and its neighbourhood, where Marshal Sir William Carr Beresford
fixed his head-quarters, having under him a strong body of
troops to prevent the passage of the Tagus, and to intercept all
communications between Marshal Massena and Marshal Soult. In this
service the regiment was employed until the 6th of March, 1811,
when the French army having retired from Santarem, it moved forward
in pursuit, and the scenes of devastation, slaughter, and confusion
it witnessed on the line of the enemy's disastrous retreat, exceed
description. After following the French a considerable distance,
the regiment was detached, with other forces under Marshal
Beresford, to the relief of _Campo Mayor_, which fortress was
besieged by a detachment from Marshal Soult's army.
Campo Mayor surrendered before the arrival of the troops sent
to its relief, and the French, having dismantled the works,
were marching out of the town as the British approached it on
the morning of the 25th of March,--they consisted of nearly
nine hundred cavalry, three battalions of infantry, some horse
artillery, and a battering train of sixteen guns, under the command
of their celebrated general, Latour Maubourg. One squadron of the
THIRTEENTH Dragoons was attached to the light division on this
occasion; a troop was with a brigade of Portuguese infantry, and
five troops were at the head of the column. Having turned the town
by the left, the regiment sent forward one troop to skirmish with
the enemy, who retreated by the Badajoz road. The British pressed
forward in a semi-circular form, to enclose the French, who halted
with their infantry in square, and their cavalry formed in their
front and rear. Colonel MICHAEL HEAD was directed to attack with
the two squadrons of the THIRTEENTH, amounting to two hundred and
three officers and soldiers, and he led them forward with the most
distinguished gallantry[4]; a regiment of French hussars advanced
to meet the THIRTEENTH, and the opposing horsemen raised a loud
shout and rushed upon each other. Several men were overthrown by
the shock; the combatants pierced through on both sides, and facing
about, charged each other again with the most heroic bravery. A
sharp sword conflict ensued, in which the valour of the THIRTEENTH
proved victorious, and many of the hussars having been cut down,
the remainder fled. In the mean time, a French squadron formed on
the enemy's right, wheeled inwards, and, attacking the British
left, did some mischief; but the THIRTEENTH promptly opposed, and
overthrew them after a short contest. The French continued their
flight, the THIRTEENTH followed, and such was the ardour of these
brave swordsmen, that the fire of the French infantry could not
stop them; they galloped forward, cut down the French gunners,
and, believing the other brigades would easily dispose of the
French troops thus passed, they continued the pursuit. For some
time the French dragoons resisted, but their formation soon became
so completely broken, that they surrendered as soon as they were
overtaken. The pursuit was continued at a rapid rate, the object
being to gain the front, and capture the whole, as well as the
enormous quantity of baggage on the road; but the dragoons were not
aware of what was taking place in the rear. Marshal Beresford was
informed that the THIRTEENTH Dragoons were cut off; the loss of one
regiment appeared to be a serious disaster, and he did not permit
the heavy cavalry to charge. The French infantry retiring steadily,
recovered their artillery, and effected their retreat. Meanwhile
the THIRTEENTH and some Portuguese squadrons, commanded by Colonel
Otway, who formed as a support during the attack, were pursuing
the French troopers at a rapid pace; on arriving at the bridge
of Badajoz, they were fired upon by the guns of that fortress.
The regiment then halted and retired to secure the prisoners,
and captured artillery and baggage. Some of the French drivers,
refusing to surrender, were sabred, and the mules were mounted by
men of the THIRTEENTH. The retreat was continued several miles, the
men in high spirits at their wonderful success; at length they were
met by the retiring French infantry, and by all the beaten cavalry
which could find refuge with it. For a few exhausted dragoons to
have engaged that body of troops would have been madness, and
the THIRTEENTH were forced to abandon their captures and make a
detour to the right to join the army, which they effected, and
went into bivouac in the neighbourhood of Campo Mayor. The loss of
the regiment was twelve men and seven horses killed; Lieutenants
William Slater Smith and Frederick Geale, Adjutant Holmes,
Quarter-master Greenham, one serjeant, twenty-eight rank and file,
wounded; one serjeant, nineteen rank and file, and forty-four
horses missing. Three hundred French were killed, wounded, and
taken prisoners; the French colonel, Chamarin, of the Twenty-sixth
Dragoons, was killed in single combat by _Corporal Logan_, of the
THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons, which, with many other instances of
individual bravery in this sharply contested affair, is recorded in
the books of the regiment[5].
The THIRTEENTH, on this occasion, evinced the superiority of their
discipline over their equally brave and numerically superior
adversaries, by their greater quickness in rallying after the
different attacks,--and this circumstance, with the skilful and
determined use of their weapons, greatly tended to their brilliant
success in this well-fought field.
An officer, who made his escape from Badajoz a few days after
this affair, reported that the French infantry had brought in a
great number of severely wounded cavalry soldiers--chiefly sabre
wounds[6].
Preparations were subsequently made for besieging Badajoz, and the
Guadiana was passed in boats in the early part of April; on the
night of the 16th of April an outpost of the THIRTEENTH Dragoons,
which had been relieved by a squadron of Portuguese cavalry, was
surprised by a body of French troops from _Olivenza_, and only
twenty men escaped. The loss was three men wounded, Captain Morris,
Lieutenant Moss, fifty soldiers, and sixty-five horses taken
prisoners. The imagined security of their position, induced by the
Portuguese squadron being in their front, and their consequent
neglect of due precautions, led to the surprise of this party,
by an overwhelming force of the enemy, when totally unprepared
for resistance. This was not forgotten,--and the THIRTEENTH never
gave occasion for the repetition of a similar severe but wholesome
lesson during the remainder of the war.
The siege of _Olivenza_ was undertaken by the fourth division,
and the army advanced to drive the French detachments from the
province of Estremadura. The British and Portuguese cavalry arrived
at _Los Santos_ on the 16th of April, and fell in with a body of
French heavy cavalry, when the leading troops of the THIRTEENTH,
under Captains Boyse and Macalister, promptly formed and checked
the advance of the enemy. The remainder of the regiment, commanded
by Colonel Head, quickly formed line,--charged,--cut down many of
the enemy,--took two officers and a number of men and horses,--and
continued in close and rapid pursuit for several miles,
successfully frustrating every attempt of the French to rally, and
driving them from the field in utter confusion. The enemy suffered
a very severe loss in killed and wounded. The left squadron of
the THIRTEENTH, partly formed of the men who had escaped on the
6th instant, had the satisfaction of recapturing some of their
horses and accoutrements, and severely revenging their own and
their comrades' mischance on some of the very authors of it, who
were among their opponents on this occasion. It was observed that
these men displayed the most determined gallantry: nothing daunted
by the superior numbers of the enemy immediately opposed to them,
they rushed fearlessly into their ranks, and committed terrible
havoc with their sabres. Captain Doherty had a horse shot under
him in this affair. The French commander, whose gallant bearing in
leading his men to the attack was long a theme of admiration among
the officers who witnessed it, was killed by private _James Beard_
of the regiment, much to the regret of those who had observed his
gallantry.
On the 19th of April eighteen men, who had escaped from the enemy,
rejoined the regiment.
The THIRTEENTH Regiment of Light Dragoons remained in advance when
the siege of _Badajoz_ was undertaken; but withdrew, with the other
cavalry, on the advance of Marshal Soult, (who had collected an
army to succour that fortress,) and joined the forces under Marshal
Beresford at _Albuhera_, at which place a general engagement was
fought on the 16th of May. Two squadrons of the THIRTEENTH were
posted near the river above the bridge, with orders to defend it,
and had opportunities of making some successful charges against the
enemy's cavalry, who attempted to cross the stream. The other two
squadrons were posted to keep in check a considerable body of the
enemy's cavalry, but they were not seriously engaged, and their
loss was limited to one horse killed, and one man wounded.
Marshal Soult, having been repulsed, retired, and the THIRTEENTH
Dragoons were sent in pursuit of the enemy. The French rear-guard
having been driven from _Usagre_, that post was occupied, on
the night of the 24th of May, by a portion of the troops under
Major-General Lumley; the THIRTEENTH being in bivouac near the
town. The French advanced on the following day, when some sharp
fighting occurred, in which the third dragoon guards and fourth
dragoons distinguished themselves. The conduct of Colonel Head, of
the THIRTEENTH Dragoons, as well as of every officer and soldier
present, was commended in Major-General Lumley's despatch.
The siege of _Badajoz_ having been resumed, Marshal Soult's army,
strongly reinforced, again advanced; Marshal Massena's army also
marched into Estremadura, and the allies again raised the siege of
Badajoz, and took up a position behind the Caya, where the enemy
did not venture to attack them. When the French armies retired, the
Marquis of Wellington proceeded towards the Agueda, leaving the
THIRTEENTH Dragoons in the Alemtejo, under Lieut.-General Hill;
they were formed in brigade with the ninth dragoons and second
hussars, of the King's German Legion, under Major-General Long,
and were stationed at Villa Viciosa, and afterwards at Monforte, a
small town nineteen miles from Portalegre.
From Monforte, the THIRTEENTH Dragoons marched, towards the end
of October, to the Spanish frontiers, and with other troops under
Lieut.-General Hill, were engaged in the surprise of a French force
under General Girard at _Arroyo de Molinos_. By forced marches,
performed in stormy weather, the British arrived in the vicinity
of the village at day-break on the morning of the 28th of October;
a storm of rain with a thick mist concealed the advance, and the
French were surprised in the act of assembling to commence their
march. The cavalry marched with every precaution to avoid giving
the alarm. The enemy's troops were soon broken; their artillery
was captured by a squadron of the THIRTEENTH, commanded by Captain
Mansell Bowers, and their infantry, attempting to escape by
climbing steep mountains, were intercepted, and the greatest part
made prisoners. Captain Bowers, with his troop of the THIRTEENTH,
pursued a body of French cavalry, and captured a number of men
and horses. The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Muter,
who commanded the regiment on this occasion, was commended in
Lieutenant-General Hill's public despatch.
Towards the end of December Lieut.-General Hill again advanced,
and the THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons were employed in an attempt
to surprise a body of French troops under General Dombrouski at
Merida. On arriving at _La Nava_, three hundred French infantry
and a party of hussars were found in the town; they immediately
retired,--the infantry in square; and the THIRTEENTH and second
hussars of the King's German Legion pursued. Some sharp skirmishing
occurred, but the ground favouring the French, they made good their
retreat to Merida, and informing General Dombrouski of the approach
of British troops, he retreated during the night. The regiment
afterwards returned to Monforte; its loss, in the skirmish between
La Nava and Merida, was three horses killed; eleven men, five
officers' horses and fifteen troop horses wounded; one man missing.
On the decease of Lieut.-General Francis Craig, the colonelcy was
conferred on Lieut.-General the Honorable Henry George Grey, from
lieut.-colonel of the Seventh Light Dragoons, by commission dated
the 30th of December, 1811.
[Sidenote: 1812]
While the regiment was occupying quarters at Monforte, Ciudad
Rodrigo was besieged and captured by storm in January, 1812.
When _Badajoz_ was besieged, the regiment advanced and formed
part of the covering army. During the advance and the subsequent
operations, the THIRTEENTH were employed in the arduous outpost
duties of the army, and engaged in affairs and skirmishes,
which were of frequent occurrence, owing to the constant alerts
occasioned by the enemy's cavalry in their front, who took every
opportunity of endeavouring to cut off the foraging parties,
patroles, &c.
In the advance to Merida, in March, the German hussars, having
fallen in with the French cavalry, commenced skirmishing, and
pushed them through the town and across the bridge. Major-General
Long ordered the THIRTEENTH to gain the front at a gallop, which
they did, and, crossing the Guadiana at a deep ford, formed and
charged the enemy, who broke and fled, the regiment following,
and constantly skirmishing with them till near dark, when it was
ordered to discontinue the pursuit.
In April the fortress of Badajoz was taken by storm, and the army
afterwards quitted Estremadura, when the THIRTEENTH Dragoons were
again left with Lieut.-General Hill.
The regiment was employed in the enterprise against the
enemy's works, which protected the bridge across the Tagus at
_Almaraz_. These were destroyed on the 19th of May, to render the
communications between the French armies more difficult. On this
occasion the THIRTEENTH advanced to the high road by the pass of
Mirabete, and were in reserve while the forts were stormed.
During the summer and autumn of this year, the services of the
regiment were connected with the movements of the troops under
Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill; it performed many long marches,
took part in a few skirmishes, and penetrated into the interior of
Spain.
In July the THIRTEENTH, in brigade with the ninth dragoons and
second German hussars, were engaged in a second successful affair
with the enemy at _Usagre_; and in one of the several skirmishes,
_Serjeant Shaw_ of the THIRTEENTH distinguished himself by his
gallantry. Honourable mention is also made of the firm and orderly
retreat of a squadron of the regiment, commanded by Captain
SHAPLAND BOYSE, before a vastly superior body of the enemy's
cavalry, by whom they were hard pressed for a considerable distance
in the neighbourhood of Ocana.
A singular circumstance occurred when the regiment was bivouacked
in the neighbourhood of Aranjuez: the horses, being unbridled for
the convenience of feeding, were linked, and the officers and men
were reposing from their fatigues, when the Second German Hussars,
who had been ordered to join Lord Wellington's army, filed past;
the THIRTEENTH immediately sprung up, and actuated by the impulse
of the moment, greeted their old comrades with a hearty parting
cheer, which so alarmed the horses that four troops broke loose,
notwithstanding every exertion made to detain them, and dispersed
over the open country, galloping about in squads, and scattering
bridles, pistols, carbines, &c., in every direction. The scene
was truly ludicrous; but this inconsiderate act might have been
attended with serious consequences, as the enemy was in force,
particularly in cavalry, in Aranjuez. The horses, some of which
had strayed to a distance of four or five leagues, and had been
secreted by the Spaniards, were all brought back in the course
of the day, and scarcely an article of equipment was lost. The
exertions of Adjutant Holmes on this occasion are particularly
mentioned.
At the close of the campaign, when the main army withdrew from
Burgos, the troops under Lieut.-General Hill also fell back, and
the whole were united at Salamanca.
The THIRTEENTH were in reserve in the affair at Alba de Tormes,
and were engaged, with the rear guard, in skirmishing with the
enemy during the retrograde movement of the army to the Agueda.
The horses suffered severely from want of forage. After retiring
beyond the confines of Spain, the regiment marched to the Alemtejo,
and was quartered at Crato, where it received a reinforcement of
officers, men, and horses, from England in December.
[Sidenote: 1813]
In February, 1813, the regiment was removed from Crato to Monforte,
where it received a draught of one hundred and thirty-six horses
from the Ninth Dragoons, who were ordered to return to England; at
the same time a serjeant and ten men were attached to the staff
corps of cavalry.
At the opening of the brilliant campaign of this year, the regiment
marched towards _Salamanca_, and was employed in the operations
by which the French troops were driven from that city on the 26th
of May. The numbers and improved organization of the allied army
enabled the British commander to drive the enemy before him with
a strength and violence which the French could not withstand.
Rivers were crossed, rocks and mountains were climbed, and barren
tracts traversed, with so little opposition, that the power of the
enemy appeared to be paralyzed; but in the plains of _Vittoria_
Joseph Bonaparte made a stand, and the THIRTEENTH Dragoons took
part in the engagement on the 21st of June, when the French
army sustained a decisive overthrow. The regiment supported
the attacks of the infantry on this occasion, and subsequently
received orders to advance and act as opportunities might occur.
After clearing various obstacles in their front, the THIRTEENTH
approached Vittoria, when the royal carriages were perceived, and
Major-General Long instantly ordered a squadron, commanded by
Captain Doherty, to pursue them; this was promptly executed, and
the whole were captured after a sharp skirmish, in which private
_Michael Sullivan_ distinguished himself, cutting down a French
officer and capturing his horses. In the mean time, the remainder
of the regiment had formed in front of a compact body of the enemy,
whom they vigorously charged and routed. Captain Doherty, observing
this movement, left the royal carriages in charge of serjeant
Scriven and twelve men, and joined the regiment, with which he
continued in close pursuit of the enemy during the remainder of
the day. Serjeant Scriven reported his having given up the royal
carriages to an officer, with a party of infantry, who said he had
orders to take charge of them, but he omitted taking a receipt
or demanding the officer's name. The commanding officer of the
regiment, Major Patrick Doherty, received a gold medal for this
battle.
Following the rear of the French army, the regiment arrived at
the foot of the Pyrenees, and entering the pass through these
celebrated mountains, near Pampeluna, to furnish posts of
correspondence between the different divisions, it proceeded to
the valley of Roncesvalles,--a place celebrated for the defeat
of Charlemagne by the Duke of Gascony, assisted by the Saracens;
a pillar erected on the spot, to commemorate the victory, was
destroyed by the French in 1794. Up this valley the French army,
commanded by Marshal Soult, advanced on the 25th of July, and
some sharp fighting occurred, which ended in the retreat of the
British to a position in the mountains in front of Pampeluna. The
regiment, excepting one troop detached to assist in the blockade of
Pampeluna, was formed in support of the sixth division during the
severe contest in the _Pyrenees_, and when the French were repulsed
they were pursued to the confines of their own country.
The passage of the Bidassoa was effected in the early part of
October; the French were driven from their position on the Nivelle
in November; and the THIRTEENTH, with the Fourteenth Dragoons,
were engaged in the operations by which the passage of the _Nive_
was effected on the 9th of December. On the following day the
regiment was at _Hasparen_, observing the movements of the French
troops under General Paris. Some fighting took place on the
three subsequent days, and the posts at Hasparen were attacked
on the 13th of December. The gallant conduct of private _James
Armstrong_ of the THIRTEENTH, on this occasion, obtained for him
the distinguished honour of Sir Rowland Hill's particular notice,
and he was immediately promoted. Being one of a small party posted
to keep up the communication, he dashed forward and rallied some
British skirmishers, who had been forced back, placed himself at
their head, and attacked and repulsed the enemy, cutting down some,
and taking others prisoners.
[Sidenote: 1814]
The severity of the season detained the allies in their cantonments
for a short time, during which period the THIRTEENTH were employed
in the outpost duties, and Lieutenant Phillips is mentioned in the
books of the regiment, as having shown great prudence and judgment
in bringing off his piquet, when attacked and hard pressed by the
enemy's cavalry. In consequence of the want of forage, pounded
furze was given as food to the horses.
In February, the army again commenced operations, and the
THIRTEENTH Dragoons were employed in the movements connected with
the forcing of the line of the Bidouze and the Gave de Mauleon; and
in a sharp affair with the enemy's rear-guard, private Shreenan
of the regiment distinguished himself by his great gallantry. The
regiment was engaged, on the 17th of February, at _Sauveterre_,
where Lieutenant Geale and several men and horses were killed;
serjeant-major Thomas Rosser[7] particularly distinguished himself
on this occasion. Being detached with twelve men, he fell in with a
party of the enemy of more than double his numbers, whom he charged
three times, cutting down three himself, and capturing some men
and horses. The same morning, previous to this affair, the mare
on which serjeant-major Rosser was mounted was killed by a shell
striking her in her side, and he escaped without injury.
After several other movements, the THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons were
engaged in forcing the French position at _Orthes_, on the 27th
of February, 1814. The right and centre of the army assembled
opposite the village of Orthes, and the THIRTEENTH Dragoons,
forming part of the body of troops destined to turn and attack
the enemy's right, assembled near the junction of the Gave de Pau
with the Gave d'Oleron. The village of St. Boës was carried; but
the nature of the ground required a change to be made in the plan
of the action. The narrow passage behind the village was opened,
a body of troops, including the THIRTEENTH, pushed through, and
spread a front beyond, and the French army was forced back with
loss. Lieutenant Robert Nesbit was severely wounded; two men and
two horses were killed, and six horses wounded, on this occasion.
In a charge of the enemy's cavalry, which was gallantly met and
repulsed by the THIRTEENTH, a personal rencontre took place between
Lieutenant Doherty and the French officer who led it; the latter
was cut down, and surrendered. Many of the enemy were sabred, and
captured by the regiment. The commanding-officer of the regiment,
Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick Doherty, received a gold clasp,
inscribed with the word "_Orthes_," to be attached to the riband to
which his Vittoria medal was suspended.
On the following day the THIRTEENTH Dragoons pursued the enemy in
the direction of Mont de Marsan; and on the 2nd of March, they were
engaged in a slight affair at _Ayre_.