1687; and took part in several mock-engagements, which were exhibited by an army of upwards of ten thousand men, in presence of their Majesties, and a numerous concourse of people.

The King, having openly declared himself a Roman Catholic, resolved to give public audience to a nuncio from the Pope, Ferdinand d'Adda, who had been consecrated Archbishop of Amasia in the King's Chapel at St. James's, and the Duke of Somerset, who was Lord of the Bedchamber in waiting, was directed to attend the legate into His Majesty's presence. This com[Pg 6]mand his Grace refused to obey, with a laudable firmness which astonished the King, alleging the laws of England made such attendance treason; he was consequently deprived of his regiment and of his post at court. The King conferred the Colonelcy on the Lieutenant-Colonel, Alexander Cannon, under whom it was again encamped on Hounslow Heath.

While pursuing a course of tyrannical and ill-advised measures against the laws and religion of the country, the King learnt with astonishment and indignation, that the Prince of Orange was embarking an army for England to aid the noblemen and gentlemen who were opposed to papacy and arbitrary government; the Queen's Dragoons, with several other corps, were ordered to Ipswich, under the command of Major-General Sir John Lanier, to endeavour to preserve Landguard fort, and to oppose the Prince if he should attempt to land there. His Highness, however, landed at Torbay on the 5th of November, 1688, when the regiment was ordered to Salisbury, and from thence to Warminster, where the advance-post of the King's army was established.

While the regiment was stationed at Warminster, the Lieutenant-Colonel, Richard Leveson, Captain St. George, with several other officers and a number of men, being stanch Protestants and zealous advocates for their religion, and for the welfare of their country, quitted their post and joined the Prince of Orange. The remainder of the regiment continued with King James'[Pg 7] army and retreated towards London. His Majesty having quitted England and retired to France, the regiment was re-united at Dunstable, and the Prince of Orange conferred the colonelcy on Lieutenant-Colonel Leveson, in succession to Colonel Cannon, who adhered to the interest, and followed the fortunes of King James.

On the accession of King William III. and Queen Mary, the Regiment did not lose its title of "The Queen's," but that designation was not used, and numerical titles not having been then introduced, it was usually styled Leveson's regiment; it was, however, again called "The Queen's," after its return from Ireland in 1692.

Under its new sovereign the regiment was quickly employed in active service. King James proceeded from France to Ireland, and finding an army, levied by Earl Tyrconnel, ready to support the Roman Catholic interest, he soon reduced the greater part of that country to submission to his authority. King William sent the veteran Duke Schomberg with an army to Ireland, to rescue that country from the power of papacy; and Leveson's dragoons embarked at Highlake on the 21st of August, for the same destination. Having landed near Carrickfergus, they joined Duke Schomberg's camp a mile beyond Belfast, on the 30th of August, and were reviewed on the following day.

The army quitted Belfast on the 2nd of September, and advancing towards Newry on the 3rd, found the town in flames, and the enemy[Pg 8] fled; Leveson's troopers and some Inniskilling horse, rode forward in pursuit, but were unable to overtake the rear of the fugitive army.

A camp was afterwards formed at Dundalk, and, on the 13th of September, as a party of the regiment was cutting forage in the fields, a detachment of the enemy appeared; the dragoons instantly threw down their forage and advanced to meet their opponents, who, though superior in numbers, faced about and retired. On the 21st of September the enemy appeared in force, displaying their royal standard, but retired without venturing to attack the camp; when a party of Leveson's Dragoons galloped forward in pursuit, and overtaking the enemy's rear, killed five men. On the 17th of October, as a detachment of the regiment and some Inniskilling horse, were reconnoitring, they advanced with great audacity to the immediate vicinity of King James' camp, and a party of Irish horse gained a pass in their rear to cut off their retreat; but the gallant dragoons, by a determined charge forced their way through the defile, killed four opponents, and brought off six prisoners.

These instances of bravery gave Duke Schomberg a high opinion of the regiment, and about midnight on the 27th of October, he sent out two hundred of Leveson's troopers with some Inniskilling horse and French protestants, who dashed across the country to the neighbourhood of Ardee, routed the enemy's out-guards, and captured a drove of oxen and some horses, with[Pg 9] which they returned in triumph to the camp at Dundalk.

In November the army went into winter quarters in the north of Ireland, and a party of Leveson's troopers was stationed at a frontier post at Tandrogee. On the 26th of November, sixty men of the regiment accompanied Colonel Cambron, while making a reconnoisance of the enemy's post at Charlemont; when they discovered a party from the garrison posted in the hedges near the place. The Dragoons, with their characteristic intrepidity, dismounted, drove the enemy from the hedges in gallant style, killed seven men upon the spot, and captured two Irish musketeers, twenty horses, and a number of cattle, with the loss of one man who was killed by a shot from the town, and eight men, whose ardour led them too forward in the pursuit, and who were surrounded and made prisoners.

In February, one squadron of the regiment formed part of a reconnoitring party under Major-General Sir John Lanier; and on arriving in the vicinity of Dundalk, Leveson's dragoons dismounted,—stormed Bedloe's Castle,—killed ten of the garrison,—took the remainder prisoners,—and burnt the building. The same party captured about fifteen hundred head of cattle, and afterwards returned to Newry,—having lost one lieutenant, three dragoons, and four horses, killed, in this expedition.

Although no general engagement had occurred, Leveson's dragoons, by their spirited conduct[Pg 10] on all occasions, had become celebrated in the army; Colonel Leveson was foremost on every occasion of danger, the men were proud of their commander, and the character of the corps was already established, when King William III. arrived in Ireland to command the Army in person. His Majesty landed at Carrickfergus on the 14th of June, and proceeded from thence to Belfast, where he was met by the principal officers of the army. Leveson's troopers were, at this time, at Newry, with a division of the army commanded by Major-General Kirke; and on Sunday, the 22nd of June, a squadron of the regiment, under the orders of Captain Crow, and a company of Kirke's (now second) foot, commanded by Captain Farlow, were ordered forward to reconnoitre the enemy's camp at Dundalk.

This party was on the march at an early hour, and having advanced through a pass, to the grounds where the enemy had erected a fort in the preceding campaign, but had afterwards abandoned it, they were suddenly saluted by a volley from some infantry who had concealed themselves in the fort; at the same time five hundred of the enemy's horse were seen through the misty dawn advancing to charge them. Never were men in greater danger than that to which this little band was exposed; Leveson's troopers, being in advance, stood their ground boldly, but were driven back by the superior numbers of their antagonists. The enemy's horsemen being checked by the fire of Farlow's mus[Pg 11]keteers, the dragoons returned to the charge and used their broad swords with good effect; the pikemen joined in the charge and the Irish were driven back; but not knowing the numbers of their opponents, the dragoons and pikemen retired through the pass in good order. The loss on this occasion was twenty-two men killed and several wounded, and Captain Farlow, who commanded the foot, was taken prisoner. The enemy's loss was greater, and their Commanding Officer was killed by one of Leveson's troopers. Another party of the regiment was sent forward on the following morning, and ascertained that the enemy had left the camp at Dundalk, and were retreating towards Ardee.

King William advanced through Dundalk to Ardee, which town he entered as the enemy's rear-guard abandoned the place. On the 30th of June he arrived at the river Boyne, and Captain Pownell, of Leveson's dragoons, was sent with a squadron to take post near Slane-bridge. King James' army was strongly posted on the opposite bank of the river, with his right near Drogheda and his left extending towards the village of Slane.

On the 1st of July the river was crossed at three places, and a general engagement was fought. After a severe struggle the enemy retreated to the village of Donore, where they made such a determined stand that the Dutch and Danish horse, though headed by the King in person, gave way; when a squadron of Leveson's dragoons, commanded by Captain Brewer[Pg 12]ton, and a party of Sir Albert Cunningham's dragoons (the sixth Inniskilling) dismounted, and, lining the hedges, and an old house, 'did such execution upon the pursuers as soon checked their ardour.' At the same time Colonel Leveson, with the remainder of his regiment, galloped forward, and, with admirable bravery, interposed between the enemy's horse, and the village of Duleck. King William's horse having rallied and returned to the charge, the enemy retreated, when they were attacked in the rear by Colonel Leveson with his dragoons, who made great slaughter. The Irish abandoned the field with precipitation; but their French and Swiss auxiliaries retreated in good order.

King James returned to France, yet the war was continued in Ireland. On the 22nd of July, Leveson's dragoons proceeded, with other forces, to Waterford, and invested the town. The garrison surrendered on the 25th, and was conducted to Youghal by a troop of the regiment under Captain Pownell. Having delivered up his charge, the captain, representing to the governor the ruin he would bring upon himself if he held out, induced him to deliver up the place; and it was taken possession of the same night by the dragoons, who found fourteen pieces of cannon, 350 barrels of oats, and some provisions, in the town. This troop remained in garrison at Youghal, with a company of foot; and the commanding officer, having heard that bands of armed Roman Catholic peasantry, called Rappa[Pg 13]rees, were committing ravages on the Protestants, marched out with thirty-six dragoons and fifty foot. The dragoons were in advance, and when they arrived near Castle Martir, they encountered three hundred rapparees. Notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, the gallant dragoons dashed forward sword in hand,—broke in upon the enemy,—sabred sixty upon the spot, and took seventeen prisoners. The foot having come up, the castle was summoned, and the troops in the garrison delivered it up on condition of being allowed to march unmolested to Cork, without horses and arms. The captain gave the arms to the Protestant inhabitants, and took the horses with him to Youghal.

At this time the remainder of the regiment was engaged in the siege of Limerick, which failed, owing to the loss of the battering train. From Limerick the five troops marched with other corps towards Birr, to relieve the castle, which was besieged by the enemy; and, after performing this service, encamped beyond the town.

On the 16th of September one troop of the regiment attacked an immense number of rapparees who were proceeding from Cork to Lismore, and having routed them and killed forty, took three prisoners. Two days afterwards, as Lieutenant Kelly of the regiment was out with a small party reconnoitring, he was surrounded and taken prisoner.

The regiment passed a part of the winter at Clonmel, and in February 1691, it was employed[Pg 14] on an expedition to Streamstown, when the advanced guard highly distinguished itself; and shortly afterwards its colonel, the gallant Leveson, was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. In May it was encamped at Mullingar.

The Irish being strengthened from France, and the English from Scotland, both armies took the field in the beginning of June, when General De Ginkell, who was left in command by King William, advanced through Mullingar,—captured Ballymore, and besieged Athlone, which was gallantly stormed and taken on the 30th of June. The town having been put in a posture of defence, the army advanced to Ballinasloe, and on Sunday, the 12th of July, advanced in four columns against the Irish, who were strongly posted near the village of Aghrim; their right flank and centre being covered by a morass, and the remainder of their front by enclosures, terminating at the castle of Aghrim, on which their left rested. Leveson's troopers were formed in brigade with the royal Irish dragoons commanded by Brigadier-General Villiers, and posted on the right of the line. The action was well contested on both sides. At length the Blues, Langston's, and Byerley's horse, a squadron of Ruvigny's French Protestants, and Leveson's dragoons, forced the pass at the castle of Aghrim, and, by a gallant charge, decided the fate of the day. Leveson's gallant troopers rushed forward with their wonted bravery, and overthrew all opposition. In opposing this attack in person, the ene[Pg 15]my's general, St. Ruth, was killed by a cannon ball, and the Irish giving way, were pursued with great slaughter by the cavalry towards Loughrea. The regiment was thanked by the Commander-in-Chief for its excellent conduct. It lost in this action seven men killed, and five wounded.

Leveson's dragoons were afterwards employed in the siege of Galway. On the 2nd of August they were detached, with twenty-four men from each regiment of Horse, under the command of Brigadier-General Leveson, to scour the country and drive in the enemy's parties; and they arrived on the 4th, in the vicinity of Nenagh, where five hundred of the enemy, under Brigadier-General Carrol (commonly called Tall Anthony) were in garrison in an old castle, on the domain of the Duke of Ormond. Part of the garrison occupied a pass half a mile in front of the castle; but was driven from that post by the dragoons. The garrison made a precipitate retreat towards Limerick, but were overtaken at Cariganlis, and routed with the loss of several men, their baggage, and four hundred head of cattle.

The siege of Limerick commenced on the 25th of August, and the regiment was before the town until the 31st, when it was detached with a party of horse under Brigadier-General Leveson, and Major Wood of the eighth horse (now sixth dragoon guards) to reduce the small garrisons in the county of Kerry, where the whole country was[Pg 16] found in arms, and Lords Merrion's and Bretta's regiments of Irish horse there to assist the rapparees. Leveson and Wood[11] were both daring aspirants for military fame, and had become celebrated for their zeal and valour, and for their abilities on detached services.—Having ascertained where the two Irish regiments were encamped, they marched all the night of the 1st of September; and about one on the following morning, rushed suddenly upon them with the horse and dragoons. The enemy, surprised and confounded, fled in every direction, pursued by the victorious dragoons, who sabred many men and captured a drove of oxen. A reinforcement of three hundred horse and dragoons and six pieces of cannon was afterwards sent to Brigadier-General Leveson, and he reduced several garrisons between Cork and Limerick, and sent numbers of oxen and sheep to the army. On the 22nd of September this gallant officer, with only two hundred and fifty horse and dragoons, attacked and dispersed two regiments of Irish dragoons and a body of rapparees nearly three thousand strong; when he again captured some cattle and sheep. It appears that the principal part of the provisions for the army encamped before Limerick was supplied by the activity of Leveson's corps, which continued to act as an independent force until the surrender of that city on the 3rd of October. In King James's declaration [Pg 17]from St. Germains, Brigadier-General Leveson was especially exempted from the general amnesty.

With the fall of Limerick ended the war in Ireland[12]; and the regiment having embarked for England, landed at Barnstaple on the 18th of March, 1692. Its establishment was six troops, 360 men, and its expense 15,999l. 3s. 4d. per annum. During this and the following year it was stationed in the south and western counties of England.

On the 19th of January, 1694, Brigadier-General Leveson was removed to the third horse, now second dragoon guards; and the colonelcy of the Queen's dragoons was conferred upon Thomas, Lord Fairfax, from lieut.-colonel of the second troop (now second regiment) of life guards.

At this period King William was engaged in a war with France, and the third horse and Queen's dragoons having been reviewed by His Majesty in Hyde Park, on the 26th of March embarked for foreign service. The Queen's dragoons landed at Williamstadt, in North Brabant, on the 16th of April 1694, joined the army encamped at Tirlemont on the 21st of June, and was again reviewed by His Majesty on the following day. Its excellent conduct in Ireland[Pg 18] appears to have raised the regiment high in the King's estimation, and it was ordered to encamp beyond the defiles of the village of Roosebeck, to cover His Majesty's quarters[13].

The regiment served the campaign of this year in brigade with the royals and royal Scots dragoons, and was employed in manœuvring and skirmishing in the valleys of Brabant and in the verdant plains of Flanders. No general engagement occurred, and in October it went into quarters at Ghent.

In February, 1695, Lord Fairfax having retired, King William conferred the colonelcy on Colonel William Lloyd: at the same time the establishment was augmented to eight troops of thirty-eight officers, seventy-two non-commissioned officers, and four hundred and eighty privates, the annual expense being increased to 20,652l. 18s. 4d.

Having passed the winter in barracks at Ghent and received a remount from England, the Queen's dragoons marched, in April 1695, to Dixmude in West Flanders, and encamped on the plains of the Yperlee. A small detached corps was assembled at this place under Major-General Ellemberg, and in June an attack was made on the forts at Kenoque, to draw the French troops that way, and to facilitate the siege of Namur, which was undertaken immediately afterwards.

The Queen's dragoons, with eight battalions of infantry, returned to Dixmude, and the remainder[Pg 19] of the division marched to the main army before Namur.

While the army was besieging Namur, a French force, commanded by General de Montal, invested Dixmude (15th July), and carried on the approaches with great expedition. The governor, Major-General Ellemberg, called a council of war, and suggested the expediency of surrendering. This was opposed by Major Beaumont, who commanded the Queen's dragoons[14], and some other officers, but it was agreed to by the majority, and the garrison was delivered up prisoners of war. Thus, the gallant dragoons, after displaying the greatest valour in former campaigns, were tamely consigned into the hands of the enemy, by a timid, or treacherous, foreign general officer. The soldiers were enraged at not being permitted to defend the place; many of the men broke their arms before they delivered them up, and one British regiment tore its colours to pieces.

An agreement had previously been made by the contending powers, that all prisoners should be given up on certain conditions. These conditions were complied with, and the return of the regiments which had surrendered, was demanded; but the French court refused to give them up. At length the citadel of Namur capitulated, and the French garrison was permitted to march out without being made prisoners, but as they passed through the allied army, their commander, Marsha[Pg 20]l Boufflers, was arrested and detained until the conditions of the agreement were complied with. The detention of the marshal produced the release of the regiments; the Queen's dragoons returned to the army, and were ordered into barracks at Ghent. At the same time a general court-martial assembled for the trial of the officers who had delivered the regiments into the power of the enemy. The governor of Dixmude, Major-General Ellemberg, was sentenced to be beheaded, and was executed at Ghent on the 20th of November. Colonels Graham, O'Farrell, Lesly, and Aver, were cashiered; two others were suspended, and the remainder acquitted. After the army left the field, the Queen's dragoons were quartered in villages near the canal of Sluys.

The regiment again took the field in May 1696, and was reviewed by King William on the 29th of that month, when it appeared complete in numbers, and in excellent condition. During the summer it formed part of a detached corps commanded by Major-General Fagel, and encamped near Nieuport. The enemy made demonstrations of an attack on this part of the country, when entrenchments were thrown up, the sluices were opened, and the grounds in front of the French army were laid under water. A few skirmishes were, however, all that occurred; and in the early part of October the Queen's dragoons marched into quarters on the frontiers of Dutch Flanders.

After leaving its village cantonments in the early part of April 1697, the regiment was en[Pg 21]camped at Bois-Seigneur-Isaac; it was afterwards employed in operations in Brabant, and on the 27th of May it formed part of a detachment of seven squadrons, commanded by Major-General de Bay, sent from the camp at Promelles towards Binche and Herlaymonte-Capelle. When on the march, the advance-guard, consisting of a squadron of the Queen's, commanded by Colonel Lloyd, encountered a squadron of French carabineers, whom the dragoons overthrew and put to flight, killing and wounding many men, and taking an officer and seventeen soldiers prisoners. The regiment was subsequently employed in covering Brussels, until the treaty of Ryswick restored peace to Europe; when it left the Netherlands and returned to England. In the following year the establishment was reduced to six troops—286 private men.

The regiment remained in England until the summer of 1702, when, war having been declared against France and Spain, an expedition, commanded by the Duke of Ormond, was sent against Cadiz, and a detachment of the Queen's dragoons, consisting of three field-officers, three captains, four lieutenants, five cornets, three staff-officers, five quarter-masters, five serjeants, fourteen corporals, eight drummers, and one hundred and eighty-six private men[15], was embarked for this service. A landing was effected on the coast of [Pg 22]Spain, near Cadiz, on the 15th of August; on the following day Rota, a town on the north side of the bay seven miles from Cadiz, was taken, and on the 21st, Port St. Mary's, situate at the mouth of the river Guadalete, was captured. The Queen's dragoons, being the only cavalry with the expedition, were almost constantly employed on piquet and outpost duty. On the 25th of August the army encamped at Santa Victoria, and in the early part of September the attack of the Matagorda was commenced. 'On the 5th of September a squadron of Spanish horse made bold to attack a small party of the Queen's dragoons, who behaved themselves so gallantly, that they put the enemy to flight, having wounded and taken an officer and two men with their horses, and on our side we had a cornet and a private man killed, and a lieutenant taken, whom the Spaniards, against all the laws of nations and arms, most barbarously cut in pieces[16].'

Cadiz was found better prepared for a siege than had been expected, and the troops were re-embarked. A successful attack was afterwards made on the fort of Vigo in Galicia, and a rich fleet was captured in the harbour, for which the Queen's dragoons received 187l. 3s. 4d. prize money[17].

On the 31st of December, 1703, Brigadier-General (afterwards Lord) Carpenter, was appointed to the colonelcy of the Queen's Dragoons, by purchase[18], in succession to Major-General Lloyd.

[Pg 23]

The regiment remained on home service until 1706, when another detachment of about two hundred and forty officers and men embarked on board the fleet of Sir Cloudesley Shovel; forming part of a force of 10,000 men commanded by the Earl Rivers, and designed to invade the coast of France, on a plan suggested by the Marquis De Guiscard. The descent was, however, rendered impracticable by contrary winds, and the troops were ordered to Lisbon. In the meantime the English forces in Spain had retired from Madrid to Valencia and Catalonia, and the troops under the Earl Rivers were directed to proceed thither.

The Queen's dragoons, and other forces, were accordingly re-embarked; they left Portugal in the early part of January, 1707, and, having landed at Alicant in Valencia on the 11th of February, commenced their march to join the forces under the Earl of Galway,—the united camp being formed at Caudete, on the 30th of March. The army soon afterwards destroyed several of the enemy's magazines, and besieged Villena in Murcia. Meanwhile the French and Spanish forces, commanded by the Duke of Berwick, advanced to the plains of Almanza, where the allies resolved to attack them on the 25th of April.

After a march of fifteen miles through a rugged[Pg 24] and mountainous country, the wearied British and Portuguese troops entered an open plain between Caudete and Almanza, where the enemy, superior in numbers and artillery, was formed in order of battle. After a short halt the attack was commenced, and the detachments of the Queen's and Essex's (now the fourth) dragoons particularly distinguished themselves; being ordered to charge a battery of guns, so placed on the brow of a hill, that the artillery mules, though concealed from sight, remained close to the guns and could be instantly attached to them. The charge was made with determined gallantry, but the guns being quickly withdrawn, ten squadrons of select Spanish cavalry charged the British dragoons, amounting only to about two hundred and ninety men, killing Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence of the Queen's, who led the attack, also Captain Smith and Cornet Petty of the same corps, and nearly annihilating the two squadrons. The greater part of the Portuguese cavalry fled from the field in a panic, when the British infantry were nearly surrounded, but the cavalry, by a desperate charge, in which three generals (Brigadier-General Carpenter of the Queen's being one) and thirty-four officers fought in the front ranks, succeeded in breaking through the enemy. The Earl of Galway was wounded, and in danger of being taken prisoner; but the spirited conduct of the dragoons enabled him to effect his escape[19]; [Pg 25]and he retreated with the remains of the English and Dutch cavalry to Alceira, where he received information that the greater part of the infantry, after retreating to the hills of Caudete, had been surrounded and compelled to surrender prisoners of war.

After this disaster, the few troops which remained were employed in defensive operations for the preservation of Catalonia. The Queen's dragoons were stationed a short time at Manresa on the river Cardener, to refresh their horses; and after the fall of Lerida, the army went into winter quarters. The Earl of Galway embarked for Lisbon, and Brigadier-General Carpenter remained in command of the troops in Catalonia.

The Queen's dragoons had suffered so severely at the battle of Almanza, that the officers were sent to England in March 1708, and the regiment was ordered to be recruited to sixty men per troop. The recruiting was carried on with rapidity, and the difference in the state of the regiment may be seen from two different returns in one year; in the first its numbers are 150, and in the second 303.

In 1709 the regiment mustered 443 men, and it continued at the same number during the two following years; but in October 1712 a reduction of ten men per troop took place. In 1713 it was quartered in North Britain, and mustered 339 men.

After the accession of King George I. in 1714 there being no Queen Consort on the throne, the regiment was honoured with the distinguished title of The King's Own Regiment of Dragoons.

[Pg 26]

In the summer of 1715 the regiment marched to Glasgow, in consequence of disturbances in that neighbourhood; and on the 8th of September it joined the camp at Stirling under Major-General Whetham, which was formed to oppose the Earl of Mar, who had raised the standard of rebellion, and proclaimed the Pretender at Aberdeen, Dundee, and Perth. The Duke of Argyle afterwards reviewed the troops at Stirling, as Commander-in-Chief in Scotland.

On the 10th of November His Grace, having intelligence of the design of the rebels to endeavour to pass the Forth and to penetrate towards England, resolved to prevent them, and immediately gave orders to his troops to hold themselves in readiness. An order of battle was issued, in which this regiment and Kerr's dragoons (the seventh) formed the extreme left; and according to that order, the army marched from Stirling on the 12th, and encamped on a rising ground to the east of Dumblain, between the town and Sheriffmuir. On the 13th the battle of Sheriffmuir was fought, when each party had one wing defeated and one victorious. The King's Own dragoons were in the left wing; about six hundred highlanders surprised the infantry of that wing, in the act of forming, and put it into confusion; but upon the dragoons charging and defeating the rebel cavalry opposed to them, capturing their standard, the rebel infantry pursued their advantage no further, and Captain Armstrong, who was sent with orders from the Duke of Argyle,[Pg 27] being killed, the infantry retired in good order. Both sides claimed the victory; but all the advantage remained with the Duke of Argyle, who captured the royal standard of the rebels, called "The Restoration," also six pieces of cannon, four waggons, and a number of prisoners. On the following day the army returned to Stirling, and awaited the arrival of reinforcements from England.

On the 9th of January, 1716, the Duke called a council of war at Stirling, where an order of battle was issued, in which Carpenter's dragoons were again placed on the left of the front line. Owing to the roads being rendered impassable by the snow, no advance was made till Tuesday the 29th, when the whole army advanced to Dumblain, and thence, on the 30th, to Tullibardine. At one in the morning of the 1st of February, the Duke with his cavalry entered Perth, where he was joined in the evening by his infantry; the next day he advanced to Errol, and on the 5th, with all his cavalry, moved towards Brechin; General Cadogan leading the infantry to Aberbrothock. On the 8th Aberdeen was occupied, and it being ascertained that the Pretender had retired to France, and that the rebel force had totally dispersed, the army went into winter quarters, and the King's Own dragoons were stationed at Elgin.

From this time the King's Own do not appear to have been engaged in any service of importance for a period of more than twenty years. They were[Pg 28] usually stationed in the southern and western counties of England; but occasionally occupied quarters, for short periods, in Scotland. In 1718 the establishment was reduced ten men per troop; in the following year the numbers were only 186; an addition of 21 men was made in 1720, and during that and the two succeeding years the regiment mustered 207 men.

In 1723 the establishment was augmented to 333 men, at which number it remained, with an alteration only of six men, until 1727, when the regiment was ordered to hold itself in readiness to embark for Holland, as part of the complement of 10,000 men which England had engaged to furnish the States; at the same time its establishment was augmented to 552 men. No embarkation, however, took place; and in 1729, the numbers of the regiment were reduced to 309.

After the decease of General Lord Carpenter in 1732, King George II. conferred the colonelcy on Major-General Philip Honeywood, from the eleventh dragoons.

An augmentation was made to the establishment in 1738; in 1739, the breaking out of a war with Spain occasioned general orders for recruiting to be issued:—the establishment of the King's Own dragoons was raised to 435 men, and in the summer they were encamped on Hounslow Heath, where they were several times reviewed by the Duke of Cumberland.

During the summer of 1740, the King's Own were encamped in Windsor Forest; and in 1741,[Pg 29] they were ordered, with several other regiments and a train of artillery, amounting nearly to 10,000 men, to prepare for embarkation for foreign service. This force encamped in July, on ground cleared for the purpose, on Lexdon heath, near Colchester: no embarkation, however, took place, and after a few weeks, the troops went into quarters in the various towns in the neighbourhood.

In the meantime war was raging on the continent; the King of France and the Elector of Bavaria had united to deprive the Archduchess Maria Theresa of her hereditary dominions; and in 1742, His Britannic Majesty sent sixteen thousand British troops to Flanders to make a diversion in favour of the Austrians. The King's Own Regiment of dragoons was one of the corps selected for this service, and having been reviewed on Blackheath by King George II., accompanied by the Duke of Cumberland, it embarked shortly afterwards at Woolwich and Deptford; their colonel, Lieutenant-General Honeywood, taking the command of the expedition until the arrival of Field Marshal the Earl of Stair.

After landing at Ostend the King's Own dragoons advanced a few leagues up the country, but all active operations were prevented by the tardiness of the Dutch.

Early in 1743, the British troops moved from their cantonments towards the Rhine; the King's Own, and four companies of the foot guards, forming the advance-guard of the army, were at[Pg 30] St. Trond, in the province of Limburg, on the 9th of February, and on the 11th resumed their march for Germany. In May, the regiment, with the Inniskilling dragoons, and four battalions of the foot guards, formed a detached camp a little below the town of Hochst, in the duchy of Nassau on the Maine, and was afterwards encamped at Aschaffenburg in Franconia, a town situate on a hill on the side of Maine. In the meantime Lieut.-General Honeywood had been removed to the first dragoon guards, and the colonelcy of the King's Own conferred on Brigadier-General Humphrey Bland, from the thirteenth dragoons.

His Majesty King George II. having left England towards the end of May, landed at Helvoetsluys on the 2nd of June, and joined the army on the 9th; when he found his forces under considerable embarrassment, from the French commander having succeeded in gaining possession of several important posts on the Maine, by which means he cut off the supplies of provisions and forage.

Under these circumstances His Majesty resolved to march to Hanau, where a reinforcement of 12,000 Hessians and Hanoverians had arrived; and at daybreak on the 16th of June, the troops commenced the march along the banks of the Maine: but scarcely had they proceeded three leagues when it was ascertained that the enemy had crossed the river, and was drawn up near Dettingen to dispute the march of the army.

The allies were immediately formed for action,[Pg 31] with their left on the river, and their right extending to a wood, in which the baggage was placed. Shortly afterwards the action commenced, when Lieut.-General Clayton, who commanded the left wing of infantry, requested some squadrons to cover his flank, and the King's Own dragoons were ordered to this important post, where they suffered severely, being exposed three hours to the fire of the French batteries, as well from their front, as from the other side of the river, which commanded their flank and rear. At length the regiment was led forward, and encountering nine squadrons of household cavalry, the élite of the French army, charged these celebrated horsemen with a degree of gallantry truly astonishing. British valour was most conspicuously displayed; though over-matched with numbers, and nearly surrounded by enemies, the King's Own dragoons were seen nobly contending for victory, and mingled in close fight with their antagonists, the swift motion of their glittering sabres showed with what vehemence the gallant troopers fought for the honour of their King and country. They cut through their renowned opponents three times; distinguishing themselves in the most signal manner under the eye of their Sovereign, and contributing materially to the victory gained on that occasion. Their loss was however great. Of the three cornets who bore the standards, two were wounded, and the third, Mr. Child, the brother of Lord Castlemaine, had two horses killed under him. The standards were totally destroyed by shot and sabre-cuts, and[Pg 32] one of them was only preserved from capture by the heroism of a private in the regiment, named Thomas Brown, a native of Kirkleatham, in Yorkshire. This gallant soldier, on the cornet's receiving a wound in the wrist, and dropping the standard, attempted to dismount in order to recover it, but in so doing lost two fingers of his bridle-hand by a sabre cut, and his horse ran away with him to the rear of the French lines. Whilst endeavouring to regain his regiment he perceived the standard, which the French had succeeded in capturing by overwhelming numbers, in the custody of a gendarme, who was conveying it to the rear. This man he attacked and killed, caught the standard as it fell, and fixing it between his leg and the saddle, succeeded in cutting his way back through the ranks of the enemy: but received, in so doing, seven wounds in his head, face, and body, and three balls passed through his hat.[20] A letter, in the Gazette of July 16th, states, 'that in this action Ligonier's horse, (the seventh dragoon guards,) and the Third dragoons suffered most, and gained great reputation.' The loss of the Third was Lieutenant Baily, one serjeant, two drummers, thirty-eight private men, and one hundred and forty-one horses, killed; Major Honeywood[21], [Pg 33]Captain Brown, Lieutenant Robinson, Cornets Dawson, Monteith and O'Carrol, with three quarter-masters, six serjeants, five drummers, eighty-six private men, and fifty horses wounded[22]. The victory was most decisive; the French were completely defeated in their attempt, and were compelled to recross the Maine with precipitation, with the loss of many standards, colours, and four pair of kettle-drums.

The King's Own dragoons passed the night near the field of battle, surrounded by their ensanguined trophies, and, having marched to Hanau on the following day, were encamped, for some time, on the banks of the little river Kinzig, from whence they advanced with the army, in the early part of August, for the Rhine; and, having crossed that river above Mentz, were employed in operations in West Germany, where the army was joined by the Dutch auxiliaries. The enemy's entrenchments at Germersheim, in the Bavarian circle of the Rhine, were afterwards destroyed, but no general engagement occurred; and in the middle of October the army repassed the Rhine, and marched back to the Netherlands [Pg 34]in eight divisions[23]. The royals, greys, and King's Own dragoons, with the Scots highlanders, forming the first division, proceeded through the duchy of Nassau, the provinces of Limburg, Liege, and South Brabant, to Brussels, where they arrived on the 16th of November, and on the following day continued their march for West Flanders, to pass the winter in quarters at Ghent.

Notwithstanding its severe loss the regiment remained in Belgium, and being joined by a number of recruits, in the spring of 1744, it took the field, and in June it formed part of the army encamped on the banks of the Scheldt, near Oudenarde, in East Flanders. During the summer it was employed in operations in the province of Hainault, and in levying contributions in the French territory towards Lisle. In October it marched into quarters at Ghent: and by the Muster Rolls for this year we find its numbers were 538.

After leaving their winter quarters about the middle of April, 1745, the King's Own were encamped a short time near Brussels, where they were reviewed by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. They were afterwards assembled with the army at Soignies. The French[Pg 35] having assembled a numerous army and besieged Tournay, the Duke of Cumberland resolved to attempt the relief of that fortress; the army, accordingly, advanced, and on the 28th of April took post at Leuse. On the following day a squadron of the King's Own was employed, with other troops, in driving back the enemy's advanced-posts, and on the 30th the battle of Fontenoy took place; when the gallant efforts and brilliant success of the British were rendered unavailing by the failure of the Dutch. After an action of several hours the King's Own dragoons were ordered forward, and they charged the enemy with their accustomed gallantry; but under such disadvantageous circumstances that their manly efforts only retarded the fate of the day. The Duke of Cumberland ordered a retreat, and the army marched to the vicinity of Aeth. The enemy had great advantage in numbers, in artillery, and in the favourable ground they occupied; the loss was nearly equal on both sides, and the Allies lost no honour, though compelled to retire. The King's Own had nine private men, and twenty-eight horses, killed; Captain Wade, Quarter-Master Corbidge, fourteen private men, and thirty-four horses wounded;—and Cornet Bland, two non-commissioned-officers, fifteen men, and twenty-three horses missing.

The regiment was afterwards encamped on the banks of the Dender, near Lessines; from whence it proceeded with the army on the 30th of June,[Pg 36] to Grammont in West Flanders, and was subsequently encamped before Brussels.

In the mean time Charles-Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, had arrived in Scotland, and, being joined by several of the highland clans, he asserted his father's pretensions to the throne. There being few troops in Scotland at this time, the rebellion soon made alarming progress; when orders were given for the return of several regiments from the continent, and the King's Own were among the first troops ordered home.

Having embarked at Williamstadt, the regiment, after a boisterous passage, arrived in the River Thames on the 25th of October, and immediately landed and proceeded towards the north. On the 10th of November it joined the army of Lieutenant-General Sir John Ligonier, then assembling near Lichfield. On the advance of the rebels towards Derby, the regiment formed part of the army commanded by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland; and when the highlanders retreated towards Scotland, it was sent in pursuit. It left Lichfield on this service on the 9th of November; on the 11th, it was at Macclesfield; on the 13th at Wigan, and on the evening of the 19th—after ten hours' march—it arrived on Clifton Moor, three miles from Penrith; at the same time the rear-guard of the rebel army, consisting of two battalions of highlanders and some hussars, occupied the village, and lined the hedges on both sides of the road.

The sun had set; the shades of evening were[Pg 37] gathering over the little village of Clifton, and distant objects were scarcely discernible, when the King's Own, and a few detachments from other corps, forming the advance-guard of the royal army, having dismounted, proceeded in compact order to attack the rebels. As the troops approached the enclosures, the highlanders opened a sharp fire, which re-echoed along the vale, and was soon answered by volleys of musketry from the dragoons. After several rounds, the King's Own were ordered to retire a few paces; when the highlanders, mistaking this for a flight, raised a loud shout and rushed forward with sword and pistol; but they were well received by the dragoons with their broad-swords, and a fierce combat ensued, hand to hand, both sides displaying great bravery. Some of the highlanders broke their swords on the steel caps of the dragoons, when they drew their daggers, and continued the fight with great obstinacy. Eventually, however, the dragoons proved victorious, and the rebels made a precipitate retreat to Penrith. The loss of the King's forces on this occasion was twelve men killed and twenty-five wounded, amongst whom were four officers of the King's Own, viz., Lieutenant-Colonel Honeywood[24], Captain East, and Cornets Owen and [Pg 38]Hamilton. The rebels had about twenty killed, and Captain Hamilton of the hussars with about seventy men taken prisoners[25].

The King's Own afterwards marched in pursuit of the rebels to Carlisle, and were stationed near the town during the siege, which was terminated by the surrender of the place on the 30th of December.

The regiment continued to advance into Scotland, and is mentioned in the list of the Duke of Cumberland's army in the spring of 1746. On the 14th of February it was detached to Dundee, and after the suppression of the rebellion, returned[Pg 39] to England, where it was employed in guarding the rebel prisoners at York. The establishment continued the same in this year, as it did in the following, but after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748, the numbers were reduced to 285, the regiment being then quartered at Bury St. Edmunds.

A regulation was issued on the 1st July, 1751, relative to the clothing and standards of the several regiments; from which the following particulars have been extracted relative to the King's Own dragoons.

Coats—scarlet; double breasted; without lapels; lined with light blue; slit sleeves turned up with light blue; the button-holes worked with narrow yellow lace; the buttons of yellow metal, set on three and three; a long slash pocket in each skirt, and a yellow worsted aiguillette on the right shoulder.

Waistcoats and Breeches—light blue.

Hats—bound with gold lace, and ornamented with a yellow metal loop, and a black cockade.

Boots—of jacked leather.

Cloaks—of scarlet cloth, with a light blue collar, and lined with light blue shalloon; the buttons set on three and three upon yellow frogs or loops, with a light blue stripe down the centre.

Horse Furniture—of light blue cloth; the holster-caps and housings having a border of royal lace, with a red stripe down the centre; the white horse within the garter, embroidered on[Pg 40] each corner of the housing; and on the holster-caps, the King's cipher and crown, with III.D underneath.

Officers—distinguished by gold lace; their coats and waistcoats bound with gold embroidery; the button-holes worked with gold; and a crimson silk sash worn across the left shoulder.

Quarter-Masters—to wear a crimson sash round the waist.

Serjeants—to have narrow gold lace on the cuffs, pockets and shoulder-straps; gold shoulder-knots or aiguillettes, and yellow and light blue worsted sashes tied round the waist.

Drummers and Hautboys—clothed in scarlet coats lined with light blue, and ornamented with royal lace with a blue stripe down the centre; their waistcoats and breeches of blue cloth.

Guidons—The first or King's guidon to be of crimson silk, embroidered and fringed with gold and silver; in the centre the rose and thistle conjoined, and crown over them, with the motto Dieu et mon Droit underneath: the white horse in a compartment in the first and fourth corners, and III.D in gold characters on a light blue ground in a compartment in the second and third corners. The second and third guidons to be of light blue silk, in the centre the white horse within the garter on a crimson ground, and motto Nec aspera terrent: the white horse on a scarlet ground in the first and fourth compartments, and III.D within a wreath of roses and thistles upon a scarlet ground in the second and third compartments.

[Pg 41]

In 1752 Lieut.-General Bland was removed to the King's dragoon guards, and His Majesty conferred the colonelcy of His Own Dragoons on James Lord Tyrawley from the fourteenth dragoons.

In 1753 the King's Own lay at Colchester, and in 1754 at Croydon. In December of this year it was broken up into half troops, and employed on coast duty: being scattered along the sea coast, from Shoreham to the Isle of Wight.

In April, 1755, Lord Tyrawley was removed to the second foot guards, and King George II. conferred the colonelcy of His Own Dragoons on George, Earl of Albemarle, from the twentieth foot.

In June, of the same year, the whole regiment assembled at Lewes, where it remained till July, 1756. At this time the King's Own, in common with the other regiments of dragoons, received the addition, novel to the British service, of a light troop. In July it marched to Reading, and in December of the same year, to Northampton.

The regiment marched to Henley, Amersham, and High Wycombe in June, 1757; and war having been declared against France in May, 1758, the light troop, then commanded by Captain St. Leger, was ordered into camp on South Sea Common, for the purpose of forming, with the light troops of eight other regiments, part of the force intended for a descent on the coast of France, the whole forming a brigade, under Colonel Eliott, afterwards Lord Heathfield. The troops embarked[Pg 42] May 19th, sailed June the 1st, and arrived on the French coast so as to land in Cancalle Bay on the 5th. On the 7th the army moved on St. Maloes, the light troops forming the advance guard, and encamping about a mile from the town.

As soon as night fell, the piquets and light dragoons were detached against the harbour and the suburbs of St. Servan, being ordered, if possible, to destroy the stores. This object they effected with equal judgment and determination, setting fire to the storehouses and vessels in the harbour, together with the magazines of tar, pitch, rope, &c., so completely performing their work, as totally to ruin the whole of the marine stores, and to destroy one man-of-war of 50 guns, one of 36, and all the privateers, some of 30 guns each; the vessels destroyed amounting to upwards of 100 sail, and the fire continuing to rage all night. The light dragoons afterwards advanced to the town of Dol, where, in several slight affairs, they showed great zeal and activity. On the 11th, they re-embarked, and the fleet sailed on the 16th, remaining, however, some time longer on the coast of France, and watching another opportunity to land. This being rendered impracticable by the weather, the fleet returned, and arrived at Spithead on the first of July. The light troops remained at Portsmouth for some time, and many experiments were made with boats of different constructions, in order to ascertain the practicability of landing men and horses in rough weather.

[Pg 43]

In August the brigade of light dragoons proceeded on a second expedition, and a landing having been effected in the Bay des Marées, Cherbourg was taken, and the fortifications, and vessels in the harbour were destroyed. A descent was afterwards effected in the Bay of St. Lunar, and an incursion made into the adjacent country; but on re-embarking, the rear guard was attacked, and it sustained some loss. In December, the light troops landed and went into quarters, the light troop of the King's Own being quartered at Maidenhead. So completely had these troops answered the expectations entertained of them, that, in the next year, the first English regiment of light dragoons (the present fifteenth hussars) was raised under Brigadier-General Eliott; and in June, 1759, each light troop received an augmentation of one lieutenant, one serjeant, and twenty-nine privates. On the 7th of November, the King's Own marched to Hounslow and Brentford, relieving the royals, who proceeded to Essex.

On the 21st of June, 1760[26], the regiment received orders to prepare for embarkation for Germany, to join the army of Prince Ferdinand. These orders were, however, countermanded, and in 1761 and 1762 the regiment was successively quartered at Romford, Colchester, Uxbridge, and Chelmsford.

[Pg 44]

Peace having been restored by the treaty of Fontainbleau; in April, 1763, the light troop was disbanded at Putney; but a few men of each troop were afterwards equipped as light dragoons.

In June the King's Own lay at York, and remained there till the spring of 1764, when they marched to Scotland, and occupied Dalkeith, Leith, Haddington, Musselburgh, and Linlithgow; and orders were received for remounting with long-tailed horses.[27]

In 1765, the regiment lay at Coventry and Warwick, and in the next year passed the summer at Reading, where it was reviewed on the 10th of May, afterwards taking up winter quarters at Dorchester, Blandford, and Sherbourne. At the same time the drummers on the establishment were ordered to be replaced by trumpeters.

The King's Own were employed on coast duty in 1767 and 1768; in the first year in Kent and Sussex, head quarters at Lewes; and the second in Suffolk and Essex, head quarters at Ipswich.

Five troops lay at York and one at Hull in 1769, and in the next year the regiment marched to Scotland, head quarters, with three troops, being stationed at Hamilton, and detachments at Linlithgow, Irvine, and Kilmarnock.

In the year 1771, the King's Own lay at Preston, Blackburn, Wigan, and Warrington; and[Pg 45] in 1772 at Worcester, Pershore, and Bromsgrove. In October of this year the colonelcy was conferred on the Honourable Charles Fitzroy (afterwards Lord Southampton)[28], from the fourteenth dragoons, in succession to the Earl of Albemarle, deceased.

In June, 1773, we find the regiment employed in aid of the revenue service on the coast of Kent, with its head-quarters at Canterbury. The year 1774 was spent at Northampton, and in April, 1775, the regiment was again marched to Scotland, being at East Retford in August, and in the autumn taking up quarters at Haddington, Dalkeith, and Musselburgh. In December of the same year, one troop was detached as far as Wakefield, and in the spring of 1776, the whole regiment followed to the south, and was quartered at Coventry, Lichfield, and Birmingham.

In 1777, the King's Own were reviewed at Newbury, and thence took up winter quarters at Blandford, Dorchester and Sherbourne. Early in 1778 they were ordered to Salisbury, there to be reviewed, and thence proceeded to Suffolk, and were encamped on Culford Heath, under the command of Lieutenant-General Warde, finally going into winter quarters in Sussex, and being employed there on coast duty during the remainder of the year. The regiment had, for many years, been in possession of a pair of Kettle Drums, in consequence of having taken them from the enemy,[Pg 46] and on the 25th of December, 1778, an additional man and horse was placed upon the establishment, which gave the regiment its complement of Trumpeters besides the kettle drummer; being granted by His Majesty in compliance with a memorial from the Colonel[29].

In the spring of 1779, the men of the regiment equipped as light dragoons, were incorporated, with detachments from other corps, into a regiment, which was numbered the twenty-first light dragoons.

In consequence of the alarming riots in London in 1780, the regiment was ordered thither, and was quartered about Islington, furnishing the piquets in Portman Square during the trial of Lord George Gordon, and having a party stationed in Apsley House, then the property of Lord Chancellor Bathurst.

[Pg 47]

In 1781, having been reviewed by His Majesty in Hyde Park, the King's Own marched into Suffolk; and in 1782, were quartered at Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham, thence proceeding to Manchester in the autumn. In 1783, after the spring review they marched to Newcastle-on-Tyne and Durham, assembled at the latter place for inspection in September, and then returned to their old quarters for the winter.

The King's Own, for the third time in fourteen years, entered Scotland in 1784, and took up their old quarters at Dalkeith, Leith, and Haddington. Here they were inspected by Major-General Mackay, and soon after detached a troop to Dumfries. In July, 1785, the six troops were at Manchester, and thence, in 1786, proceeded to Worcester, then a general place of inspection for cavalry. At this station they were inspected by Major-General Philipson, and, after a stay of about six weeks, went into winter quarters at Hereford, Ludlow, and Leominster.

In May, 1787, the regiment assembled at Hereford to be reviewed by Major-General Douglas. It was ordered, on the rumour of a Russian armament, to hold itself in readiness to join any force that might be assembled; but, nothing taking place, it went into winter quarters at Dorchester, Blandford, and Poole. In 1788, it moved to Salisbury, was there reviewed, and then quartered at Winchester.

Early in 1789, the regiment marched to Reading. It was there reviewed by His Majesty,[Pg 48] George III., on Ashford Common, and marched to Ipswich, where it remained until 1790, and, being then reviewed at Stamford, took up winter quarters at York and Lincoln.

At York all the troops assembled for inspection in the spring of 1791, and, for the fourth time marched to Scotland and were for two years quartered at Dumfries, being in that period twice inspected by Major-General Leslie.

In the spring of 1793, the King's Own received an order to augment three troops, and, after a short halt at Manchester, proceeded to Birmingham. From this place, four troops, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Waller, were detached back to Scotland, in consequence of serious riots in that part of the kingdom. In 1794 the regiment was ordered to furnish one hundred men, towards forming a regiment of cavalry for service in the West Indies; the newly-formed regiment was numbered the twenty-sixth light dragoons, and afterwards, on a reduction of regiments taking place, the twenty-third. In the same year a squadron from the troops in England, and one troop from those in Scotland, were ordered to embark to join the troops on the continent. The troop in Scotland marched a day or two, and was then recalled in consequence of the disturbed state of the country; and the squadron embarked at Blackwall, and was actually at sea, when it was recalled by a king's cutter, landed, and sent to Watford.

In 1795, the troops returned from Scotland,[Pg 49] having had most harassing duty for two winters; and in the spring of 1796, the whole regiment assembled at Salisbury under Lord Cathcart, thence proceeding to the camp at Weymouth, and finally taking up winter quarters in Exeter.

The colonelcy of the King's Own Dragoons was conferred in March 1797 on Major-General Francis Lascelles from the eighth dragoons, in succession to Lord Southampton, deceased.

During the summer, the King's Own were again encamped at Weymouth; and on the breaking up of the camp, marched to Northampton, where the ninth troop was reduced.

In May, 1798, the regiment marched to Nottingham, where an entire change took place in the arms and clothing; the long skirt was abolished, and instead of the musket and brace of large pistols before used, the men received the carbine and single pistol.

On the 10th of June, 1799, the regiment marched to form part of the cavalry camp on Swinley Downs, near Windsor, at which place it received orders to join the armament under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, then about to proceed to the Helder. These orders, however, were countermanded; and, at the breaking up of the camp, the regiment marched to Reading. During the time of encampment, Lt.-Colonel Callow[30] being appointed deputy governor of Quebec, was succeeded by Lt.-Colonel Waller, and [Pg 50]on the 4th of September, General Sir Charles Grey from the eighth dragoons succeeded General Lascelles as colonel. At this period the tails of the horses were again shortened, having been worn of the natural length since 1764.

In February, 1800, the King's Own marched to Trowbridge, but only remained there a few weeks, and then proceeded to Chester to be reviewed. At this place an augmentation of two troops took place, making a total of ten; and on the 22nd of September, the whole regiment marched to Lancashire, thence to Carlisle, and, in December, to Scotland, the head-quarters being established at Hamilton; three troops, under the command of Major Wade, being detached to Carlisle and Penrith. At Hamilton, the regiment was reviewed by Major-Generals Erskine and Vyse, and the present system of casting horses annually first introduced; and as it was considered the peculiar privilege of the regiment to have black horses exclusively, those that had the slightest shade of brown, were sent to the fourth dragoon guards, none but black horses being retained, with the exception of one white for the kettle-drums.

After the peace of Amiens in 1802, two troops were reduced; the number of men in the others being also reduced from 100 to 64; and, on the 11th of August, the King's Own embarked at Port-Patrick for Ireland, proceeded to Dundalk, and in the spring of 1803 marched to Belturbet. Here they were reviewed by Major-General Sir[Pg 51] James Afleck, and were actively employed in patrolling the country during the excitement caused by the disturbances in Dublin, to which place they proceeded in March, 1804, and were quartered in the royal barracks.[31]

On the 5th of April, 1805, the first division, immediately followed by the others, embarked for Liverpool, and marched to Nottingham, where the regiment remained for two years; the second year's halt being at the express request of the magistrates of Nottingham and Louth. The war having been resumed, two additional troops were added to the establishment.

The regiment marched to Chichester in May 1807, and being there reviewed by Major-General Hugonin, proceeded to Brighton, and was encamped on the hills above the present barracks, for the purpose of being reviewed, in conjunction with the first dragoon guards, by His Royal Highness the Duke of York. On the breaking[Pg 52] up of the camp, the Third marched to Chichester, but were shortly ordered to Canterbury, where a brigade was formed, consisting of the second dragoon guards, and third and fourth dragoons.

In January, 1809, the regiment received orders to embark at Portsmouth, for the purpose of joining the army in Spain, under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, and had advanced some days' march, when it was recalled, on the arrival of the news of the retreat of the British troops to Corunna.

On the 20th of July, the regiment received orders to march to Ramsgate, and was immediately embarked for Holland under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Mundy, forming part of an expedition designed to effect the destruction of the French shipping and arsenal on the Scheldt. After remaining in the Downs for six days, the fleet sailed, and arrived off Walcheren on the 29th, remaining there upwards of a fortnight; and after the capture of Flushing, proceeded up the Scheldt as far as Fort-Batz. The enemy's shipping had, in the meantime, been removed higher up the river, and an immense force assembled to oppose the British armament; at the same time an epidemic disease broke out among the English soldiers. The fleet consequently retired down the river, and sailed for England; the King's Own disembarked at Ramsgate in September following, and proceeded to occupy Canterbury, as before the expedition.

In April, 1810, in consequence of the riots in London, occasioned by the House of Commons[Pg 53] having ordered Sir Francis Burdett to be lodged in custody in the Tower, the regiment was hastily ordered thither, marching all night, and arriving in Southwark at 7 A. M. The men were billeted on the south side of the Thames; an hotel near Westminster Bridge being the head quarters, and the Obelisk the alarm post. After the suppression of the riots, the regiment was ordered to Guildford, where it was reviewed by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who was pleased to express his entire approbation of its appearance and discipline. On the release of Sir Francis Burdett from the Tower, the regiment was again sent to London, but remained there a few nights only, and then returned to Guildford.

Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, having conquered Portugal, had placed his brother Joseph on the throne of Spain, supported by a French army. The efforts of the Spaniards and Portuguese to regain their liberty, which commenced in 1808, were continued to be aided by the British government, and a force, amounting at this time to nearly sixty thousand men, had been assembled in Portugal under the command of Lieutenant-General the Viscount Wellington.

In June, 1811, the King's Own Dragoons, having been reviewed on Wimbledon Common by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, were, on their return to Guildford, completed to the field establishment by a draft of a hundred horses[32] from [Pg 54]the second dragoon guards, and ordered forthwith to proceed to the Peninsula. On the 25th and 27th of July the regiment embarked at Portsmouth, landed in the following month at Lisbon, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Mundy, and having met with favourable weather during the voyage, the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding was enabled to cause particular attention to be paid to the horses in regard to cleanliness, exercise, &c. The mode adopted for this purpose was as follows: three or four horses were backed into the hold, where they were walked round for a quarter of an hour; their feet washed, and hand-rubbed; and they were shod, if necessary; by these means their state of health and efficiency, on their disembarkation at Lisbon, were such, that upon landing they were capable of undertaking immediate service.

The regiment was reviewed at Belem by Major-General Le Marchant, and mustered as follows:—1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 1 Major, 6 Captains, 9 Lieutenants, 1 Cornet, 1 Surgeon, 1 Assistant Surgeon, 5 Troop Quarter-Masters, 1 Regimental Serjeant-Major, 1 Paymaster Serjeant, 1 Troop Serjeant-Major, 24 Serjeants, 24 Corporals, 6 Trumpeters, 6 Farriers, 480 Privates, and 518 Troop Horses.

The King's Own left Belem on the 19th of September, under the command of Major Clowes, (the Lieutenant Colonel having been compelled by sickness to remain at Lisbon,) and marching through Villa Franca and Santarem, arrived at[Pg 55] Abrantes in Portuguese Estremadura on the 27th. Here they remained until the 15th October, and then advanced through Niza and Villa Velha to Castello Branco in the province of Beira, where they were reviewed on the 7th of December, by Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, who expressed his satisfaction at the very effective state of the men and horses.

In consequence of the extreme difficulty of procuring forage, the centre squadron moved, on the 21st of December, to Idanha a Nova on the frontiers of Spain, and in these quarters the regiment remained till the beginning of 1812, when it was ordered to the front to form part of the army covering the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, being quartered at Aldea de Ponte and Fundao, and experiencing great inconvenience from the scarcity of forage.

In February, Lord Wellington having resolved on the siege of Badajoz, the capital of Spanish Estremadura, the King's Own marched south with their brigade (the fifth dragoon guards, and fourth dragoons,) and arrived at Borba in the Alemtejo on the 5th of March. On the 16th, a pontoon bridge was thrown over the Guadiana, and Badajoz was invested; the day previous to which the brigade moved from Borba, and crossing the bridge, formed the advance guard of the covering army, which continued to advance till it arrived at the foot of an extensive chain of mountains called the Sierra Morena. On the 26th, the King's Own marched at sunset from Medina to Campo,[Pg 56] and at midnight joined a force under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham, destined to surprise three battalions of French infantry and two regiments of cavalry lying in Llerena. Owing to a mistake on the part of the Chasseurs Britanniques (who formed the advance of the infantry column), the projected surprise failed, and the French retired into the mountains during the night, and took post at Azuaga, a town nine miles to the south of Llerena. On the 29th of March, after a sharp affair, the French were driven from Azuaga, and the head quarters of the Brigade were established there. The authorities of this town gave a superb entertainment to Sir Stapleton Cotton.

On the night of the 31st of March, a man deserted, who, it is supposed, gave information of the situation and strength of the British outpost; and on the 1st of April, a strong French force was detached to cut off the piquets at La Granja. A patrol, commanded by Cornet Ratcliffe of the Third, having met with the enemy's advance guard, was driven in, and the two British squadrons were attacked by seven squadrons of French cavalry, supported by infantry. After a severe struggle, the enemy, perceiving their surprise had failed, retired, and the piquets resumed their station.[33] In this affair the King's Own lost thirteen men and twelve horses.

On the 2nd of April, Marshal Soult's army[Pg 57] having advanced from Seville, with a view to raise the siege of Badajoz, the covering army began to retire before the superior numbers of the French. This retreat was continued through Usagre, Villa Franca, and Almandralejo, upon Albuhera, where, being supported by the besieging force, the army went into position on the 9th, and preparations were made for a general action. Soult, however, having heard of the fall of Badajoz, commenced a retrograde movement towards the frontiers of Andalusia on the 10th; on which day Major General Le Marchant's brigade, (the fifth dragoon guards, Third and fourth dragoons) forming the advance of the British, proceeded to Los Santos, and again in the night to Bienvenida, with the view of gaining the flank of the cavalry of a French corps (General Drouet's) encamped between Usagre and Villa Garcia; but the enemy retreated. The Brigade, however, defiled under cover of some heights, and by a flank movement came up with the French on the 11th in front of Llerena, charging and driving them into that town with the loss of one hundred and fifty prisoners, including several officers.

Intelligence was received of the advance of Marshal Marmont, on the north of Portugal. This general, leaving Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida, on his rear, had pushed on as far as Castello Branco, thus threatening to destroy the communications of the British, by cutting the bridge of boats at Villa Velha. It therefore became necessary to reinforce the few troops left on that frontier, and[Pg 58] Major General Le Marchant's brigade was one of those ordered for this service. It marched through Elvas, Estremos, Crato, Niza, and Villa Velha to Castello Branco, and finally took up its quarters at Val-de-rosa; but Marmont having retired into Spain on the approach of the British, the brigade returned to the Alemtejo, and was, on the 12th of April, stationed at Cabeca de Vide, Crato, and Fronteira, the King's Own being at the former place. On the 29th they received a sudden order to join a brigade of light cavalry, for the purpose of covering Lieut.-General Hill in his attack upon the tête-de-pont and bridge of boats at Almaraz, which brilliant exploit having been effected, the regiment returned to Cabeca de Vide on the 27th of May.

On the 1st of June the whole army, with the exception of Lieut.-General Hill's corps, moved to the north. On the 11th, Major-General Le Marchant's brigade arrived at Ciudad Rodrigo, and on the 12th was reviewed by Lord Wellington. On the 13th, the brigade moved forward and continued to advance till the 16th, when it found the enemy posted near Salamanca, and a skirmish took place which lasted till night-fall. On the 17th, the brigade crossed the Tormes, and was quartered near the village of Cabrerizos, and on the advance of the French, on the 20th, the whole army went into position on the heights of St. Christoval, with its right on the Tormes, and its left near Villares de la Reyna. On this day the brigade, being in front, sustained a can[Pg 59]nonade of about an hour, and the King's Own lost twenty horses: the regiment afterwards took post on the summit of the mountain.

On the night of the 23rd the French army retired, and was followed at daybreak by the first and seventh divisions, and Le Marchant's brigade of cavalry, which crossed the river by the fords of Santa Marta; when Marshal Marmont, after a short delay, returned to his former position, and manœuvred for some days on the Tormes, but after the reduction of the forts at Salamanca, which took place on the 27th, he crossed the Douro at Tordesillas, closely followed by Lord Wellington, who, however, did not cross the river, but took up a position between Pollos and La Seca; Major-General Le Marchant's brigade being stationed at Pollos and Naval del Rey to watch the ford.

Marshal Marmont being strengthened by a division from the Asturias, pushed a column across the river on the 16th of July, in consequence of which the troops in Pollos fell back upon Fuente la Pena. On the 18th, it was understood that the enemy's army had passed the Douro at Tordesillas, by which manœuvre the safety of two divisions, and a brigade of cavalry, on the Trebancos, was much endangered, and Major-General Le Marchant's, with two other brigades of cavalry, were quickly moved up to cover their retreat, which was effected with trifling loss. The brigade had entered its bivouac near Canizal, when an order was received for a[Pg 60] squadron of the King's Own to proceed to the support of two guns, intended to be placed on the hill above Castrillos. This order was soon increased to the whole regiment, which, on its march, discovered that the enemy was advancing in force, and pressing Major-General Alten's brigade very closely. Major Clowes immediately solicited, and received permission to go to their support, and the regiment accordingly advanced, and though checked by the fire of some French infantry, assisted in driving back the enemy's cavalry; the French infantry continuing to advance were repulsed by Lieut.-General Cole's division, and pursued with great loss. In this affair the regiment sustained the following loss; one serjeant-major, six privates, and four horses killed; lieutenant Branfell, and two privates wounded.[34]

On the 19th, the Brigade retired to the table land above the villages of Vallesa and El Olmo, and on the 20th, the hostile armies manœuvred within cannon shot of each other, the French moving to their left, and the British to their right. On the 21st the British went into their old position on the heights of St. Christoval, and the French crossed the Tormes at the fords of Alba and Huerta, marching to their left. To[Pg 61] oppose this manœuvre, the British crossed the river at Salamanca. In the course of this day's manœuvres, Major-General Le Marchant's brigade crossed the river at the ford of Santa Marta three times, and took up its bivouac on the south bank opposite the town. In the course of this night so dreadful a thunder-storm burst upon the British lines, that the horses broke loose; many were lost by running into the French lines, and the remainder could not be secured till daybreak. The King's Own had to send to the rear an officer and sixteen men, severely injured by the horses, which were all linked together, running over them.

The morning of the 22nd of July, found the hostile armies opposed to each other. The British line was formed with its left on the Tormes, and its right on the rocky hills called the Arapiles; Major-General Le Marchant's brigade, quitting its bivouac ground, formed line in the centre of the position, to check the advance of the enemy's cavalry. The French marshal manœuvred to gain the road to Ciudad Rodrigo; his dragoons, after some skirmishing, were compelled to retire, and the King's Own again took ground to their right, passing the village of Arapiles, and forming in support of the fourth and fifth divisions. Lord Wellington, taking advantage of an injudicious movement made by his opponent, ordered his divisions forward, and the battle commenced. The French, attacked while making a complicated evolution, were in[Pg 62]stantly broken. A favourable opportunity for a charge of the British heavy cavalry occurring, the fifth dragoon guards, King's Own, and fourth dragoons, advanced, and a most animated scene presented itself. The din of conflict was heard on every side; clouds of dust and rising columns of smoke darkened the air, and enveloped the British squadrons as they rushed to battle. In front, the glittering bayonets and waving plumes of the French infantry were dimly seen through the thickened atmosphere; against these formidable ranks, the English horsemen dashed with terrific violence, the weight and fury of their charge broke the opposing lines, and in an instant the French musketeers were overthrown and trampled down with a terrible clamour and disturbance. 'Bewildered and blinded, they cast away their arms and ran through the openings of the British squadrons, stooping and demanding quarter, while the dragoons, big men, and on big horses, rode onward, smiting with their long glittering swords in uncontrollable power, and the third division followed at speed, shouting as the French masses fell in succession before this dreadful charge.'

'Nor were these valiant swordsmen yet exhausted. Their own general, Le Marchant, and many officers had fallen, but Cotton and all his staff were at their head, and with ranks confused, and blended together in one mass, still galloping forward they sustained from a fresh column an irregular stream of fire which[Pg 63] emptied a hundred saddles; yet with fine courage, and downright force, the survivors broke through this the third and strongest body of men that had encountered them, and Lord Edward Somerset, continuing his course at the head of one squadron, with a happy perseverance, captured five guns. The French left was entirely broken, more than two thousand prisoners were taken, the French light horsemen abandoned that part of the field, and Thomiere's division no longer existed as a military body. Anson's cavalry, which had passed quite over the hill, and had suffered little in the charge, was now joined by D'Urban's troopers, and took the place of Le Marchant's exhausted men; the heavy German dragoons followed in reserve, and with the third and fifth divisions and the guns formed one formidable line two miles in advance of where Pakenham first attacked, and that impetuous officer, with unmitigated strength, still pressed forward, spreading terror and disorder on the enemy's left[35].'

In this attack Major-General Le Marchant received a ball through the body, which terminated the career of that brave and talented officer. Lieutenant Selby, of the King's Own, was likewise killed by a musket-shot through the left breast.[36] The result of this day was the entire [Pg 64]overthrow of the French, 7,000 prisoners, eleven guns and two eagles remaining in the hands of the victors. The King's Own earned, on this occasion, the royal permission to bear the word 'Salamanca,' on their guidons. They sustained the following loss: Killed,—Lieutenant Selby, one serjeant, nine privates, and two officers' horses, and 13 troop horses. Wounded,—one serjeant, eight privates, and fifteen horses.

After the action the French retreated upon Alba, where they crossed the Tormes, and thence through Arevalo, upon Valladolid, sustaining in their march a severe loss from the German cavalry, which, having been uninjured in the battle, was despatched in pursuit of, and overtook their rear-guard three leagues beyond Alba, defeating it, and taking nine hundred prisoners.

The British army advanced on the route of the French, and entered Valladolid on the 30th of July; on the following day Cuellar was occupied, and on the 6th of August, the army moved on Segovia, crossed the Guadarama mountains on the 10th, and entered Madrid on the 12th; the brigade, now commanded by Colonel Ponsonby, forming the personal escort of Lord Wellington.

After halting seven days at Madrid, the brigade moved to St. Ildefonso, where it was cantoned for a few days. Intelligence was received [Pg 65]that the army of General Clausel, who had succeeded Marmont, was advancing on Valladolid, and the British in consequence assembled at Olivares and its vicinity. An immediate attack was intended; but the artillery of the fifth division not arriving in time, the enemy retired on the 7th of September, having destroyed the bridge at Valladolid. They continued retreating rapidly till the 17th, when the immediate vicinity of Burgos induced Clausel to make a stand, and Colonel Ponsonby's brigade was ordered to the front; but, before the army could be formed for attack, the enemy again retired to Breviesca, leaving a strong garrison in the castle of Burgos.

The castle was invested, and the covering army took up a position on the heights of Quintana Palla, the King's Own being at Villa Yerna.

On the 19th of October, the French General Souham, who now commanded in the place of Clausel, being greatly reinforced, resolved to attempt the relief of Burgos. About four P. M. the French attacked and carried the village of Quintanapalla, but were repulsed in every attempt to penetrate farther, and abandoned the village on the approach of a force destined to retake it, consisting of the left wing of infantry, and Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry.

It being ascertained that Marshal Soult and Joseph Bonaparte were moving on the Tagus, and that Sir Rowland Hill, menaced by such powerful forces, could not maintain his position[Pg 66] on that river, at the same time his retreat would leave the army before Burgos, already in a critical situation, quite insulated, the Marquis of Wellington resolved to retire so far as was necessary to form a junction with Sir Rowland Hill; and at dusk on the 21st, the army withdrew with such celerity and silence that the French were not aware of the retreat till the British had reached Hormillas, and did not show in any force till the evening of the 22nd of October. On the next morning the retrograde movement was continued in two columns, Ponsonby's brigade covering the column from Hormillas, and being threatened during the day by an immense body of cavalry. Such was the steadiness of the troops, that the overwhelming, force of the French could make no impression and the column went into bivouac for the night on the hills above Cordovilla, with little or no loss.

An hour before daylight on the 24th, the column, covered by Ponsonby's brigade, filed over the bridge of Cordovilla, and in the course of the day, the army crossed the Carrion, the head-quarters being established at Duenas. Early on the morning of the 25th, two squadrons of the fifth dragoon guards and Third dragoons were sent to the bridges of Palencia, to cover the party employed in mining them for destruction, but the French, advancing in force, gained possession of the bridges in an unbroken state. At this place the King's Own lost a man and horse by[Pg 67] a round shot, and the party returned in the evening to Duenas; the army having in the meantime destroyed the bridges at that place, and at Villa Muriel, and the enemy having been defeated in an attempt to cross by the fords.

The army retired four leagues on the 26th of October, and crossed the Pisuerga at Cabezon, in which town, and its vicinity, it remained till the 29th, when it retired early, and crossed the Douro at Tudela and Puente del Douro, the bridges at which places were blown up, as were those at Toro and Zamora; but the French having possessed themselves of the bridge at Tordesillas, the British on the following morning took up a position in front of it. In this position they remained till the 6th of November, when, the enemy having repaired the bridge of Toro, it became necessary to retire to Torrecilla de la Orden, and thence, on the 7th and 8th, to Salamanca. On the 14th, the French crossed the Tormes, and the British recommenced their retreat on the following morning, and entered Ciudad Rodrigo on the 18th; they afterwards went into winter quarters on the frontiers of Portugal, the enemy not advancing beyond the Yeltes. On the 20th, Ponsonby's brigade was at Albergaria, where it halted eight days, after which the King's Own proceeded by the route of Guarda, Celerico, and Penhancos, to Saixho. Here the regiment was quartered until the 28th of December, then at Arganil till February 11th, 1813, and afterwards at Soure,[Pg 68] near the mouth of the Mondego, until the 19th of April.

On the above day the King's Own moved towards the north of Portugal, and rejoined the brigade at Braganza, on the 21st of May. On the 24th the brigade was at Tabara, and on the 26th it crossed the Esla at Pozuela. The enemy made no resistance at the passage of the river, and was compelled to abandon the line of the Douro, by Lord Wellington's advance along their rear. The column to which Ponsonby's brigade was attached, was directed on Valencia, and passing through that town, advanced on Burgos. On the 12th of June, the brigade overtook the enemy's rear-guard on the heights of Estepar, when the King's Own were detached to cut off part of the enemy's force, in which the regiment completely succeeded, making its way to the high road from Madrid, throwing the enemy into confusion on Burgos; a squadron of the fourteenth, with a detachment of the King's Own, charging the enemy's rear, captured a gun: the regiment had captain Sitwell and one private wounded, and five horses killed and three wounded.

During the night of the 12th, the French blew up the castle of Burgos and retired behind the Ebro, which river the brigade, after marching through a wild and difficult region of deep narrow valleys and rugged defiles, crossed at Puente de Arenas on the 15th. Both armies were concentrated, the British on the river Bayas, and the[Pg 69] French on the undulating grounds in the valley of Vittoria, where, on the 21st of June, they were attacked by the allied army. The result of this attack was a most decisive victory, the French only carrying from the field two guns; the whole of their immense equipment fell into the hands of the British. Owing to the nature of the field of battle the cavalry could scarcely act,[37] and that arme was principally employed in supporting the infantry, and in the pursuit, which was continued until the enemy had passed Pampeluna. The gallant bearing of the King's Own was rewarded in 1821, with the royal permission to bear the word "Vittoria" on their guidons.

At this period, General Clausel with fifteen thousand men was at Logroño, and of course, was not engaged in the battle; nor was he aware that an engagement had taken place, till he arrived near Vittoria, and found the town in the possession of the British: he then returned to Logroño, and marched upon Tudela, hoping to reach Pampeluna before the British. On the 27th his scheme was discovered, and the Marquis of Wellington detached the cavalry with two divisions of infantry to intercept him. This detached force arrived on the same night at Tafalla and Olieta, and on the next morning advanced upon Tudela, when it was discovered that Clausel, upon receiving intelligence of the force sent against him,[Pg 70] had retreated to Saragossa, whence he returned to France by the pass of Jaca, his artillery falling into the hands of the Spanish troops.

On the 30th of June the infantry returned to Pampeluna, and Major-General Ponsonby's brigade remained at Tafalla for eleven days, when forage becoming scarce, it moved to Laraga, and halted there a fortnight.

The cavalry received an order to move to the north on the 27th of July, in consequence of the troops having been forced from the passes of Roncesvalles and Maya in the Pyrenees. The army took up a position at Huarte and Villarba, and the town of Pampeluna was illuminated at the prospect of relief. On the 28th, Soult attacked the British position, but was repulsed with loss; Count D'Erlon's division was compelled to fall back upon Maya, and the British recovered their lost ground. On the 8th of August, the King's Own fell back upon Allo and Dicastello, and on the 27th of December, removed for the convenience of forage to the neighbourhood of Vittoria, occupying the villages of Alegria, Aranjuez, and Troconiz, and remained there until the 24th of February following.

An advance took place, Ponsonby's brigade marched through the Pyrenean mountains by Salinas Bergara, Villa Franca and Tolosa, to St. Jean de Luz in France, halted there two days, and then advanced through Bidart to the Adour, crossing the river on a bridge of boats, and con[Pg 71]tinued to follow the route of the French, who were retreating on Bayonne. The advance was continued through Peyrehorade to Castlenau, and on the 19th of March, 1814, Marshal Soult was discovered in position, with his left at Tarbes, and his right at Rabastens. This right flank was ordered to be turned by a division of infantry, and Ponsonby's brigade of cavalry, and being thus threatened, Soult retired through a strong country by St. Gaudens, upon Toulouse. The British, being obliged to wait for stores, did not advance rapidly, and on the 25th, the King's Own lay at Fontenelle. On the next day the regiment advanced to La Mosquiere, and there came up with a regiment of French Chasseurs à cheval, which it charged and drove beyond Cuneva, taking several prisoners and horses, and seizing a large quantity of bread prepared by the French for their own use. Lieut. Burns' horse was killed, Lieut. Jebb's wounded, and two troop horses killed, but the regiment sustained no further loss.

The army arrived before Toulouse on the 27th of March, and on the 31st, a pontoon bridge being laid at St. Roques, the brigade crossed the Garonne, and seized the bridge on the Arriege, at Cintagabelle. The roads were found so bad in this direction that no further attempt was made, and the troops being recalled, the pontoon bridge was removed to Grenade, a town below Bayonne, and there laid down on the 4th of April. On this day Ponsonby's, with two other[Pg 72] brigades of cavalry, and three divisions of infantry, crossed the river, the brigade being quartered at Grissolles, and having a strong piquet on the road to Montauban. In the course of the night the river rose so considerably, that the bridge was obliged to be removed, and the communication was cut off; Soult, however, made no attack, but employed himself in strengthening his position, which covered Toulouse.

On the 8th of April the current subsided, and the pontoons were again laid down. On the 9th the troops were passing the river, and on Easter Sunday (the 10th), Soult was attacked in his position. In this attack the brigade, then commanded by Colonel Lord Charles Manners, was at different periods employed in supporting the Spanish forces, the hussar brigade, and General Clinton's division. It was not a cavalry action, and the only casualties were—Captain Burn, one trumpeter, four privates, wounded: two horses killed. The enemy abandoned his entrenchments before dusk, and took post behind the canal. The King's Own were rewarded for their conduct on this occasion with the royal permission, dated 20th September, 1821, to bear the word "Toulouse" on their guidons.

Marshal Soult retired down the canal on the 12th towards Carcasonne, and on the 13th, hostilities were terminated by the arrival of the news of the abdication of Napoleon, and of the accession of Louis XVIII. to the throne of France; Marshals Soult and Suchet, after a short delay, gave[Pg 73] their assent to the new order of affairs, and a line of demarcation between the armies was agreed upon. The King's Own went into quarters at Lanta and Caraman, and remained there until the end of May.

On the 10th of June, the brigade, having embarked its dismounted men at Bourdeaux, commenced its march to the north by the following route:—

At Boulogne Major-General Sir Henry Fane inspected the three regiments, and expressed his satisfaction at the efficiency of the brigade after so long a march. He congratulated the commanding officers on the excellent condition of their horses, and selected a number, of which the King's Own furnished fifteen, to be given up to the French government for the purpose of mounting the royal guard. On the 19th of July, the[Pg 74] brigade, having received the highest praise from Major-General the Hon. W. Ponsonby,[38] embarked at Boulogne and arrived at Dover on the following day, the King's Own having been absent three years, from the time of their embarkation on the 25th of the same month, 1811.

From Dover the King's Own marched through Maidstone to Brentford, and, on the 28th of July, were reviewed on Hounslow Heath by His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, immediately afterwards commencing their march to Northampton [Pg 75]and joining the depôt (which had marched thither from Canterbury) on the 3rd of August. On the 13th two troops were reduced, and on the 16th, the regiment marched for Newcastle-on-Tyne, arriving there on the 1st of September; two troops were detached to Carlisle, and one to Durham.

On the 26th of September, the head-quarters marched into York barracks,[39] troops being left at Newcastle, Morpeth, Carlisle, and Workington. In these quarters the Regiment was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Wynyard in the summer of 1815, and afterwards marched for St. Albans.

In the meantime Napoleon Bonaparte had returned to France; a British army had assembled in Belgium under the command of the Duke of Wellington; the battle of Waterloo had been won, and the King's Own were ordered to form ten troops, four of which marched to Coventry, and the remaining[Pg 76] six, consisting of thirty-two officers, thirty-four serjeants, six trumpeters, three hundred and seventy-one rank and file, and three hundred and eighty-two horses, proceeded to Dover and Ramsgate, where they immediately embarked for Ostend to reinforce the British army in France.

The King's Own disembarked at Ostend on the 24th of July, and moving up the country into France, were, on their arrival in the vicinity of Paris, placed in cantonments at Chaton, near Malmaison. On the 2nd of September, the Emperor of Russia reviewed the first and eighth brigades of cavalry, consisting of the first and second life guards, royal horse guards, first, second, and third dragoon guards, and Third dragoons. On the 22nd of the same month, the allied army was reviewed by the Duke of Wellington on the plain of St. Denis, and on the 11th of October, the whole of the British, Hanoverian, Danish, and Saxon contingents, were reviewed between Paris and St. Denis, by the Duke of Wellington, the Emperor of Russia, and the King of Prussia; after the review the King's Own marched to Nantes, where they remained several months.

On the 25th of January, 1816, the King's Own forming part of the Army of Occupation left in France after the restoration of Louis XVIII. left Nantes, and after successively making short halts at Bonnieres, Ligny, and Bailleul, took up quarters at Steenvoorde, on the 1st of June. Here the regiment remained till the 1st of August, and then marched to Theronenne, where it was twice[Pg 77] reviewed; on the 12th of October by the Duke of Wellington, and on the 22nd by His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and the Duke of Wellington. At this last review the whole of the British army was assembled on the plains of Denain. After the review the regiment marched to Audricq, and remained there all the following year; occasionally, however, moving to different towns, as Bouberg, Louches, and the vicinity of St. Omer, for the purpose of reviews and inspections, or to make room for troops marching to the coast for embarkation.

In the year 1818 the reviews went on in the same way and on the same ground, until October 18th, on which day the King's Own, being ordered to return to England, embarked at Calais for Dover, landed there on the following day, and marched to Canterbury. On the 24th, a considerable reduction took place in the regiment, two troops being disbanded, and the remaining eight ordered to consist of one serjeant-major, two serjeants, three corporals, one trumpeter, one farrier, forty-two privates, and thirty-four horses each.

In October, 1818, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, was pleased to direct, that the Third and Fourth Regiments of Dragoons should be mounted, clothed, and equipped as Light Dragoon Regiments; the alteration of title, &c., to take effect from the 25th December, 1818.

On the 26th October, two squadrons, under the command of Major Davenport, marched to Salt[Pg 78] Hill, to attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Charlotte, and on the 7th of December, the remaining troops marched for Bristol, on their route to Ireland, disembarked at Waterford, and detaching one squadron to Tullamore, marched into Newbridge barracks on the 7th of February, 1819. In these stations the regiment was reviewed by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Paget, who was pleased to express his approbation of its appearance and discipline.

In January, 1820, in consequence of the disturbed state of the province of Connaught, two squadrons of the regiment were hastily ordered to march thither; one troop was quartered at Ballinasloe, one at Tuam, and the other two at Ballinrobe. In March, Generals Sir Edward Paget and Sir John Elley arrived with all the disposable force, and from their exertions the country assumed some appearance of tranquillity.

The King's Own returned to Newbridge, and was there, on the 22nd of May, inspected by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, who was pleased to give them the highest praise.

On the 18th of June, the King's Own marched to Dublin, and on the next day was reviewed, for the first time, as a "Light Regiment;" other reviews took place on the 21st and 30th, before Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, and the regiment returned to Newbridge.

On the 16th of August, the King's Own marched into Dublin, relieving the royal dragoons, who sailed for England, and in October, the regi[Pg 79]ment was inspected by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, who issued the following order:—

'October 14th, 1820.

'The half-yearly inspection of the King's Own Light Dragoons affords Major-General Sir C. Grant an opportunity of again expressing his approbation of that corps. The interior arrangements, field movements, attention of the officers, and steadiness of the men, all enable him to make the most satisfactory report to the Commander of the Forces.'

The regiment remained in Dublin during the winter, and in January, 1821, the colonelcy was conferred on Lieut.-General Stapleton Cotton, Viscount Combermere, K.C.B., G.C.H., in succession to General Cartwright, who was removed to the first dragoon guards.

On the 17th of August the regiment had the honour of forming the personal escort of His Majesty King George the Fourth, on his public entry into Dublin. On the 18th, His Majesty reviewed the garrison, then consisting of the Third and sixth dragoons, seventh hussars, twelfth and nineteenth lancers, of the twenty-third, thirty-third, forty-third, fifty-second, and seventy-eighth regiments of infantry. The King remained in Dublin until the 2nd of September, on which day, having been escorted to Powerscourt by a detachment of His Own regiment of dragoons, His Majesty embarked at Dunleary, the remainder of the regiment forming a guard of honour at the harbour.

[Pg 80]

On the 4th and 5th of September, the King's Own marched out of Dublin, and took up quarters in the counties of Waterford and Wexford, at Cahir, New Ross, and Fethard.[40] Here, however, they remained only a short time, being ordered to Newcastle and Limerick, in consequence of the disturbances which agitated that part of Ireland, particularly the county of Limerick.

In these quarters the regiment was inspected on the 22nd of October, by Major General Sir John Elley, and in January, 1822, the head-quarters marched to Limerick, troops and detachments being stationed at nine different places in the south of Ireland. The regiment was, in June, again inspected by Sir John Elley, and being ordered to embark for England, had the honour of receiving an order from Major-General Sir John Lambert, commanding the district, in which the major-general was pleased to state that 'he could[Pg 81] not allow the regiment to leave the district without expressing his entire satisfaction at the manner in which most harassing duties had been performed by the head-quarters and detachments in the disturbed part of the country.'

On the 19th and 22nd of June, the regiment embarked at Waterford, and landing at Bristol, proceeded to Brighton, and on the 28th of October, having marched to Chichester, was reviewed by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, one troop being detached to Hastings. On the 7th of November, the regiment marched to Romford, where it remained till June, 1828, and hence proceeded to Hampton Court and its vicinity. Here, on the 15th of July, a grand cavalry review took place. The brigades were a cuirassier brigade, first and second life guards, and royal horse guards, commanded by Colonel Sir Robert Hill; a light brigade, King's Own light dragoons, seventh and fifteenth hussars, commanded by Colonel Lord Charles Manners; and a brigade of horse artillery, commanded by Colonel Sir Augustus Frazer. These troops, being commanded by Major-General Lord E. Somerset, were reviewed by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, and on the 22nd, an order was issued highly flattering to the whole of the regiments present.

The King's Own remained at Hounslow for some months, in the course of which, on leaving the station of Hampton Court, the troops received a most honourable testimonial of their character[Pg 82] and conduct from His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence.[41]

On the 7th of July, 1824, the same brigades under the same officers, were again reviewed by His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, and on the 12th the head-quarters of the King's Own marched for Coventry, troops being detached to Birmingham, Hinckley, and Abergavenny.

In May, 1825, the regiment having been inspected by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, the head-quarters moved to Newcastle-on-Tyne, a squadron being detached to Carlisle. On the 22nd of July, a party was detached to Sunderland, in consequence of the riots there, in which the associated keelmen had gained such power as to prevent any vessels putting to sea. On the 3rd of August, these disturbances grew to such a height that it became necessary for the military, under the direction of the magistrates, to make use of their arms, when seven lives were unfortunately lost; but of so good effect was this salutary severity, that from that time order was restored, and the troops returned to Newcastle, receiving from Major-General Harris, commanding the district, from the Horse-guards, and from the magistrates[Pg 83] and inhabitants of Sunderland, the highest praise for their coolness and forbearance, under very trying circumstances.[42]

On the 27th of May, 1825, Colonel Lord Charles S. Manners was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and was succeeded in the Lieutenant-colonelcy of the Third, King's Own, Light Dragoons[Pg 84] by Colonel Lord Robert Manners, from the half-pay of the Tenth Royal Hussars.

On the 3rd of March, 1826, the King's Own commenced their march for Portpatrick, embarked there for Ireland, and took up their quarters at Dundalk, Belturbet, and Longford, the squadron from which latter place afterwards marched to Belfast. On the 23rd of September, the regiment assembled at Dundalk, and was there inspected by Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, the detached squadrons immediately returning to their former quarters, and the whole marching into Dublin, in June 1827, and occupying Portobello barracks. The regiment remained at Dublin nine months, and then marched into Connaught, receiving the highest praise from Lieutenant-General Sir George Murray. It was then quartered as follows: one troop and head-quarters at Ballinrobe, two troops at Athlone, two troops at Gort, and one at Loughrea.

The five detached troops received orders on the 30th of June to proceed to Ennis, to assist in preserving the peace during the Clare election. Two troops were quartered in a ruined distillery, two in the yards of the infirmary, and one at Clare Castle, where Major-General Sir Charles Doyle, who had arrived from Limerick, established his head-quarters. The troops remained at Ennis ten days, and then returned to their former stations, the regiment being stationed in Connaught for fifteen months, and receiving on three several occasions the highest character from Major-General[Pg 85] Taylor, and Major-General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot, K.C.B., the inspecting general officers; the latter of whom was pleased to express 'his regret at losing from his district a regiment which had done itself such credit by its excellent conduct, while under his command.' This order is dated 30th April, 1829; and in the beginning of the next month, the regiment embarked at Dublin for England, being ordered to proceed to Exeter; but on landing at Liverpool, it was detained in the north, in consequence of some disturbances there, and ordered to march on the evening of debarkation to Prescot, one squadron being directed upon Manchester, and troops to Bury, Bolton, Blackburn, and Haslingden. On the 15th of June, the head-quarters moved to Sheffield, the troops from Bolton occupying Rochdale; and on the 5th of July, in consequence of riots in the town of Barnsley, a troop was sent thither, and remained there till the following spring.

In September General Viscount Combermere was removed to the first life guards; and the colonelcy of the King's Own was conferred on Lieut.-General Lord George Thomas Beresford, G.C.H.

In the course of this year a squadron was detached to Doncaster, in consequence of riots at the races there; and the regiment was inspected by Major-General Sir H. Vivian, when Colonel Lord Robert Manners received the directions of the Major-General to express his approbation of the state of the regiment, and in addition to the flattering terms in which the General expressed his opinion of the officers and men on the parade,[Pg 86] he directed the commanding officer to issue an order, entirely approving of all he had seen, which order he desired might not only be entered in the regimental order book, but likewise inserted in the regimental records.

On the 6th of April, 1830, the King's Own marched into York, detaching one troop to Newcastle-on-Tyne: and on the 21st of May, they were reviewed by Major-General Sir H. Bouverie, commanding the northern district.[43] On the 25th of November, the regiment left York en route to Nottingham, being ordered there to replace troops employed in quelling disturbances in the south of England. On the 6th of December, one troop was detached to Loughborough, in consequence of riots there, and returned on the 17th, receiving a vote of thanks from the magistrates of Leicestershire for their readiness and promptitude. On the 22nd, the regiment was ordered to complete its establishment to the full numbers, and accordingly detached parties to Loughborough and Derby; and on the 29th, the first division, immediately followed by the others, left Nottingham [Pg 87]and returned to York. At York an increase in the number of horses took place, the number per troop being fixed at forty-five.

In consequence of a sudden order received on the night of the 2nd of March, 1831, for the regiment to march on the following morning, one squadron moved to Leeds, and the second to Burnley; but on the 4th of April, the latter squadron returned to Leeds to succeed the first, which had marched to Newcastle. On the 25th of the same month, a troop marched to Chester-le-Street, near Durham; and on the 5th and 6th of May, the remaining part of the regiment left Leeds for Newcastle. In this quarter the regiment was employed in the suppression of riots among the colliers, and was inspected by Major-General Dalbiac.

On the 23rd of September, the King's Own marched in three divisions to Edinburgh, where they remained for eight months; and in April, 1832, proceeded to Glasgow and Hamilton.

Returning to England in the spring of 1833, the regiment was stationed at Ipswich and Norwich; in the summer of 1834 it was removed to Hounslow and took the King's duty; and in the summer of 1835 it embarked for Ireland, and occupied quarters at Cork, Ballincollig, and Limerick.

In June, 1836, the King's Own were stationed at Cahir and Clonmel; and returning to England in the spring of 1837, they proceeded to Canterbury. On the 19th May, 1837, Colonel Joseph Thackwell, late of the 15th Hussars, exchanged from the half-pay with Lieutenant Colonel Stisted.

[Pg 88]

The regiment, having been selected to proceed to the East Indies, embarked in July, 1837, for Bengal, and landed at Calcutta on the 13th of November following, under the command of Colonel Thackwell.

The regiment was encamped in January, 1838, at Calcutta; in February at Burkee; in March at Kusseah; in April at Cawnpore, where it continued until the end of the year.[44]

In February, 1839, the regiment was encamped at Chibbermold; in March at Meerut, at which station it remained until December, when it returned to Cawnpore.

The decease of Lieutenant-General Lord George Thomas Beresford, G.C.H., having taken place on the 26th October, 1839, Her Majesty was pleased to confer the colonelcy of the Third, or King's Own Light Dragoons, on Lieutenant General Lord Charles Somerset Manners, K.C.B., on the 8th November, 1839: Lord Charles Manners had commanded the regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel from 1812 to 1825, when he was promoted to the rank of Major-General.

On the 13th December, 1839, Lieut.-Colonel Michael White was promoted by purchase in succession to Lieut.-Colonel G. G. Tuite.

[Pg 89]

The regiment remained at Cawnpore until October, 1840, when it proceeded to Kurnaul. It marched from thence on 28th January, 1842, en route for Ferozepore, having been selected to form part of the force which had been ordered to proceed under Major-General Pollock to relieve the troops under Colonel Sir Robert Sale, who had gallantly defended Jellalabad; and also for the purpose of inflicting retribution upon the Affghans, whose treachery had caused the loss of so many brave officers and soldiers.

The Third Light Dragoons continued their advance on Peshawur, and a squadron of the regiment, under Lieutenant Unett, protected the column of attack under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, of Her Majesty's Ninth Regiment of Foot, which captured the heights on the right entrance to the Khyber Pass, on the 5th April, 1842. Major-General Pollock, in his despatch announcing the successful advance of the troops into the Khyber Pass, states: 'there were some of the enemy's horse in the vicinity of Ali Musjid, but I regret they did not wait for Brigadier White (Lieutenant-Colonel of the King's Own) and his brigade to make an example of them.'

The regiment arrived at Jellalabad in April, 1842, where it remained until the 14th August following, when it proceeded to Futteabad, detaching one squadron to Mammoo Khail on the 23rd of that month. The Third Light Dragoons left Futteabad on the 2nd September, and[Pg 90] on arriving at Jugdulluck, the summits of the hills, which command the road through the pass, were perceived to be occupied by a considerable number of the enemy, who were assembled in bodies under different chieftains, each having a distinguishing standard; their position was one of singular strength and difficulty of approach. The heights occupied by the Ghilzies formed an amphitheatre, inclining towards the left of the road, on which the troops were halted, while the guns opened; and the enemy were thus enabled, on this point, to fire into the column, a deep ravine preventing the troops coming in contact with them.

The British troops, however, on attacking one of their hill-forts, gave an animated and enthusiastic cheer, which so dismayed the enemy, that they fled down the heights without waiting the collision, and were thus enabled to escape chastisement by the nature of the ground, which was so well calculated to favour their retreat. At this moment, Major Lockwood with the Third, King's Own Light Dragoons, galloped up, and nearly succeeded in overtaking the enemy's cavalry, who effected their safety by flight.[45]

The loss of the regiment at the storming of the heights of Jugdulluck on the 8th of September, 1842, was limited to two men wounded.

Major-General Pollock, in his despatch, speaks of the conduct of the troops employed in the following terms:—

[Pg 91]

'It gratifies me to be enabled to state, that we have thus signally defeated, with one division of the troops, the most powerful tribes, and the most inveterate of our enemies, the original and principal actors in those disturbances which entailed such disasters on our troops last winter.'

The regiment was also engaged with the enemy in the Tezeen valley, which is completely encircled by lofty hills; the pass of Tezeen affords great advantages to an enemy occupying the heights, and Mahomed Akbar-Khan neglected nothing to render its natural difficulties as formidable as possible; accordingly on the morning of the 13th September, the Affghans appeared in great force on every height which had not been occupied by the British army. Two squadrons of the Third Light Dragoons, a party of the first light cavalry, and of the third irregular cavalry, with two guns, were left to guard the mouth of the Tezeen pass. The enemy's horse appeared in the valley with the intention of falling upon the baggage; but the Light Dragoons and native cavalry made a most brilliant charge, and completely routed the whole body of the enemy's force, cutting down a great number of them. The fight continued during the greater part of the day, the Affghans appearing resolved to prevent our ascending the Huft Kotul; one spirit, however, pervaded all, and the determination to conquer overcame the obstinate resistance of the foe, who were at length forced from their numerous and strong positions, and the British troops mounted the Huft Kotul,[Pg 92] giving three cheers on reaching the summit. Here Lieutenant Cunningham, with a party of sappers, pressed the enemy so hard, that they left in their precipitation a twenty-four pounder howitzer and limber, carrying off the draught bullocks. Information being received that another gun had been seen, a squadron of cavalry under Captain Tritton, of the Third Light Dragoons, and two horse artillery guns, under Major Delafosse, were detached in pursuit; the gun (a twelve-pounder howitzer) and bullocks sufficient for the two guns, were soon captured. The Light Dragoons again got among the enemy, and succeeded in destroying many of them. Captain Broadfoot, with the sappers, advanced, and with the dragoons happened to fall in with another party of Affghans, of whom upwards of twenty were killed. It was ascertained, that the enemy numbered sixteen thousand, a considerable portion being cavalry; and that Mahomed Akbar-Khan, with several other powerful chiefs, was present[46].

The British thus gained a complete victory, and the enemy must have suffered severely, several hundreds of them having been killed, and their guns, and three standards, captured from them. A detachment of the Third Light Dragoons formed part of the rear-guard of the army under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Richmond, of the 33rd Native Infantry, and it being resolved to anticipate the evident intention of the Affghans,[Pg 93] by attacking them in the valley of Tezeen, on the 13th September, the guns were moved forward within range of the enemy, supported by the front squadron of the Third Light Dragoons under Captain Unett, with other corps, in order to charge the foe if the ground proved favourable, and an opportunity offered; this soon occurred, the guns having made good impression, and the other squadron of cavalry, under Major Lockwood, was hurried forward as a support, thus ensuring the success achieved by the spirited and gallant charge of their comrades in front, which completely dispersed the enemy, who left about fifty men on the field.[47]

Major-General Pollock, in his despatch of the action at Tezeen, expresses his satisfaction with the exertions of Lt.-Colonel White of the Third Light Dragoons, commanding the cavalry brigade, and also of Major Lockwood, who commanded the regiment. The Third Light Dragoons sustained but trifling loss in the Tezeen valley, and on the Huft Kotul, on the 12th and 13th September, having only one serjeant and four rank and file wounded; two horses killed, and eleven wounded.

After these successes, the army moved on without opposition, and arrived at Cabool on the 15th September, where they encamped on the race course. The Third Light Dragoons, under Major Lockwood, proceeded with other corps to[Pg 94] plant the British colours in the Bala Hissar, on the spot most conspicuous from the city. On the colours being hoisted, the band of Her Majesty's Ninth Regiment of Foot struck up 'God save the Queen,' and a royal salute was fired from the guns of the horse artillery, the whole of the troops present giving three cheers. The colours in the Bala Hissar were hoisted daily as long as the army remained at Cabool.

The head-quarters and two squadrons of the regiment, under Major Lockwood, formed part of the force which was detached under Major-General McCaskill (Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ninth Foot), for the purpose of dispersing the enemy collected in the vicinity of Charekar, and took part in the operations against the strong and populous town of Istalif, which was considered by the Affghans as totally inaccessible, but which was captured on the 29th September 1842; the numerous levies collected for its defence were totally defeated, and property of every description (much of it plundered from the army in 1841) was recovered; two brass field-pieces were captured, one of which was seized with such promptitude, that its captor, Lieutenant Elmhirst, of Her Majesty's Ninth Foot, turned its fire upon the fugitives with some effect[48].

Among the gratifying results of these successes was the release of several ladies and officers who had been detained prisoners by Akbar-Khan.

[Pg 95]

The regiment, having been present during the whole of the operations west of the Indus, leading to the occupation of Cabool, has received the Royal permission to bear on its appointments the word 'Cabool 1842.'

The regiment left Cabool on the 12th October, 1842, and arrived at Ferozepore on the 18th December, from whence it marched to Kurnaul, where it arrived on the 27th January 1843; it remained at Kurnaul until November, when it marched for Umballa, and continued at that station during the year 1844, and until the end of the following year.

On the 11th December, 1845, the regiment, consisting of 518 men, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Michael White, marched from cantonments at Umballa, and formed a part of the leading division of the Army of the Sutlej, hastily assembled, under the personal command of General Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India, for the purpose of repelling an invasion by the Sikhs.[49]

On arriving at the village of Moodkee, a distance[Pg 96] of one hundred and fifty miles, on the 18th December, the army had just taken up its encampments, when intelligence was received, that the enemy's forces, consisting of twenty thousand cavalry, and about the same number of infantry and artillery, were close at hand, and intended to surprise the British camps. The cavalry were immediately turned out, and advanced to cover the [Pg 97]formation of the infantry, and the distinguished part which the Third, or King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons, took in the sanguinary and memorable battle of the evening of that day may be best judged from the words of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief in his despatch of the 19th December 1845:—'I directed the cavalry, under Brigadiers White and Gough (of the King's Own), to make a flank movement on the enemy's left, with a view of threatening and turning that flank, if possible.

'With praiseworthy gallantry, the Third Light Dragoons, and the second brigade of cavalry, consisting of the body-guard and Fifth Light cavalry, with a portion of the Fourth Lancers, turned the left of the Sikh army, and sweeping along the whole rear of its infantry and guns, silenced for a time the latter, and put their numerous cavalry to flight.'

In this action the regiment suffered severely, owing to the nature of the ground, and the immense body of cavalry opposed to it. The loss, out of four hundred and ninety-four men, on this occasion, was as follows:—killed, 3 officers, 58 men; 5 officers' chargers, and 100 troop horses; wounded, 3 officers, 34 men; 2 officers' chargers, and 21 troop horses.

Brevet Major W. R. Herries, Captain G. Newton, and Cornet E. Worley, were killed.

Lieutenant S. Fisher (Acting Major of Brigade), E. G. Swinton, and E. B. Cureton, were severely wounded.

[Pg 98]

On the 21st December, the army again advanced; the Third Light Dragoons had about four hundred men; and came up with the enemy, said to consist of 70,000 men, who were strongly posted in and around the village of "Ferozeshah" their camp intrenched, and defended by a numerous and powerful artillery.

At about four o'clock in the afternoon the action became general. The Third Light Dragoons were ordered to attack the enemy's position at a point defended by some of the heaviest batteries, most of the guns being of battering calibre: as the regiment advanced, it was assailed with round shot and shell from several batteries. On arriving within about two hundred and fifty yards of the guns, the regiment moved on at top speed, under a most destructive fire of grape and musketry, whilst their infantry held the trenches at the point of the bayonet. Nothing dismayed, but determined on victory, the regiment pressed forward, and never for a moment was checked in its career until it finally entered the enemy's camp, and captured the whole of the batteries opposed to it; many of the Sikh artillerymen remaining to be cut down at their guns. Night having fallen, while the conflict was everywhere raging, and several mines having been sprung, together with the exploding of their field magazines, by which several men and horses were destroyed, the regiment was withdrawn a short distance from the burning camp, where it bivouacked for the night.

The enemy having held a portion of his position,[Pg 99] and being strongly reinforced in the night, the battle was renewed the next morning, and the Third Light Dragoons at daybreak joined the remainder of the cavalry, and participated in the action of the 22nd of December, when about three o'clock, P. M., the Third Light Dragoons were again ordered to charge the enemy, which he did not wait to receive, and he was finally driven from the field, and the army bivouacked on the ground they had won. The men and horses of the Third Light Dragoons were upwards of forty hours without food or water, nearly the whole of the time exposed to, and in conflict with, a powerful enemy; the days were hot and the nights intensely cold.

In this great battle the regiment lost as follows:—killed, 2 officers and 53 men; wounded, 7 officers and 86 men; total, 9 officers and 139 men: killed, 9 officers' chargers and 98 troop horses: wounded, 60 troop horses; total killed and wounded, 9 officers' chargers and 158 troop horses.

The officers killed, were Captain J. E. Codd and Cornet H. Ellis; wounded, Colonel M. White, slightly: Major C. W. M. Balders, slightly: Lieutenants, H. C. Morgan, severely; J. G. A. Beeston, slightly: Cornets, W. H. Orme, severely; J. D. White and J. Rathwell, slightly.

The Commander-in-Chief, in his despatch of the 22nd December, 1845, observes as follows: 'Although I brought up Major-General Sir Harry Smith's division, and he captured and long retained another point of the position, and Her[Pg 100] Majesty's Third Light Dragoons charged and took some of the most formidable batteries, yet the enemy remained in possession of a considerable portion of the great quadrangle, whilst our troops, intermingled with theirs, kept possession of the remainder, and finally bivouacked upon it, exhausted by their gallant efforts, greatly reduced in numbers, and suffering extremely from thirst, yet animated by an indomitable spirit. In this state of things, the long night wore away!'

The Right Honourable the Governor-General, (Lord Hardinge), who personally witnessed the prowess of the regiment on the battle-field, makes honorable mention thereof in his Orders, dated 30th December, 1845.

'The Governor-General offers his thanks more especially to Her Majesty's Third Light Dragoons, who, on all these occasions, sought opportunities of useful conflict with the enemy, and fought with that superiority over their opponents which skill and discipline impart to brave and determined men.'

The regiment was detached from the army at Sultan-Khan-Wallah, and sent to Ferozepore, where it arrived on the 31st December 1845.

It remained at Ferozepore until the 18th January, 1846, and again proceeded to, and joined, the head quarters of the army at Jelliwallah, on the 20th of January.

The glorious action at Aliwal took place on the 28th of January, 'when the enemy's camp was[Pg 101] carried by storm; the whole of his cannon and munitions of war were captured, and his army driven headlong across the Sutlej; even on the right bank of which he found no refuge from the fire of our artillery.'

The Third Light Dragoons were assembled on parade on the morning of the 29th of January to celebrate the victory of Aliwal, when the Right Honourable the Governor-General, in the presence of the whole army, was pleased to make use of the following words, most gratifying to the feelings of every soldier:—'Colonel White, your regiment is an honour to the British army; and I wish you to make known these my sentiments, as head of this Government, to your officers and men.'

On the 10th of February, 1846, the regiment had the proud satisfaction of sharing and taking a conspicuous part in that glorious and mighty combat, the Battle of Sobraon, when the Sikhs were driven from their stronghold, and precipitated in masses into the Sutlej, and those proud invaders were expelled the soil of British India.

The Right Honourable the Governor-General, in his Order of Thanks to the Army, was pleased to pass the following high encomium on the conduct of the regiment in this fight:—

'Her Majesty's Third Light Dragoons, as usual, were in the foremost ranks, and distinguished themselves under their commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel White.'

His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, in[Pg 102] his despatch, dated 13th February, 1846, thus expresses his unqualified approbation of the conduct of the regiment on this occasion:—'The Sikhs, even when at particular points their intrenchments were mastered by the bayonet, strove to regain them by the fiercest conflict sword in hand; nor was it until the cavalry of the left, under the command of Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell,[50] had moved forward and ridden through the openings in the intrenchments made by our Sappers, in single files, and reformed as they passed them, and the Third Light Dragoons, whom no obstacle usually held formidable by horse, appears to check, had on this day, as at Ferozeshah, galloped over, and cut down the obstinate defenders of batteries and field-works, and until the full weight of three divisions of infantry with every field artillery gun which could be sent to their aid, had been cast into the scale, that victory finally declared for the British.[51]

[Pg 103]

'The fire of the Sikhs first slackened, and then nearly ceased; and the victors then pressing them on every side, precipitated them in masses over their bridge, and into the Sutlej, which a sudden rise of seven inches had rendered hardly fordable. In their efforts to reach the right bank through the deepened water, they suffered from our horse-artillery a terrible carnage: hundreds fell under this cannonade; hundreds upon hundreds were drowned in attempting the perilous passage. Their awful slaughter, confusion, and dismay, were such as would have excited compassion in the hearts of their generous conquerors, if the Khalsa troops had not, in the earlier part of the action, sullied their gallantry by slaughtering and barbarously mangling every wounded soldier, whom, in the vicissitudes of attack, the fortune of war left at their mercy.

'I must pause in this narrative to notice, especially, the determined hardihood and bravery with which our two battalions of Ghoorkhas, the Sirmoor and Nusseeree, met the Sikhs, wherever they were opposed to them: soldiers, of small stature but indomitable spirit, they vied in ardent courage in the charge with the grenadiers of our own nation; and armed with the short weapon of their mountains, were a terror to the Sikhs throughout this great combat.

'Sixty-seven pieces of cannon, upwards of two hundred camel-swivels (zumbooruks), numerous standards, and vast munitions of war, cap[Pg 104]tured by our troops, are the pledges and trophies of our victory.

'The battle was over by eleven in the morning; and in the forenoon I caused our engineers to burn a part, and to sink a part, of the vaunted bridge of the Khalsa army, across which they had boastfully come once more to defy us, and to threaten India with ruin and devastation.

'The consequences of this great action have yet to be fully developed. It has at least, in God's providence, once more expelled the Sikhs from our territory, and planted our standards on the soil of the Punjaub. After occupying their entrenched position for nearly a month, the Khalsa army had perhaps mistaken the caution, which had induced us to wait for the necessary materiel, for timidity: but they must now deeply feel, that the blow, which has fallen on them from the British arm, has only been the heavier for being long delayed.'

The following are the losses sustained by the Third Light Dragoons in the action of Sobraon: killed, 5 men, 1 troop horse; wounded, 4 officers and 22 men, 2 officers' chargers and 13 troop horses.

The officers wounded were, Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gough (Acting Quarter-Master General), very severely; Lieutenant J. B. Hawkes, slightly; Cornet Kauntze, severely; and Quarter-Master A. Crabtree, slightly.

The Third Light Dragoons crossed the Sutlej on the 13th February, 1846, and marched on[Pg 105] Lahore, where the British army arrived on the 20th, and encamped on that soil held sacred by the Khalsa troops, the 'Plains of Myan Meer,' where it remained until the 24th March. The object for which the army was assembled having been attained, the Third Light Dragoons returned to their former quarters at Umballa on the 7th April, having, in less than four months, marched upwards of six hundred miles, and taken a conspicuous part in three of the greatest actions recorded in the annals of British India.

On the 22nd of February, 1846, the Right Honourable the Governor-General made the following announcement in General Orders:—

'The British Army has this day occupied the gateway of the Citadel of Lahore, the Badshahee Mosque, and the Huzzooree Bagh.

'The Army of the Sutlej has now brought its operations in the field to a close, by the dispersion of the Sikh army, and the military occupation of Lahore, preceded by a series of the most triumphant successes ever recorded in the military history of India.

'The British government, trusting to the faith of treaties, and to the long subsisting friendship between the two states, had limited military preparations to the defence of its own frontier. Compelled suddenly to assume the offensive, by the unprovoked invasion of its territories, the British Army, under the command of its distinguished leader, has, in sixty days, defeated the Sikh forces in four general actions; has cap[Pg 106]tured two hundred and twenty pieces of field artillery; and is now at the Capital dictating to the Lahore Durbar the terms of a treaty, the conditions of which will tend to secure the British Provinces from the repetition of a similar outrage.'

On the 4th March, 1846, the Governor-General made the following further announcement:—

'Early on the morning of the 22nd February, a brigade of British troops took formal possession of the Citadel of Lahore, the Badshahee Musjed, and the Huzzooree Bagh.

'I considered the occupation of Lahore, and the close of active operations in the field, a proper opportunity for marking, by substantial reward, the gratitude of the British Government to its faithful and brave army, which had fought so gloriously, and so successfully; and I was glad at being able thus to bring into prominent contrast, the just reward of discipline and obedience, with the certain penalty of insubordination and violence, as exemplified in the fate of the two armies, which had been so long the objects of mutual observation; the one, victorious in the field, and honoured and bountifully rewarded by its Government; the other, in spite of its exceeding numbers and advantageous positions, vanquished in every battle, abandoned by a government it had coerced, and, with its shattered remains, left, but for the intercession of its conquerors, to disperse with no provision of any kind, and to seek a precarious subsistence by rapine and crime.'

3rd Light Dragoons in India.

[To face page 106.

[Pg 107]

The following Regular Regiments formed part of the Anglo-Indian Army engaged in the Punjaub in 1845 and 1846:—

The King's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons, from the period of its formation in 1685, to the present time, has performed upwards of one hundred and sixty years' faithful and meritorious service in the reign of nine successive monarchs. It was employed in the several wars on the continent of Europe during the reigns of King William III.,—of Queen Anne,—and of King George II. It was again employed in Portugal, Spain, and France, from 1811 to 1818. It has been since engaged in most arduous duties in Affghanistan, and on the banks of the Sutlej, where it has acquired additional honours by its bravery; it continues to be employed in guarding[Pg 108] the possessions of the British Crown in the distant clime of India.

Whether confronting a foreign enemy in the field, or performing duties of a painful character at home, its conduct has, on all occasions, been such as to procure the acknowledgments of the Civil Authorities by whom its assistance was required;—the commendations of the General Officers under whose immediate command it has served;—the thanks of Parliament; and the approbation of its Sovereign.

The compiler of the Records of the Army feels it his duty to acknowledge, that his labours have been greatly assisted by a memoir of the services of the Third, or the King's Own, Light Dragoons, which was printed, in 1833, by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Stisted, then lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. King William IV. expressed himself much satisfied with the manner in which the Colonel had executed a task, to which His Majesty attached great importance, and gave him credit for the zeal and industry with which he had undertaken and prosecuted it; a notification to the above effect was made to Lieutenant-Colonel Stisted by Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Taylor, G.C.H. Lieutenant Colonel Stisted entered the Army in May, 1794, as an ensign in the 39th Regiment.—He was appointed to a lieutenancy in the 13th Light Dragoons in January, 1803, and was promoted to be captain of a troop in February, 1804: he exchanged to the Third Light Dragoons on the 7th of February, 1811; and was promoted to a majority on the 14th of October, 1819, and to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the Regiment on the 22nd of July, 1830: he continued in command of the Regiment until the 19th of May, 1837, when he exchanged to the half-pay: he was reappointed to the full pay in September, 1841, and retired from the service by the sale of his commission; he died at Torquay on the 24th of July, 1842.

SUCCESSION OF COLONELS
OF THE
THIRD, OR THE KING'S OWN REGIMENT
OF
LIGHT DRAGOONS.

Charles, Duke of Somerset, K.G.
Appointed 2nd August, 1685.

This nobleman succeeded to the title of Duke of Somerset on the decease of his brother, who was murdered at Lerice, in Italy, on the 20th of April, 1678. He was elected a Knight of the Garter in April, 1684, and was one of the privy councillors who signed the proclamation of the accession of King James II., on the 6th of February following. Being Lord-Lieutenant of Somersetshire at the time of the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, he called out the militia of the county, and was rewarded for his fidelity to the Crown with the colonelcy of the Queen Consort's Regiment of Dragoons, and the appointment of lord of the bed-chamber to His Majesty; but was removed from his regiment and court appointment for refusing to attend a nuncio from Pope Innocent XI. into the King's presence. At the Revolution in 1688, his grace joined the Prince of Orange, afterwards William III., during part of whose reign he presided at the council, and was one of the lords of the regency when His Majesty made his last visit to the Continent. The Duke of Somerset was also a privy councillor, and master of the horse during part of the reign of Queen Anne; and, after Her Majesty's demise, he was one of the guardians of the realm until the arrival of George I. from Hanover. He died on the 2nd of Dec., 1748,[Pg 110] and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral: a fine marble monument of his grace was afterwards placed in the senate-house of the University of Cambridge.

Alexander Cannon.
Appointed 2nd August, 1687.

Alexander Cannon entered the service of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and held a commission in one of the English regiments in Holland, with which he served under the Prince of Orange (afterwards King William III.), and was promoted to the colonelcy of the corps. Having arrived in England with his regiment in the summer of 1685, to assist in suppressing the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, he quitted the Dutch service, and was appointed, by King James II., Lieutenant-Colonel of the Queen's Dragoons. He was a stanch adherent to the Court, and was rewarded with the colonelcy of the regiment in 1687; but refusing to take the oath to the Prince of Orange, at the Revolution in 1688, he was removed from his command.

Colonel Cannon proceeded to Ireland in 1689, where he was promoted by King James to the rank of brigadier-general; he was sent with a small body of men to Scotland, to assist the highlanders in their opposition to the government of King William III. He was second in command at the Battle of Killicrankie, and after the fall of Viscount Dundee, he commanded the Highlanders and Irish. He was reinforced by another body of troops from Ireland under Brigadier-General Buchan, and remained in Scotland two years; but being harassed by the King's forces, and defeated in several skirmishes, the highlanders tendered their submission to King William, and their commanders followed King James to France.

Richard Leveson.
Appointed 31st December, 1688.

In the reign of King Charles II. Richard Leveson served as a volunteer against the Moors at Tangier, in Africa; and[Pg 111] on the breaking out of the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth in June, 1685, he raised a troop of dragoons in the county of Middlesex, which troop was eventually incorporated in the Queen's regiment, now Third, or King's Own. In the summer of 1687, he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, and having joined the standard of the Prince of Orange, in November, 1688, he was advanced, on the 31st of December following, to the colonelcy of the regiment. He served at the head of the Queen's Dragoons in Ireland; evinced great personal bravery at the Battle of the Boyne, and on other occasions, as detailed in the record of the Third Light Dragoons; and acquired celebrity for his ability, activity, and gallantry on detached services. After the decease of Brigadier-General Villiers, King William rewarded the brave Leveson with the command of a corps of cuirassiers, now second dragoon guards. He served under His Majesty in the Netherlands, and was promoted to the rank of major-general on the 11th of January, 1696. His decease occurred on the 3rd of March, 1699.

Thomas, Lord Fairfax.
Appointed 30th January, 1694.

Lord Fairfax having joined the Prince of Orange at the Revolution in 1688, was appointed lieutenant and lieutenant-colonel in the third troop of life guards, which gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of silver stick; he afterwards exchanged to the second troop (now second regiment) of life guards, from which he was promoted to the colonelcy of the Queen's dragoons. He retired in the following year, and was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in 1702. He died in January, 1710.

William Lloyd.
Appointed 21st February, 1695.

This Officer served with distinction under King William III. in Ireland and the Netherlands, and was promoted[Pg 112] to the colonelcy of the Queen's Dragoons by purchase, in 1695. He served with his regiment in Flanders until the peace of Ryswick; was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in the spring of 1702; and, commanding a brigade of infantry under the Duke of Ormond, in the expedition to Spain, was engaged in the storming of the forts of Vigo. He was subsequently advanced to the rank of major-general; but obtained permission to dispose of the colonelcy of his regiment in 1703, to Colonel Carpenter.

George Carpenter.
Appointed 31st December, 1703.

George Carpenter was born in February, 1657, and when fourteen years of age he was page to the Duke of Montague in his grace's embassy to France. In 1672, he entered the army as a private gentleman in the Duke of York's troop of life guards, which corps was, at that period, as a school where young gentlemen were qualified for commissions. In 1685 he was appointed troop quarter-master in a newly-raised corps of cuirassiers, now second dragoon guards; in which regiment he rose to the rank of cornet in 1687, and afterwards to that of lieutenant, captain, and lieutenant-colonel. He served with his regiment in Ireland, and in Flanders and Brabant, and was promoted to the rank of colonel in the army in 1702. In the following year he purchased the colonelcy of the Queen's Dragoons and was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general on the 25th of December, 1705. He proceeded to Spain in 1706, and serving with the allied army, signalized himself at the unfortunate battle of Almanza in 1707, where he repeatedly charged at the head of the British cavalry, and, commanding one of the last squadrons which left the field, saved the Earl of Galway, many wounded men, and much of the baggage from falling into the hands of the enemy. He continued with the army in Spain, acquiring additional honour by his excellent conduct on all occasions, was promoted to the rank of major-general in September, 1708, and to that of lieutenant-general in January, 1710. In the brilliant cavalry[Pg 113] action on the plains of Almanara, on the 27th of July, 1710, he highly distinguished himself, and was wounded: his spirited conduct on this occasion, procured him the thanks of King Charles III. of Spain, afterwards Emperor of the Romans, who was with the army. He acquired fresh laurels at Saragossa and wrote an interesting account of that battle, which was published at the time. After advancing to Madrid, the army retreated to Valencia and Catalonia, and Lieutenant-General Carpenter was with the division under General Stanhope, which halted at the little walled town of Brihuega, in the mountains of Castile, and was there surrounded and made prisoners by the French army. On this occasion he was wounded by a musket-ball, which, having broken part of his jaw, lodged itself under the root of his tongue, where it remained several months before it could be extracted, during which time his life was in danger, and he suffered great pain.

In the spring of 1715, he was appointed envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the court of Vienna. During the rebellion of the Earl of Mar, he commanded a detached corps, prevented the insurgents obtaining possession of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and afterwards, joining Major-General Wills, took a division of the rebel army prisoners, at Preston, in Lancashire. He was rewarded with the appointment of governor of Minorca and Port Mahon, and commander of the forces in Scotland; and in May, 1719, he was advanced to the peerage of Ireland by the title of Baron Carpenter of Killaghy in the county of Kilkenny.

Lord Carpenter was many years a member of Parliament, first for Whitchurch in Hampshire, and afterwards for the city of Westminster. He published a highly useful work entitled 'A Dissertation on the Manœuvres of Cavalry.' After serving the Crown a period of nearly sixty years, in the reign of six successive sovereigns, he died, on the 10th of February, 1732, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried at Ouselburg in Hampshire, where a monument was erected to his memory. He was ancestor of the Earls of Tyrconnel.

[Pg 114]

Philip Honeywood.
Appointed 29th May, 1732.

Philip Honeywood entered the army in 1694, and served under King William III.; he subsequently served Her Majesty Queen Anne, and became an efficient officer under the celebrated John, Duke of Marlborough. Having attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the thirty-third foot, on the 27th of May, 1709, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 92nd regiment, which was disbanded in 1712. In 1715 he was commissioned to raise, form, and discipline a regiment of dragoons, (now the eleventh light dragoons), which he executed with ability, and was afterwards instrumental in the suppression of the rebellion of the Earl of Mar. In 1719 he commanded a brigade under Lord Cobham at the capture of Vigo and Rondondella in Spain. On the 29th of May, 1732, he was removed to the command of the Third dragoons, which he retained until promoted to the King's Own regiment of horse in 1743. In 1742 a British force was sent to Flanders, under General Honeywood, who held the chief command of the troops, until the arrival of the Earl of Stair. At the battle of Dettingen one division of the army was commanded by this distinguished officer, and he led the royal horse guards and the King's horse to the charge with great gallantry. He served in the subsequent campaigns on the continent with distinction, and with the approbation of his sovereign, by whom he was advanced to the dignity of a Knight of the honourable order of the Bath. He died in 1752, and was interred with military honours at Portsmouth, of which place he was governor at the time of his decease.

Humphrey Bland.
Appointed 18th April, 1743.

Humphrey Bland served several campaigns on the continent under the celebrated John, Duke of Marlborough. He afterwards served as lieut.-colonel in Spain, and in 1710 was wounded at the battle of Almanara. In 1715 he was ap[Pg 115]pointed lieut.-colonel to the eleventh dragoons, and was afterwards lieut.-colonel of the second horse, now first dragoon guards. In 1737 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the thirty-sixth foot, from which he was removed in 1741, to the thirteenth dragoons, and two years afterwards to the King's Own dragoons. He had his horse shot under him at Dettingen; displayed great gallantry at Fontenoy, and highly distinguished himself at the battle of Culloden. In 1752 he was removed to the first dragoon guards; and died in the following year.

James, Lord Tyrawley.
Appointed 8th July, 1752.

The Hon. James O'Hara was appointed lieutenant in the royal regiment of fusiliers, commanded by his father, on the 15th of March, 1703, and in 1706 he proceeded with his regiment to the relief of Barcelona. In the following year he was aide-de-camp to the Earl of Galway, whose life he is reported to have saved at the unfortunate battle of Almanza, by interposing between his lordship and a dragoon, whom he shot with his pistol, but was, himself, wounded by the dragoon. He served several years at Minorca, and in 1713 obtained the colonelcy of the royal fusiliers, in succession to his father, at whose decease, in 1733, he succeeded to the dignity of Baron Tyrawley. The rank of brigadier-general was conferred on his lordship on the 23rd of November, 1735; that of major-general on the 2nd of July, 1739; and in August, of the latter year, he was removed from the royal fusiliers to the fifth horse, now fourth dragoon guards. In March, 1743, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and in the following month obtained the colonelcy of the second troop of horse grenadier guards, from which he was removed in 1745 to the third troop of life guards, which gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of gold stick. In 1746, when King George II. had resolved to disband the third and fourth troops of life guards, his lordship was removed to the tenth foot: he was again removed, in 1749,[Pg 116] to the fourteenth dragoons; in 1752, to the Third or King's Own regiment of dragoons; and in 1755, to the second, or Coldstream regiment of foot guards. He was appointed governor of Portsmouth on the 1st of May, 1759, and was promoted to the rank of general on the 7th of March, 1761. He held the appointment of governor of Minorca for several years; was employed as envoy and ambassador to the courts of Portugal and Russia; and died at Twickenham on the 13th of July, 1773.

George, Earl of Albemarle.
Appointed 8th April, 1755.

Viscount Bury commenced his military service as ensign in the second foot guards in 1738; in 1741 he was captain-lieutenant in the royal dragoons; in 1743 he held the same rank in his former regiment; and on the 27th of May, 1745, he obtained the commission of captain and lieut.-colonel in the same corps. He was aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland at the battle of Fontenoy; also attended His Royal Highness at the battle of Culloden,—was sent with the news of that victory to London, and was immediately afterwards appointed aide-de-camp to the King with the rank of colonel. The colonelcy of the twentieth foot was conferred on his lordship on the 1st of November, 1749. In 1754 he succeeded to the title of Earl of Albemarle; and obtained the colonelcy of the King's Own dragoons in the succeeding year. The rank of major-general was conferred on his lordship in 1756, and that of lieut.-general in 1759. In 1761 he was a member of the privy council and governor of the island of Jersey; and in 1762, he commanded the land forces employed in the reduction of the Havannah; in the performance of which service he acquired great reputation, and his conduct called forth the approbation of his sovereign and of the British nation. He was elected a Knight of the Garter in 1766; and died in 1772.

[Pg 117]

Charles, Lord Southampton.
Appointed 20th October, 1772.

Lord Charles Fitzroy, brother of Augustus-Henry, Duke of Grafton, choosing a military life, obtained the commission of ensign in the first foot guards on the 16th of March, 1752. In 1756 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1758 obtained the command of a company with the rank of lieut.-colonel. In 1762 he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 119th, or Prince's Own, regiment of foot, which was disbanded after the peace of Fontainbleau. The colonelcy of the fourteenth dragoons was conferred on his lordship on the 11th of September, 1765, and in 1772 he was promoted to the rank of major-general and removed to the King's Own dragoons. He was further promoted to the rank of lieut.-general in 1777; advanced to the peerage by the title of Lord Southampton in 1780; and promoted to the rank of general in 1793. He died on the 21st of March, 1797.

Francis Lascelles.
Appointed 23rd March, 1797.

This Officer was appointed on the 13th of December, 1761, captain in the seventeenth light dragoons, then commanded by captain-commandant Lord Aberdour. In June, 1764, he was appointed major of the eighth dragoons, and in May, 1768, obtained the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment, from which he was removed on the 8th of May, 1780, to the lieut.-colonelcy of the King's Own dragoons. He was appointed major-general in 1782; colonel of the eighth dragoons in 1789; and lieut.-general on the 12th of October, 1793. After the decease of Lord Southampton the colonelcy of the King's Own dragoons was conferred on Lieut.-General Lascelles, who was also groom of the bed-chamber to King George III.; and was advanced to the rank of general in 1798. He was highly respected by the officers of the regiment, and was distinguished for easy dignity, manliness, and good sense. He died in 1799.

[Pg 118]

Sir Charles Grey, K.B.
Appointed 4th September, 1799.

Charles Grey, fourth son of Sir Henry Grey, Baronet, entered the army in the reign of King George II., and was promoted to the command of a company in the twentieth foot on the 31st of May, 1755. In 1758 his regiment proceeded to Germany, and he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Duke of Brunswick, in which capacity he served in 1759 at the glorious battle of Minden, where he was wounded. In 1761, he was appointed lieut.-colonel commandant of the ninety-eighth regiment, which was then newly-raised, and was disbanded after the peace of Fontainbleau, when he was placed on half-pay. In 1772 he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and appointed aide-de-camp to King George III., who conferred on him the colonelcy of the twenty-eighth foot in March, 1777, and promoted him to the rank of major-general in August following. In 1782 he obtained the dignity of a knight of the Bath; was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general, and appointed commander-in-chief in America; but the war was terminated before he had an opportunity of proceeding thither. In 1787 he was removed to the eighth dragoons; and in 1789 he obtained the colonelcy of the seventh or Princess Royal's dragoon guards.

In 1793 Sir Charles Grey was appointed to the command of an expedition to the West Indies; but while the armament was preparing the Duke of York raised the siege of Dunkirk, and the French menaced Ostend and Nieuport. The troops sailed for Flanders, and by his timely arrival Sir Charles Grey preserved the two fortresses from the power of the enemy. He subsequently proceeded to the West Indies, and the islands of Martinico, St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe were captured: and his services were recompensed with the government of Dumbarton, and the colonelcy of the twentieth, or Jamaica, regiment of light dragoons, by commission dated the 4th of November, 1795. After his return to England he was promoted to the rank of general, sworn of the privy-council, reappointed colonel of the eighth dragoons, and placed in command of the[Pg 119] troops stationed in the southern district, to repel the projected French invasion. In 1799 he was appointed colonel of the Third, or King's Own dragoons. At length, being worn out with age and active service, he retired to his country seat to pass the remainder of his days in the bosom of his family. His services were not forgotten by his sovereign, who created him Baron Grey de Howick in 1801; and advanced him, in 1806, to the dignity of Viscount Howick and Earl Grey: he held also the government of the island of Guernsey. His decease occurred on the 14th of November, 1807, at his seat called Fallowden, near Alnwick, in Northumberland.

William Cartwright.
Appointed 28th November, 1807.

This Officer was appointed cornet in the tenth dragoons on the 22nd of February, 1769, lieutenant in 1775, captain-lieutenant in the Third dragoons in 1778, and exchanged in 1779 to the tenth dragoons, of which corps he was appointed major in 1786, and lieut.-colonel in 1793. The high condition of the tenth was a proof of his care and attention to all the duties of commanding officer; and in 1796 he was appointed colonel in the army, and aide-de-camp to King George III. Having been promoted to the rank of major-general in April, 1802, he was employed on the staff of South Britain during the succeeding six years, first in the inspection of cavalry regiments in the western district, afterwards in the command of the cavalry on the coast of Kent, in the command of the cavalry in the home district, and subsequently in the command of a brigade of cavalry in Kent, designed for foreign service. In 1804 he was promoted from the lieut.-colonelcy of the tenth, to the colonelcy of the twenty-third dragoons, and in 1807 he obtained the colonelcy of the King's Own dragoons. He was advanced to the rank of lieut.-general in 1808, to that of general in 1819, and in 1821 he was removed to the colonelcy of the King's dragoon guards. He was a member of the consolidated board of general officers: his decease occurred in February, 1827.

[Pg 120]

Stapleton Cotton, Viscount Combermere, G.C.B., and G.C.H.
Appointed 25th January, 1821.

Stapleton Cotton entered the army in 1790 as second lieutenant in the royal Welsh fusiliers. His services, in command of a troop of the sixth dragoon guards under the Duke of York in Flanders, under General Harris in the East Indies, at the Cape of Good Hope, under the Duke of Wellington in command of a brigade of cavalry at Talavera, in command of the British cavalry at Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca, Orthes, Toulouse, &c. &c. &c., were rewarded with the dignity of Viscount Combermere, grand cross of the military order of the Bath, and grand cross of the royal Hanoverian Guelphic order. He was appointed to the colonelcy of the twentieth dragoons in 1813, to that of the King's Own dragoons in 1821, and was removed in 1829, to the first regiment of life guards, of which corps he has retained the command to the present time.

Lord George Thomas Beresford, G.C.H.
Appointed 16th September, 1829.

Lord George Beresford entered the service as cornet of the 14th light dragoons in April, 1794; he was shortly afterwards promoted, and, after serving in the grades of lieutenant and captain in the infantry, he obtained, in December, 1800, a majority in the 6th dragoon guards. In the following three years he was employed with that regiment in Ireland, and in attending Parliament as a member of the House of Commons for the county of Waterford, of which he was Custos Rotulorum. He was promoted to the rank of lieut.-colonel in Dillon's regiment in 1803, and when a second battalion was added to the 71st regiment, under the Additional Force Act, in the year 1804, Lieutenant-Colonel Lord George Beresford was selected for the command of it. In July, 1807, Lord George Beresford reverted to the cavalry branch of the service, and was appointed to the command of the 2nd, or Queen's Dragoon Guards, which he retained until his promotion to[Pg 121] the rank of major-general on the 4th June, 1814. On the 16th September, 1829, his Lordship was appointed to the colonelcy of the Third, King's Own, Light Dragoons, and attained the rank of lieut.-general in the army on the 22nd July, 1830. His Lordship was brother to the late, and uncle to the present, Marquess of Waterford, and he died at the Palace at Armagh, the residence of his elder brother, the Lord Primate of Ireland, on the 26th October, 1839.

Lord Charles Somerset Manners, K.C.B.
Appointed 8th November, 1839.

[Pg 122]
[Pg 123]

APPENDIX
TO THE
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
THIRD, OR THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT
OF
LIGHT DRAGOONS.

The following is a list of the Officers of the Third, or the King's Own, Light Dragoons, showing those who were engaged in the campaign on the Sutlej in the years 1845 and 1846.

Copies of Brigadier White's Reports, dated 19th and 25th December, 1845, are annexed, respecting the conduct of the Officers and Men at the memorable battles of Moodkee and Ferozeshah.

These testimonials are equally honourable to the Officers and Men, and to their Commander, Brigadier-General White, by whose talents, bravery and example, the excellent qualities of the regiment were drawn forth, which are attested in the strongest terms of commendation, by the Governor-General and by the Commander-in-Chief, in India, as detailed in the Historical Record of the services of the Regiment.

To these reports are added copies of the Votes of Thanks of the House of Lords, and of the House of Commons; Marks of Honour, which are conferred only for great and glorious actions, and for special public services.

[Pg 124]

It is worthy of being recorded, that many of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, who were wounded in the different engagements, concealed the fact, that they might have an opportunity of sharing in any further Actions in which the regiment might be engaged. Amongst others, Troop Serjeant-major Walter Eldridge, who received a bayonet wound through the calf of his leg, in charging over the enemy's entrenched infantry on the evening of the 21st December, never reported the circumstance, until from lameness, caused by inflammation of the leg, the brave fellow could no longer conceal it. He was immediately conveyed to the Hospital, where he died in a few days afterwards.

[Pg 127]

Copy of a Despatch of Brigadier M. White, C.B., Commanding the Cavalry Division on the 18th December, 1845, to the Adjutant-General of the Army in India.

Camp, Moodkee, 19th December, 1845.

Sir,

In forwarding the accompanying return of the casualties which occurred in the Cavalry Division under my command in the Action of yesterday, I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that the whole of the regiments engaged performed their duty to my entire satisfaction; but, consequent on the nature of the ground and the numerous bodies of both Cavalry and Infantry that were opposed to them, I regret to say the loss has been very heavy, more particularly in Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, who bore the brunt of the Action.

I further beg to bring to the notice of His Excellency, that Captain Tritton of Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, my Assistant Adjutant-General, captured one of the enemy's Standards with his own hands, which he has delivered over to me as Commanding the Cavalry Division.

It has also been reported to me by Lieutenant and Adjutant Sullivan of Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, that Serjeant Hinds, and a party of six or seven men of the regiment, succeeded in capturing two of the enemy's Guns, after cutting down the whole of the armed party who were with them. The Guns were marked by order of Lieutenant Sullivan, who can identify them.

I have in conclusion to add, that the undermentioned Officers afforded me every assistance, and conducted themselves throughout the Action to my entire satisfaction, and I beg to bring them to His Excellency's favourable notice:—

• Brigadier Gough, C.B., Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons.
• Brigadier Mactier, 4th Native Cavalry (Lancers). [Pg 128]
• Major Balders, Commanding 3rd Light Dragoons.
• Captain Dawkins, Commanding Governor-General's Body-Guard.
• Major Alexander, Commanding 5th Light Cavalry.
• Captain Nash, Commanding 4th Light Cavalry.
• Captain Christie, Commanding 4th Irregular Cavalry.
• Captain Tritton, Assistant Adjutant-General of Cavalry.
• Captain Quin, Deputy Quarter Master-General of Cavalry.
• Lieutenant Fisher, Brigade-Major.
• Captain Harrington, Brigade Major.
• Captain Wyld, Brigade Major.

I trust I may also be permitted to name Lieutenant and Adjutant Sullivan, Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, who rendered me most essential service, independent of his regimental duties, throughout the action.

I have, &c.,

M. White,

Lieut.-Col. 3rd Light Dragoons,
Brigadier Commanding Cavalry Division,
Army of the Sutlej.

Copy of a Despatch from Brigadier M. White, C.B., Commanding the Cavalry Division, to the Adjutant-General of the Army in India.

Camp, Ferozeshah, 25th December, 1845.

Sir,

In compliance with instructions contained in the General Order by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of yesterday's date, I have the honour to report on the operations of the Cavalry Division under my command during the Actions of the 21st and 22nd instant, as far as came under my personal observation, and have the gratification to state, for His Excellency's information, that every Individual of Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons, both Officers and Men, performed their duty with the highest credit to themselves and their country. This I had an opportunity of witnessing, having charged at the head of the regiment myself through a battery[Pg 129] of the enemy's guns which met us with a most galling fire of grape, and over their infantry entrenched in front of their camp. This charge was a most gallant and successful one, as we succeeded in completely driving the enemy from their guns, though, I regret to say, our loss on this occasion has been very severe, both in Officers and Men, as will be seen by the Casualty Return of the Corps.

I beg to bring to his Excellency's favourable notice the merits of the following Officers who gallantly led the regiment into action:—Major Balders, Commanding; Captain Tritton, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant Sullivan, Officiating Major of Brigade; Captain Havelock, and Brigade Major Wyld of the 4th Lancers; the two latter Officers were at the time acting under my orders, and charged with the regiment.

I beg to add, that Major Balders having been wounded in the charge, the command devolved on Captain Hale, who brought the regiment out of Action.

During the 22nd, the brigade immediately under my command was engaged manœuvring during the whole of the day, sometimes for the protection of our own Artillery, and at others, with a view of cutting off the enemy's retreat, and capturing their few remaining guns; in the latter we were not successful, as, with the exception of about a squadron of Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons and the 4th Regiment of Lancers, the whole of the Cavalry had been withdrawn off the field. On this day our loss was comparatively small, having lost a few Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, and having two Officers' chargers killed by round shot, one of which was Lieutenant Sullivan's, my officiating Major of Brigade, being the third horse shot under him during the Actions of the 18th, 21st, and 22nd December.

I have, &c.,

M. White,

Lieut.-Col. 3rd Light Dragoons,
Brigadier Commanding Cavalry Division,
Army of the Sutlej.

[Pg 130]

Extracts from Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords.—2nd March, 1846.

"Order of the day read, Moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the Right Honourable Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Governor-General of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, for the energy and ability with which he directed the military means at his disposal, to the repelling of the unprovoked invasion by the Sikh Army, of the dominions of the British Government, and of the Protected States upon the left bank of the Sutlej; and also for the firmness and gallantry with which he directed the operations of that portion of the Army under his immediate command, in the afternoon and night of December 21st, 1845, and on the morning of the 22nd, upon which occasion the enemy's defences were carried by storm, the greater part of their Artillery captured, and their subsequent attempts to regain what they had lost repeatedly defeated.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in the East Indies, for the distinguished valour with which he directed and led the several attacks upon the enemy, and for the eminent services rendered by him in the Battles of the 18th, 21st, and 22nd of December, 1845; displaying, as he did, in conjunction with the Governor-General, a brilliant example to the Troops of perseverance and courage in critical circumstances, and of irresistible ardour in the several attacks made upon the enemy.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, to Major-Gene[Pg 131]ral Walter Raleigh Gilbert, and to Major-General Sir John Hunter Littler, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and to the several Officers, European and Native, under their command, for the eminent services rendered by them in the recent arduous and successful operations.

"On Question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Soldiers, European and Native, for the perseverance and fortitude maintained by them at Moodkee, on the 18th December, 1845, and for the daring valour with which they forced the enemy's entrenchments at Ferozeshah on the 21st and 22nd of December, captured most of his guns, and finally compelled the Sikh Army, of greatly superior numbers, to retire within their own frontier; and that this Resolution be signified to them by the Commanders of the several Corps.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved,—That the said Resolutions be transmitted by the Lord Chancellor to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to communicate the same to the several Officers referred to therein.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative."

Extracts from Minutes of Proceedings of the House of Lords.—2nd April, 1846.

"Order of the Day read, moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, for his skilful and meritorious conduct, when in command of the British Troops employed against a large portion of the Sikh Army, of greatly superior numbers; and for the signal valour and judgment displayed[Pg 132] by him in the battle of the 28th of January, 1846, when the enemy's force was totally defeated, and a new lustre added to the reputation of the British Arms.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the several Officers, European and Native, under the command of Sir Henry Smith, for the distinguished services rendered by them at the battle of Aliwal.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That this House doth highly approve of and commend the intrepidity and exemplary discipline displayed by the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Soldiers, European and Native, on the 28th of January 1846, in their attack on the enemy's position, by which the Sikhs were completely routed and driven in confusion across the Sutlej, with the loss of all their Artillery and Military Equipment; and that the same be signified to them by the Commanders of the several Corps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That in requesting the Governor-General of India to communicate these Resolutions to the several Officers referred to therein, this House desires to acknowledge the zeal and judgment evinced by the Right Honourable Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India, and also by General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in India, in supplying Major-General Sir Henry Smith with such reinforcements and military means as enabled him, under Divine Providence, to overcome all the obstacles thrown in his way by a brave and determined enemy.

[Pg 133]

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the Right Honourable Lieut.-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India, for the judgment, energy, and ability with which the resources of the British Empire in India have been applied in repelling the unjust and unprovoked invasion of the British Territory by the Sikh Nation; and for the valour and indefatigable exertions which he displayed on the 10th of February, 1846, at the battle of Sobraon, when, by the blessing of Almighty God, which we desire most humbly to acknowledge, this hostile and treacherous invasion was successfully defeated.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the thanks of this House be given to General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in India, for the signal ability and valour with which, upon the 10th of February, 1846, he directed and led the attack, when the enemy's entrenchments were stormed, their Artillery captured, their Army defeated and scattered, and the Punjaub laid open to the advance of our victorious troops.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath; Major-General Walter Raleigh Gilbert; and Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath; and to the other Officers, European and Native, for the distinguished services rendered by them in the eminently successful operations at the Battle of Sobraon.

[Pg 134]

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine dissentiente."

"Then it was moved to resolve,—That this House doth highly approve of and commend the invincible intrepidity, perseverance, and steady discipline displayed by the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Soldiers, European and Native, on the 10th of February, 1846, by which the glory of the British Arms has been successfully maintained against a determined and greatly superior force: and that the same be signified to them by the Commanders of the several Corps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative."

"Then it was moved,—That the said Resolutions be transmitted by the Lord Chancellor to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to communicate the same to the several Officers referred to therein.

"On question, Resolved in the Affirmative."

Extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.—2nd March, 1846.

MILITARY OPERATIONS ON THE SUTLEJ.

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the Right Honourable Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Governor-General of India, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, for the energy and ability with which he directed the military means at his disposal, to the repelling of the unprovoked invasion by the Sikh Army of the dominions of the British Government, and of the Protected States upon the left bank of the Sutlej; and also for the firmness and gallantry with which he directed the operations of that portion of the army under his immediate command, in the afternoon and night of 21st December, 1845, and on the morning of the 22nd, upon which occasion the enemy's defences were carried by storm, the greater part of[Pg 135] their artillery captured, and their subsequent attempts to regain what they had lost, repeatedly defeated."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in the East Indies, for the distinguished valour with which he directed and led the several attacks upon the enemy, and for the eminent services rendered by him in the battles of the 18th, 21st, and 22nd of December, 1845, displaying, as he did, in conjunction with the Governor-General, a brilliant example to the Troops of perseverance and courage in critical circumstances, and of irresistible ardour in the several attacks made upon the enemy."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, to Major-General Walter Raleigh Gilbert, and to Major-General Sir John Hunter Littler, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and to the several Officers, European and Native, under their command, for the eminent services rendered by them in the recent arduous and successful operations."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Soldiers, European and Native, for the perseverance and fortitude maintained by them at Moodkee, on the 18th of December, 1845, and for the daring valour with which they forced the enemy's entrenchments at Ferozeshah on the 21st and 22nd of December, captured most of his guns, and finally compelled the Sikh Army, of greatly superior numbers, to retire within their own frontier."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That this Resolution be signified to them by the Commanders of the several Corps."

"Ordered,—That the said Resolutions be transmitted by Mr. Speaker to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to communicate the same to the several Officers referred to therein."

[Pg 136]

Extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.—2nd April, 1846.

BATTLE OF ALIWAL.

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, for his skilful and meritorious conduct when in command of the British Troops employed against a large portion of the Sikh Army, of greatly superior numbers; and for the signal valour and judgment displayed by him in the battle of Aliwal, on the 28th of January, 1846, when the enemy's force was totally defeated, and new lustre added to the reputation of the British Arms."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the several Officers, European and Native, under the command of Sir Henry Smith, for the distinguished services rendered by them at the battle of Aliwal."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That this House doth highly approve of, and commend, the intrepidity and exemplary discipline displayed by the Non-commissioned Officers and Private Soldiers, European and Native, in the battle of Aliwal, on the 28th of January, 1846, in their attack on the enemy's position, by which the Sikhs were completely routed, and driven in confusion across the Sutlej; with the loss of all their Artillery, and Military Equipment; and that the same be signified to them by the Commanders of the several Corps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That, in requesting the Governor-General of India to communicate these Resolutions to the several Officers referred to therein, this House desires to acknowledge the zeal and judgment evinced by the Right Honourable Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge[Pg 137] Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India; and also by General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in India, in supplying Major-General Sir Henry Smith with such reinforcements and military means as enabled him, under Divine Providence, to overcome all the obstacles thrown in his way by a brave and determined enemy."

"Ordered,—That the said Resolutions be transmitted by Mr. Speaker to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to communicate the same to the several Officers referred to therein."—(Sir Robert Peel.)

BATTLE OF SOBRAON.

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to the Right Honourable Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Hardinge, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Governor-General of India, for the judgment, energy, and ability, with which the resources of the British Empire in India have been applied, in repelling the unjust and unprovoked invasion of the British Territory by the Sikh Nation; and for the valour and indefatigable exertions which he displayed on the 10th of February, 1846, at the battle of Sobraon, when, by the blessing of Almighty God, which we desire most humbly to acknowledge, this hostile and treacherous invasion was successfully defeated."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to General Sir Hugh Gough, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in India, for the signal ability and valour with which, in the battle of Sobraon, upon the 10th of February, 1846, he directed and led the[Pg 138] attack, when the enemy's entrenchments were stormed, their artillery captured, their army defeated and scattered, and the Punjaub laid open to the advance of our victorious Troops."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That the Thanks of this House be given to Major-General Sir Henry George Smith, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Major-General Walter Raleigh Gilbert, and Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath; and to the other Officers, European and Native, for the distinguished services rendered by them in the eminently successful operations at the battle of Sobraon."

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente,—That this House doth highly approve of, and commend, the invincible intrepidity, perseverance, and steady discipline displayed by the Non-Commissioned Officers and Private Soldiers, European and Native, in the battle of Sobraon, on the 10th of February, 1846, by which the glory of the British Arms has been successfully maintained against a determined and greatly superior force; and that the same be signified to them by the Commanders of the several Corps, who are desired to thank them for their gallant behaviour."

"Ordered,—That the said Resolutions be transmitted by Mr. Speaker to the Governor-General of India, and that he be requested to communicate the same to the several Officers referred to therein."—(Sir Robert Peel.)

[Pg 139]

London:—Printed by W. Clowes & Sons, Stamford Street,
For Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

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