were everywhere driven before the allied army.
The THIRTEENTH shared with their old comrades of the "ragged
brigade[8]," the gallant Fourteenth, in the advance-duties of the
army, which brought them repeatedly into collision with the enemy.
On the 22nd of March, as three troops of the THIRTEENTH Light
Dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Patrick Doherty, with Major
Boyse, Captain Macalister, Lieutenants Doherty, Drought, and
Lawrence, and Brigade-Major Dunbar, approached _St. Gaudens_, four
squadrons of French cavalry were discovered drawn up in front of
the town. Undismayed by the superior numbers of the enemy, the
THIRTEENTH advanced to the charge, and such was the ardour and
determined bravery with which they rushed upon their numerous
opponents, that the French horsemen were overthrown at the first
shock, and they galloped in disorder through the streets; but they
rallied at the other side of the town, and prepared to resist the
few British troopers whose audacity they were desirous to punish.
The THIRTEENTH being supported by the Third Dragoon Guards, dashed
through the town, and rushing sword in hand upon the French
squadrons, broke them in an instant, and pursued them for two
miles, cutting many down, and taking above a hundred prisoners,
and sixty horses. The ground was covered with cavalry equipments,
arms, and dead and wounded men and horses. The conduct of the
THIRTEENTH was highly commended in Major-General Fane's report
of this action; the officers and soldiers were also thanked in
orders by Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, and the signal gallantry
evinced by Captain James Macalister, who commanded the advance on
this occasion, was rewarded with the rank of major in the army. The
THIRTEENTH nobly upheld, on this occasion, their well-earned fame
as bold horsemen and dexterous swordsmen; and, by their promptitude
in rushing to the attack, showed that they possessed the true
spirit of good cavalry, adding another to the many proofs they had
already given of the insufficiency of the mere preponderance of
superior numbers to resist the shock of a determined charge[9].
The THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons continued to form part of the force
in advance in the immediate presence of the enemy; every encounter
gave additional proof of the ascendancy which the British troops
had acquired over their opponents, and as the war drew towards a
close, this became more apparent.
On the 10th of April the enemy's fortified position at _Toulouse_
was attacked. The THIRTEENTH were at their post, but no opportunity
to charge the enemy occurred.
When the French withdrew from Toulouse, the regiment advanced
through the town in pursuit, and occupied a chain of posts in front
of the allied army.
The war was soon afterwards terminated by the treaty of Paris, and
the Bourbon family was restored to the throne of France.
Thus the conquering arms of Britain had rescued kingdoms from the
tyrannical power of the usurper; and the THIRTEENTH Dragoons,
who had largely shared in the attendant toils and dangers, saw
the cause in which they had been engaged, triumphant over all
opposition.
After reposing in quarters a short time at Grammont, the regiment
sent its dismounted men and baggage to Bourdeaux, and commenced its
march through France to Boulogne, where it embarked for England,
and landed at Ramsgate on the 7th of July, after an absence of four
years and five months, during which period it had marched about
_one thousand five hundred_ leagues (principally Spanish); it had
been engaged in _thirty-two_ affairs, many of which were sharp and
contested, besides the general actions; it had been _one hundred
and ninety-seven_ nights in bivouac, and its casualties amounted
to _two hundred and seventy-four men_, and _one thousand and nine
horses_.
The THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons marched from Ramsgate to Hounslow
and its neighbourhood; and having been inspected by His Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief, they proceeded to Weymouth. The
establishment was reduced to eight troops.
[Sidenote: 1815]
The regiment embarked at Plymouth, and arrived at Cork in November.
During the end of this year and the beginning of 1815, the regiment
was distributed in quarters at Cork, Fermoy, Mallow, Bandon,
Limerick, Clogheen, Gort, and Tallow.
On the 6th of April, 1815, the royal authority to bear on its
guidons and appointments the word "PENINSULA," as a mark of the
Prince Regent's approbation of its conduct in Portugal, Spain, and
France, under Field Marshal His Grace the Duke of Wellington, was
communicated to the regiment; and shortly afterwards the veterans
of the Peninsula were again employed on foreign service; the return
of Bonaparte to France, his resumption of the imperial dignity, and
the flight of Louis XVIII. to Flanders, having rekindled the flame
of war on the continent.
The THIRTEENTH were augmented to ten troops; and six troops,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Patrick Doherty, embarked at Cork
at the end of April and in the beginning of May; they landed at
Ostend, marched up the country, and were formed in brigade with the
Third Hussars, King's German Legion, under Colonel Sir Frederick
Arentschildt, K.C.B.
On the 29th of May the THIRTEENTH were present at Grammont at the
review of the British cavalry and artillery, commanded by the Earl
of Uxbridge, by His Grace the Duke of Wellington, accompanied by
Prince Blucher.
While the regiment was reposing in quarters, waiting for the army
to commence operations, Bonaparte endeavoured, by a rapid advance,
to surprise the allies and beat them in detail. The post at Quatre
Bras was attacked, and this position being fixed upon as the point
of concentration for the army under the Duke of Wellington, the
THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons marched in that direction, and joined the
army during the night of the 16th of June.
The regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Shapland Boyse, was
employed in covering the retreat from Quatre Bras to the position
in front of the village of _Waterloo_, on the 17th of June, which
had been rendered necessary by the defeat and retrograde movement
of the Prussians.
At the memorable battle of "WATERLOO," on the 18th of June, 1815,
the THIRTEENTH Dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Boyse, had the
good fortune to acquire additional laurels. Eminent, as British
troops ever have been, for those warlike qualities which lead to
glory in the hour of battle, yet the field of "WATERLOO" elevated
their reputation above its former standard, and the THIRTEENTH
have the honour of being numbered among the corps which signalized
themselves in the "shock of steel." The regiment was posted with
the Seventh and Fifteenth Hussars in the right centre of the
position in the rear of Hugomont; it charged repeatedly during the
day with the most distinguished success, the enemy's cavalry and
infantry, having some sharp sword conflicts with the former; it
also aided in the successful attacks upon the advancing columns,
penetrated and completely routed a square of infantry, and thus
materially contributed to the overthrow of the French army, which
was driven from the field with the loss of its cannon, ammunition,
waggons, and all its _matériel_.
The loss of the regiment was Captain James Gubbins, Lieutenants
John Geale and John Pymm, eleven rank and file, and fifteen horses
killed; Lieut.-Colonel Shapland Boyse, Captains Joseph Doherty
and Gregorie, Lieutenants George Doherty, Charles Robert Bowers,
John A. E. Irving, James Mill, George H. Packe, ten serjeants,
two trumpeters, fifty-seven rank and file, and forty-six horses,
wounded: eight rank and file and fifty-two horses missing.
Captain Brooks Lawrence, upon whom the command of the regiment
devolved in the course of the day, had two horses killed and one
wounded under him.
The gallant conduct of troop serjeant-major _Wells_, who commanded
Captain Gubbins' troop after all the officers had fallen, was
particularly remarked; he was promoted into the second West India
regiment, and retired from the Fifty-fourth regiment as a captain
in 1841.
Lieutenant Doherty, besides being severely wounded in the head,
was struck by a ball which was stopped by the interposition of his
watch, which it flattened. He had taken out his watch to remark the
time, when the regiment was ordered to advance, and not being able
to return it, he put it into the breast of his jacket, and thus
providentially his life was saved.
The regiment was subsequently rewarded with the royal authority to
bear the word "WATERLOO" on its guidons and appointments; every
officer and soldier present received a silver medal, and the
privilege of reckoning two years' service for that day was also
conferred on the troops. Colonel Patrick Doherty and Lieut.-Colonel
Shapland Boyse, of the THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons, were made
Companions of the Bath.
The following officers received silver medals for the Battle of
Waterloo:--
Lt.-Col. Patrick Doherty, _Col._
Maj. Shapland Boyse, _Lt. Col._
Capt. Brooks Lawrence
Capt. Joseph Doherty
" James Macalister
" Mansell Bowers
" Charles Gregorie
" Frederick Goulbourne
Lieut. G. H. Packe
" John Wallace
" John A. E. Irving
Lieut. John J. Moss
" George Doherty
" John H. Drought
Lieut. Charles Robt. Bowers
" Allan T. Maclean
" Robert Nesbit
" William Turner
" James Mill
Surgeon Thomas G. Logan
Vet.-Surg. John Constant
Paymast. Alexander Strange
Quartermast. Wm. Minchin.
Cornet Joseph Wakefield
After passing the night on the field of battle, the regiment
advanced in pursuit of the French army on their retreat to Paris,
which city surrendered to the British and Prussian armies. This
event terminated the campaign, Louis the XVIIIth was restored,
and the British troops received the thanks of both houses of
Parliament for their distinguished conduct during this short
and most important struggle. The THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons were
stationed in the vicinity of Paris, and took part in several grand
reviews at which the Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the Kings
of France and Prussia, were present. On the formation of the army
of occupation in France, the Eleventh, THIRTEENTH, and Fifteenth
Light Dragoons constituted the third brigade of cavalry under
Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B.
[Sidenote: 1816]
In the spring of 1816, the regiment having received orders to
return to England, it embarked at Calais, and landed at Dover
on the 13th of May, after an absence of one year and a few days,
during which period its casualties amounted to three officers,
sixty-five men, and one hundred and four horses.
The regiment marched to Romford, where it was reviewed by His Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief. In June it was distributed in
quarters at Newmarket, Bury St. Edmonds, Ely, Peterborough, and
Cambridge; and in July it marched to York, sending, at different
periods during the latter part of this and in the beginning of
the following year, detachments to Carlisle, Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Tadcaster, Stockton-on-Tees, Hull, Pontefract, Leeds, Halifax, and
Wakefield, where they were occasionally employed in quelling riots.
The establishment had been reduced in October, 1816.
[Sidenote: 1817]
The quarters were changed in July, 1817, to Brighton, with
detachments at Chichester, Arundel, Hastings, and Eastbourne.
[Sidenote: 1818]
In the summer and autumn of 1818, the regiment was stationed at
Manchester, Stockport, Blackburn, Bolton, and Preston, and was
engaged in quelling riots.
[Sidenote: 1819]
Having received orders to prepare for embarkation for India,
the regiment marched to Romford, where it was quartered a
short time, and in February, 1819, eight troops, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Boyse, sailed from Gravesend; they were four
months on the voyage, and landed at Madras on the 13th of June
following. After a short halt, the regiment marched seventy-three
miles up the country to Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic, where
it was stationed during the remainder of the year.
[Sidenote: 1820]
[Sidenote: 1826]
From Arcot the regiment was removed, in the early part of 1820, to
Bangalore, a military station in Mysore, about two hundred miles
from Madras. At this station the regiment remained upwards of six
years, and in 1826, it was removed to Arcot.
[Sidenote: 1828]
In February, 1828, the regiment was encamped at Arcot, from
whence it was removed to Arnee, a town of the Carnatic, fourteen
miles south of Arcot, and was stationed at that place during the
remainder of the year.
[Sidenote: 1829]
The regiment left Arnee in March, 1829, and once more traversed the
country to Bangalore, where it was quartered during the remainder
of its stay in India.
[Sidenote: 1832]
In 1832, the regiment was again clothed in scarlet with buff
facings.
The Mahommedans of Mysore entered into a combination, in which
some Sepoys of the force at Bangalore joined, for the destruction
of the English officers and soldiers, and the subversion of
the British government in October, 1832; but the discovery of
this conspiracy on the day fixed upon for its execution, caused
immediate precautions to be taken, which prevented the outbreak.
Many of the mutineers were taken, tried, and sentenced,--some
to death,--and the remainder to transportation. The Sepoys were
executed in front of the assembled force.
[Sidenote: 1833]
In January, 1833, the royal authority was given for the THIRTEENTH
Light Dragoons to retain on their appointments the motto, "_Viret
in æternum_." This motto was borne by the regiment when it was a
corps of heavy cavalry, and known by the name of the "_the green
dragoons_," but was discontinued on its being made light. The motto
was subsequently resumed, and the privilege of bearing it was
confirmed to the regiment by King William IV., as above stated[10].
[Sidenote: 1836]
In December, 1836, King William IV. was pleased to command that the
facing of the regiment should be altered to _green_.
[Sidenote: 1839]
Two squadrons of the regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel
Maclean, were detached to Bellary in February, 1839, and formed
part of the force employed in the expedition against the Nuwaub
of Kurnool. In the affair at _Zorapoor_, a party of the regiment,
commanded by Lieutenant Cameron, pursued the fugitives across the
river Toombuddra, and took several prisoners; for which they were
thanked in orders. The regiment lost one man, drowned, on this
occasion. The two squadrons returned to Bangalore on the 28th of
November. They lost thirty-two men, principally from cholera, and
six horses, on this service.
[Sidenote: 1840]
After passing upwards of twenty years in performing the important
duty of protecting the British possessions in the south of India,
the regiment received orders to prepare to return to England, and
it marched to Madras in the beginning of 1840[11], where it was
reviewed by Major-General Sir Robert Dick, K.C.B. and K.C.H.,
and on the following day transferred its horses to the Fifteenth
Hussars; such non-commissioned officers and soldiers as volunteered
to remain in India were then permitted to transfer their services
to other corps.
At the frequent reviews and inspections of the THIRTEENTH, during
their service in India, the regiment was invariably complimented
on its admirable system of interior economy, its high state of
discipline and efficiency, and the following orders were issued
previous to its leaving Madras:--
"_Head-Quarters, Centre Division, Madras_,
_29th January, 1840_.
"Major-General Sir Robert Dick was much gratified this morning
to find Her Majesty's THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons in such high
order. The major-general will not fail to report to the general
commanding-in-chief the soldier-like appearance and steadiness
of the men, and the serviceable condition of the horses; the
movements were made with precision and celerity, notwithstanding
the heavy sandy ground the regiment moved over; the horses
were well in hand; the advances in line and trotting past were
admirable. The major-general cannot help regretting the services
of so efficient a regiment will be so soon lost to the Indian
army. He sincerely wishes Colonel Brunton, the officers, and men
of the THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons a safe passage to England."
"_Head-Quarters, Fort St. George_,
_17 February, 1840_.
"GENERAL ORDER.--The THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons being ordered to
embark, the major-general commanding-in-chief cannot allow the
corps to quit this command, without recording the high sense
he entertains of its merits and conduct during the period of
its service in the East. Although opportunities for adding to
its long-established fame and reputation in the field have so
rarely presented themselves to this arm of the service since the
THIRTEENTH formed a portion of the Madras army, the major-general
is well assured, that had occasion called forth a display of
its energies against the enemy, it would have nobly sustained
the high character of the British cavalry. Good conduct and
discipline are qualities, however, as essentially necessary to
mark the meritorious soldier out of the field as gallantry in it;
and in these attributes of the profession the THIRTEENTH Light
Dragoons have at all times shone conspicuous.
"From having been in the division under his own immediate command
during a period of more than two years, the major-general is
enabled to bear testimony (as well as from the reports of his
predecessors) to the uniform correctness of its conduct, and
throughout the course of its lengthened service in Mysore,
he believes it may safely be asserted, that not an instance
has occurred of a complaint or appeal being preferred against
an officer, non-commissioned officer, or private, of this
distinguished corps, to the civil authorities. In taking leave,
therefore, (for a time he hopes only) of the THIRTEENTH Light
Dragoons, the major-general begs Lieut.-Colonel Brunton will
accept himself, and convey to the officers and soldiers under
his orders, the assurance of the esteem the major-general feels
for, and the warm interest he shall ever take in, the prospects
and fair fame of the regiment; and it will constitute a pleasing
part of his duty to make the general-commanding-in-chief of Her
Majesty's army acquainted with the sentiments he has thus felt
to be due to the corps to express, of its character and merits,
neither of which are unknown to Lord Hill already, and are in no
wise diminished by a twenty years' absence from its native land.
"By order of Major-General Sir Hugh Gough, K.C.B.
"(Signed) R. B. FEARON,
"_Deputy Adjutant-General of_
_Her Majesty's Forces_."
The regiment embarked from Madras in February, and landed at
Gravesend in June, after an absence of twenty-one years and three
months, during which period its casualties amounted to fifteen
officers and one thousand and fifty-one men.
The regiment marched to Canterbury, and the establishment was
reduced to six troops.
In June of this year the regiment resumed wearing blue clothing
with buff facing.
[Sidenote: 1841]
During the election at Canterbury in February, 1841, the regiment
was quartered at Deal, Sandwich, and Walmer; and when the general
election took place in June, it occupied Whitstable, Herne Bay, and
Margate, where it received a vote of thanks from the inhabitants
for its orderly and exemplary conduct.
On the 11th of May the regiment was inspected, mounted, by His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who was pleased to express
in very strong terms, to Lieut.-Colonel Brunton, his approbation
of the appearance and forward state of training of both men and
horses. On this occasion nearly one half of the men present had
joined as recruits since the return of the regiment from India
(ten months), and all were mounted on young horses, which had been
bought and trained during that time.
The friendship of the "ragged brigade," which had commenced with,
and had continued throughout the eventful careers of the two
regiments in the Peninsula, was cemented afresh by the arrival of
the Fourteenth at Canterbury, to prepare for service in India; when
the Fourteenth presented the regiment with their handsome mess
tables, to perpetuate in the THIRTEENTH a kindly remembrance of
their old companions in arms.
Lieut.-Colonel Brunton's exertions to complete the regiment in men
and horses had been attended with the most favourable results; and
having attained a state of efficiency, it marched, in August, to
Ipswich and Norwich, crossing the Thames at Gravesend.
[Sidenote: 1842]
In January, 1842, on the occasion of the visit of the King of
Prussia to England to attend the christening of His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, the regiment was removed to Hampton Court and
Slough; and on the 4th of February the troops at the former place
marched, during the night, to Woolwich, and were present in the
morning at a review of the artillery previous to the embarkation of
the King of Prussia. The regiment returned from Hampton Court and
Slough to Ipswich and Norwich.
The THIRTEENTH regiment of Light Dragoons, during its long and
faithful services to its sovereign and country in various quarters
of the globe, has, in peace and in war, under every circumstance of
service, vicissitude of climate, and the trials incident thereto,
distinguished itself by the display of those qualities which ever
acquire unfading laurels in the field of action, and gain respect
and esteem for the British soldier.
SIC "VIRET IN ÆTERNUM."
FOOTNOTES:
[1] DODDRIDGE'S _Life of Colonel James Gardiner_.
[2] Major Vigoureux, who was employed on the reconnoitring service,
gave Captain White information of the presence of the enemy, and
concerted with him the plan of attack. He requested Captain White
to mount him, which he did, on one of the largest horses of his
troop, and being a very tall and powerful man, his appearance was
most formidable. He charged with Captain White at the head of the
THIRTEENTH, and rode with uplifted sabre straight at the French
commanding-officer who was leading: on their meeting, that officer,
instead of defending himself, dropped his sword to the salute,
and turning it, presented the hilt to Major Vigoureux; the sword
was afterwards presented by Colonel Vigoureux to Lieut.-Colonel
Brunton, and is now in his possession.
[3] Captain White was afterwards appointed to the staff of the
army. He was killed at the battle of Salamanca.
[4] List of French cavalry attacked by two squadrons of the
THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons at Campo Mayor, 25th March, 1811.
Second French Hussars 300 men.
Tenth ditto 350 "
Twenty-sixth Heavy Dragoons 150 "
Fourth Spanish Chasseurs 80 "
----
880 "
[5] Paymaster Gardiner obtained possession of Colonel Chamarin's
handsome helmet, and brought it to England. The colonel's sword was
given to Lieut.-Colonel Head.
[6] The following incident in allusion to the Campo Mayor affair is
taken from the journal of an officer published in CLARKE'S _Life of
the Duke of Wellington_:--