dragoons, who led the attack at the affair of Clifton Moor, (December
19, 1746,) was, on that officer's being cut down, taken possession
of by the chief of the Macphersons, which clan formed part of the
rear-guard of the rebel army. It is still in existence.
[25] 'Lord George Murray, who always commanded the rear-guard of the
rebels, took possession of a village called Clifton, two miles short of
Penrith, and ordered Colonels John Stuart and Clunie Macpherson, with
their regiments, supported by the Macdonalds of Keppock, to take post
at the bottom of the moor, where they were covered by the hedges and
ditches. There were also some hussars in the village, who had just come
from Lowther Hall.
'About an hour after sunset the King's troops appeared upon the moor,
and three hundred of Colonel Honeywood's dragoons dismounted and
marched forward to attack the rebels, who fired from behind the hedges.
After a few volleys the dragoons were ordered to retire a few paces,
when the highlanders, mistaking this for a flight, rushed forward with
sword and pistol; but were well received by the dragoons, who had
drawn their swords. Now the shouts began, the clashing of swords is
heard, the pistols are fired, and the event seems doubtful. Some of the
rebel's swords broke upon the steel caps of the dragoons, whereupon
they draw their daggers and fight with great obstinacy.
'Thus they continued for about an hour, when the rebels, observing
the resolution of the dragoons, retired across the ditch with
precipitation, and carried consternation to Penrith. Such was the
skirmish at Clifton, in which twelve of the dragoons were slain and
twenty-four wounded. On the side of the rebels were slain twenty, and
seventy taken prisoners.'--_History of the Rebellion._
[26] In April, 1760, Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple, of the KING'S OWN
DRAGOONS, published an essay dedicated to His Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales (afterwards George III.) on the raising, arming, clothing,
and disciplining of the British cavalry and infantry, in which the
re-introduction of _cuirassiers_ and _lancers_ was recommended.
[27] The regiment was originally mounted on long-tailed horses;
the fashion of the short dock was introduced a few years after the
Revolution in 1688, but the practice did not become general until about
1709.
[28] On his appointment his Lady presented to the regiment a silver
collar engraved with military devices to be worn by the kettle drummer.
This ornament is still preserved.
[29]
'To the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Barrington His
Majesty's Secretary at War, &c. &c. &c.
'The memorial of Lieut.-General Charles
Fitzroy, Colonel of the Third, King's Own,
Regiment of Dragoons.
'REPRESENTS
'That the sixth trumpeter, being a kettle drummer, is a great
inconveniency, one troop always remaining without a trumpeter: the
kettle drums being a mark of distinction allowed by royal favour, as
it is reported, for having taken them from the enemy at the battle of
Aghrim; your memorialist humbly prays that you will represent it to His
Majesty, that an additional trumpeter may be allowed, as in the Royal
Irish Regiment of Dragoons, and other regiments having kettle drums.'
N.B. Notwithstanding this document, there is every reason for believing
that the kettle drums were taken at Dettingen, and not at Aghrim.
Every endeavour has been made to discover positive information on the
subject, without success. It appears from official documents that
four pair of kettle drums were captured at Dettingen: but there is no
mention of any kettle drums at Aghrim taken.
[30] This officer entered the service July 26th, 1768.
[31] Lieut.-Colonel (now General) Godfrey Basil Mundy, who had been
promoted in 1795, to a lieutenancy in the Third Dragoons, was advanced
to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment on the 2nd July, 1803,
and continued in the command of it until the 2nd July, 1812, when
ill-health obliged him to relinquish the cavalry service, and to
exchange to the infantry. In the year 1804 a collection of standing
orders for the Third King's Own Dragoons was compiled and issued
by Lieutenant Colonel Mundy, in which the duties of every rank of
officer, and non-commissioned officer, as well as private soldier, in
all situations of service, whether at home or abroad, are ably and
minutely defined, and in which the officers and soldiers are urgently
recommended to devote their hours of leisure to the study of the duties
of their profession. This code of discipline was uniformly acted upon
until the departure of the regiment for India in the year 1837, and is
probably maintained in this gallant corps at the present time.
[32] This is the first instance in which the King's Own took horses
of any colour, but black or brown; even the brown horses had been
transferred.
[33] The attack was made under the direction of Marshal Soult in
person, who himself endeavoured to gain information from the prisoners.
[34] Lieut.-Colonel G. B. Mundy was removed to the Second Regiment of
Foot on the 7th July, 1812, and was succeeded in the Third Dragoons by
Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles Manners from the Twenty-third Light
Dragoons: Lieut.-Colonel Lord Charles Manners immediately assumed the
command of the Regiment in Spain.
[35] Colonel Napier's History of the Peninsular War.
[36] 'The cavalry, under Sir Stapleton Cotton, made a most gallant and
successful charge upon a body of French infantry, which they overthrew
and cut to pieces. In this charge Major-General Le Marchant was
unfortunately killed at the head of his brigade, and I have to regret
the loss of a most able officer.'--_Lord Wellington's Despatch._
[37] The loss of the King's Own was small; 1 horse killed, 1 private
and 2 horses wounded.
[38] Extract of a brigade order issued by General Ponsonby.
'Boulogne, July 19th, 1814.
'Major-General Ponsonby takes this opportunity of expressing to the
brigade the high sense he entertains of their uniformly excellent
conduct, both in quarters and in the field. It is a circumstance as
gratifying to him, as it is creditable to themselves, that, during
the whole period of their service, they have, in no one instance,
collectively or individually, incurred animadversion in general orders,
and that no individual of the brigade has been brought to a general
court-martial. With equal truth the major-general can assert, that
upon every occasion which has presented itself of acting against the
enemy, either regimentally, or in brigade, they have nobly sustained
the superiority of the British cavalry, and fully justified the
high opinion repeatedly expressed of them by His Grace the Duke of
Wellington. The three regiments[52] will ever have to congratulate
themselves on its having fallen to their lot to be in the brigade
employed on the 22nd of July, 1812 (battle of Salamanca), in that
glorious and effectual charge which contributed in so eminent a degree
to decide the fate of the day, and to secure the signal and complete
defeat of the French army.'
'The major-general concludes by stating, that he has applied to His
Royal Highness the Prince Regent for permission for the three regiments
to bear the word "SALAMANCA" on their standards and appointments, and
to be styled "Salamanca Regiments."'
[39] At York the regiment received the distinction before alluded to in
the following letter:--
'Horse Guards, Nov. 16th, 1814.
'My Lord,--I have the honour to acquaint you, that His Royal Highness
the Prince Regent, in the name, and on the behalf of His Majesty, has
been pleased to approve of the Third, or King's Own Dragoons being
permitted to bear on their standards and appointments (in addition to
any other badges or devices which have heretofore been permitted to be
borne by that regiment) the word "SALAMANCA," in commemoration of the
distinguished gallantry displayed by that regiment in the battle fought
on the plains of Salamanca on the 22nd of July, 1812. I have the honour
to be, &c.
'HENRY CALVERT, Adjt.-General.
'To Lieut.-Col. Lord Charles Manners, }
Commanding the Third (King's Own) Dragoons.' }
[40] In this year, the regiment received the following letter:--
'Sir,
Horse Guards, 20th September, 1821.
'I have the honour to acquaint you, by direction of the
Commander-in-Chief, that His Majesty has been pleased to approve of
the Third (or King's Own) regiment of Light Dragoons, bearing on its
standards and appointments, in addition to any badges or devices which
may have heretofore been granted to the regiment, the words "VITTORIA"
and "TOULOUSE," in commemoration of the conduct of the regiment at the
battle of Vittoria, on the 21st of June, 1813, and in the attack of the
position, covering Toulouse, on the 10th of April, 1814.
'I have the honour, &c.
'JOHN MACDONALD, D.A.G.
'Officer Commanding the }
3rd King's Own Light Dragoons.' }
[41] March 31, 1824.
'The 3rd Light Dragoons, being about to leave their present quarters
at Hampton Court, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence takes this
opportunity of expressing to Major Stisted his approbation of the
uniform and steady good conduct of the regiment, since it has been in
these quarters, and of assuring the King's Own, that they will ever
possess His Royal Highness's best and sincerest wishes for their honour
and welfare.'
[42] Extract of a letter, dated
'My Lord,
'Pontefract, Aug. 14, 1825.
'I am directed by Major-General the Honourable W. G. Harris to
announce to your Lordship, that H. R. H. the Commander-in-Chief, and
the Secretary of State for the Home Department, have expressed their
approbation of the conduct of Lieutenant Jebb, and the men composing
the party under his command, when employed in aid of the civil power at
Sunderland, on the 3rd instant.
'I have the honour, &c.
'P. HAY, A.D.C.
'Colonel Lord R. Manners.'
Extract from a letter dated
'Sunderland, Aug. 26, 1825.
'I beg to have the honour of expressing my unqualified approbation
and thanks to the officers and men of the party, for their essential
services in the late riotous and melancholy events, and I derive great
consolation from having received the perfect concurrence of Government,
in the conduct of the military and magistrates, and particularly on the
3rd of August, when it became necessary to fire on the mob, by which
some lives were lost.
'I have the honour, &c.
'T. ROBERTSON, J. P.'
A most handsome letter was likewise received from the Shipowner's
Society, which, after particularizing the cool and steady conduct
of the embarked party, proceeds to state that "they are confident
that every other individual of the regiment would have acted in a
similar manner." The thanks of the town are also offered to the
non-commissioned officers and privates for their exemplary conduct
during the time of their stay.
[43] Extract of an order, dated York, May 21st, 1830:--
'Major-General Sir H. Bouverie desires Major Stisted will express to
the officers his unqualified approbation of the regiment in every
respect. The appearance of the men, the high condition of the horses,
and the field movements, performed with so much precision and celerity,
reflect the highest credit on every individual. The regiment having
scarcely had an opportunity of assembling for the last three years, and
never having had any good drill-ground, the Major-General desires Major
Stisted to say, that the regiment performed the manœuvres this day as
steady, as correct, and as near perfection as cavalry can be brought,
notwithstanding all the disadvantages it has laboured under for such a
length of time.'
[44] On the "_Army of the Indus_" being assembled in 1838, for the
purpose of reinstating Shah Shooja-ool-Moolk in the sovereignty of
Cabool, Colonel Thackwell, K.H. (Lieutenant-Colonel of the THIRD light
dragoons), was selected to command the cavalry division, with the local
rank of Major-General, and Cornet Edmund Roche, of that regiment,
was appointed his aide-de-camp. Both served the arduous Affghanistan
campaign, and were present at the capture of the strong and important
fortress of Ghuznee, on the 23rd July, 1839.
[45] Major-General Pollock's Despatch.
[46] Major-General Pollock's Despatch.
[47] Lt.-Colonel Richmond's Despatch.
[48] Despatch of Major-General McCaskill.
[49] In narrating the services of the regiments which composed the
_Army of the Sutlej_ in the years 1845 and 1846, it may be desirable
that a brief account be given of the country of the Punjaub,
particularly of the SIKHS, the most powerful of the population. The
important results of the sanguinary and eventful conflicts in the
Punjaub in 1846, following so rapidly on each other, excited the
warmest interest throughout a great part of the world; and the heroic
deeds of the several regiments employed, added another page to the
records of the glorious achievements of the British Army.
The Punjaub, (Punj, five; aub, water,) deriving its name from the five
rivers which intersect it, is an extensive country to the northwest
of India. The chief of these rivers are the Indus and the Sutlej, by
which and by the lofty Himalayas, the whole of this fine territory is
bounded. At the period of the invasion of India by Alexander the Great,
the Punjaub is stated to have been a wealthy and populous country,
governed by numerous princes, whose subjects were characterised as
brave and warlike. The Sikhs, originally a religious sect, were founded
by Nanac, or Nanaïc, Shah, about four centuries ago; but, in after
years, in order probably to defend their doctrines, they were induced
by Govind, one of their high priests, to unite the warrior with the
priestly character, thus forming a military as well as religious
association, not dissimilar to the Templar Knights of the times of the
Crusades. They, however, for a time almost disappeared; but profiting
by the calamities of the Mogul empire during the last century, the
Sikhs threw off the yoke of Mussulman despotism, their Sirdars or
Chieftains spreading themselves over the country, ruling by might
rather than right, and each acting independently of the other, until
the death of Maha Singh in 1792. His son and successor Runjeet Singh
contrived, however, to make several of the Sirdars acknowledge him
as their leader, and by skilful management, in the course of a short
period, obtained possession of _Lahore_, the principal city of the
_Punjaub_, and eventually of Cashmere, Mooltan, and Peshawur. In the
end all the chiefs submitted to him; thus bringing the whole country,
from the Indus to the Sutlej, under his rule. He was greatly aided in
his views of aggrandisement by the assistance of a few Italian and
French officers, who trained his army upon the European model, and by
their instructions it attained a high degree of discipline, proving
one of the strongest enemies the British had ever contended with in
India. Since the death of Runjeet in 1839, anarchy and confusion
have prevailed; hatred of the English, which his influence checked,
manifested itself, finally inducing the Sikh forces to invade the
British territories, by crossing the Sutlej in great numbers in
December, 1845, actuated as much by the hope of plunder, as by the
desire of conquest.
[50] Lieutenant Francis, of the ninth lancers, acted as aide-de-camp to
Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, commanding the cavalry division,
in succession to Lieutenant Roche, of the THIRD light dragoons, who
was appointed to act as Assistant Quarter-Master-General: Lieutenants
Francis and Roche had their horses wounded at the battle of Sobraon.
[51] In the active movements performed in these severely contested
battles, it was found that the men of the _Third Light Dragoons_
afforded an additional proof of their usefulness and bravery, by
bringing up, and assisting in working, the Field-Artillery, in
positions where the guns could be effectively used against the enemy;
thus evincing, that the instruction they had previously received
under the system introduced at the Cavalry Depôt at Maidstone, by
Major-General Brotherton, in 1832, may be successfully applied on field
service.
[52] _The brigade consisted of the Fifth Dragoon Guards, the Third, and
Fourth Dragoons._
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, 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 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 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._