| NAMES of the OFFICERS of HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN |
| CONSORT'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS. |
+------------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Captains. | Lieutenants. | Cornets. |
+------------------------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| Charles, Duke of Somerset, } | Thomas Pownell | Thos. Brewerton |
| (Colonel) } | | |
| | | |
| Alexr. Cannon, (Lieut.-Col.) | Edward Sandys | John Webb |
| | | |
| Gustavus Philpot, (Major) | had no troop | |
| | | |
| Richard Leveson | Willm. Stanniford | Francis De la Rue |
| | | |
| John Williams | George Clifford | Richard Folliott |
| | | |
| Thomas Hussey | William Hussey | Peter Sutherland |
| | | |
| Oliver St. George | Francis Tankard | Rupert Napier |
+==============================+===================+===================+
| Henry Packhurst Chaplain. |
| James Barry Adjutant. |
| Noe L'Evesque Chirurgeon. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
[Sidenote: 1687]
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.
[Sidenote: 1688]
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 command 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' 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.
[Sidenote: 1689]
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
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 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.
[Sidenote: 1690]
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 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.
[Sidenote: 1690]
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
musketeers, 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
Brewerton, 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 Rapparees, 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.
[Sidenote: 1691]
The regiment passed a part of the winter at Clonmel, and in February
1691, it was employed 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 enemy'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 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 from St. Germains, Brigadier-General LEVESON was
especially exempted from the general amnesty.
[Sidenote: 1692]
[Sidenote: 1693]
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 15,999_l._ 3_s._ 4_d._ per annum. During this and the following
year it was stationed in the south and western counties of England.
[Sidenote: 1694]
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 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.
[Sidenote: 1695]
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 20,652_l._ 18_s._ 4_d._
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 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, Marshal
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.
[Sidenote: 1696]
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.
[Sidenote: 1697]
[Sidenote: 1698]
After leaving its village cantonments in the early part of April 1697,
the regiment was encamped 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.
[Sidenote: 1702]