with the tenth dragoons under Major-General the Earl of Pembroke;
and, after much manœuvring and some skirmishing was encamped at
Kalle. At the same time thirty thousand French troops, commanded
by the Chevalier de Muy, crossed the river Dymel, and took post
at _Warbourg_, to cut off the communication of the allies with
Westphalia. The INNISKILLING dragoons left the camp at Kalle
about eleven o'clock on the night of the 30th of June, passed the
Dymel near Liebenau, and about five on the following morning were
in position on the heights of Corbeke, from whence they advanced
to a wood within five miles of the enemy's position. The French
were attacked, and while the action was still raging, the British
cavalry were ordered forward. Traversing the five miles at a quick
pace, they speedily arrived at the field of battle, and charging
the enemy with signal intrepidity, routed the French cavalry,
put the opposing infantry into disorder, and chased them across
the Dymel. The conduct of the INNISKILLING dragoons and other
British cavalry regiments was such, that the Marquis of Granby
stated, in his public despatch, that _nothing could exceed their
gallant behaviour_; Prince Ferdinand declared in general orders
that _all the British cavalry performed prodigies of valour_; and
an historian of that date stated, that _they outdid all former
examples_.
The regiment had only two men and two horses killed; three men and
one horse wounded, and three horses missing.
The French retired from their camp beyond the Dymel on the 22nd of
August; when the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick crossed the river
with twelve thousand men to gain the enemy's left flank. His
leading corps encountered the enemy's rear-guard near _Zierenberg_,
and a sharp skirmish ensued. At length the Prince brought forward
the Greys and INNISKILLING dragoons; a gallant charge of the two
regiments decided the contest; and the French were driven into the
town.
The French army encamped beyond _Zierenberg_, and the volunteers
of Clermont and Dauphiné, amounting to about nine hundred cavalry
and a thousand infantry, were quartered in the town. After sunset,
on the evening of the 5th of September, the Greys, INNISKILLING,
and Bock's dragoons, two regiments of infantry, and one hundred and
fifty Highlanders, crossed the Dymel, and arriving at Zierenberg
before daybreak, forced the guard and entered the town. A dreadful
slaughter was made of the enemy in the streets, and a sharp
encounter with the bayonet took place in the churchyard; between
three and four hundred prisoners were captured; also two pieces of
cannon; and at three o'clock the assailants retired to Warbourg,
having lost only ten men. It was stated in the London Gazette, that
'_the behaviour of the officers and the bravery of the troops, on
this occasion, deserve the greatest commendation_.'
The Hereditary Prince of Brunswick marched with a body of troops
to the duchy of Cleves, and invested Wesel. The INNISKILLING
dragoons and several other corps left the camp at Warbourg, on
the 1st of October, under Major-General Waldegrave, to join the
prince, and take part in the operations on the lower Rhine. The
French, commanded by the Marquis de Castries, advanced to raise
the siege of Wesel, and encamped half a league behind the convent
of _Campen_, with Frischer's corps posted within the convent. The
INNISKILLING dragoons passed the Rhine by a bridge two miles below
Wesel, and having joined the Hereditary Prince, advanced at ten
o'clock, on the evening of the 15th of October, to surprise the
enemy's camp. It being necessary to dislodge the troops in the
convent, the firing alarmed the French army, which instantly formed
for battle. The allies having passed the convent, commenced the
action at five o'clock on the morning of the 16th; and a succession
of charges was continued with varied success until nine at night,
when the Prince ordered a retreat.
The SIXTH lost on this occasion two men and four horses killed;
Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, Major Hepburn, Cornet Sayer, five men
and one horse wounded; and one man and horse taken by the enemy.
After repassing the Rhine, the regiment was encamped at Bounnen,
subsequently at Klein Reckum, and in December went into
cantonments.
[Sidenote: 1761]
In February, 1761, the regiment took part in a successful incursion
into the quarters occupied by the French army; when the allies,
advancing through a heavy snow, drove their opponents before
them many leagues, captured several strong towns with extensive
magazines of forage and provisions, but were subsequently obliged
to retire.
During the campaign of 1761 the regiment was brigaded with the
royals and tenth dragoons, commanded by Major-General Eliott. It
was employed in several manœuvres, and was in position in the
middle of July, on the rivers Asse and Lippe in Westphalia, forming
part of the division under the Prince of Anhalt. On the 15th of
July, the enemy attacked the Marquis of Granby's division at
_Kirch-Denkern_, when the INNISKILLING dragoons crossed the Asse
river to support the infantry, and the French were driven back. The
action was renewed on the following day, and the enemy was again
repulsed with serious loss; but owing to the scene of conflict
being in a thickly-wooded country, interspersed with marshy ground,
the services of the regiment were limited to supporting the
infantry.
The SIXTH dragoons were subsequently employed in operations on the
Dymel; in November they were engaged in the electorate of Hanover,
where several sharp skirmishes occurred, in which they took part,
in severe weather, and were sometimes encamped in the snow. They
eventually went into cantonments in Friesland.
[Sidenote: 1762]
Having taken the field to serve the campaign of 1762, the regiment
was formed in brigade with the fifteenth dragoons, under Colonel
Harvey. After encamping at Brackel in the bishopric of Paderborn,
and subsequently on the heights of Tissel, the brigade advanced, on
the morning of the 24th of June, with the view of surprising the
French camp at _Groebenstien_. This movement was conducted with
such address, that the French were instantly thrown into confusion,
and, abandoning their camp equipage, they fell back upon Cassel,
one division being surrounded and made prisoners in the woods
of _Wilhelmsthal_. The INNISKILLING dragoons pursued the French
towards Cassel, and afterwards encamped near Holtzhausen.
In the subsequent operations of the campaign, the INNISKILLING
dragoons were actively employed, and a series of successes was
followed by the capture of Cassel. A suspension of hostilities took
place in November, and the regiment went into cantonments in the
bishopric of Munster.
[Sidenote: 1763]
A treaty of peace was concluded at Fontainbleau. The regiment
received the thanks of Parliament for its conduct during the
war: and in January, 1763, commenced its march through Holland
to Williamstadt, where it embarked for England. It landed in
February, and was stationed in South Britain; the _light troop_
was disbanded; the establishment was reduced to six troops of
twenty-eight private men each, and eight men per troop were
equipped as light dragoons.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, who had repeatedly distinguished himself
during the war, was rewarded with the colonelcy of the twelfth
dragoons, and was succeeded by Major Robert Rickart Hepburn, a most
meritorious officer, who had served with the regiment many years.
[Sidenote: 1764]
After the return of the regiment from Germany, its head-quarters
were established at Northampton; from whence they were removed,
in 1764, to York; at the same time orders were received for the
officers and men to wear epaulettes on the left shoulder instead of
aiguillettes; the jacked leather boots were directed to be replaced
by others of a lighter description; and the regiment was directed
to be mounted on long-tailed horses.
[Sidenote: 1765]
[Sidenote: 1766]
In 1765 the INNISKILLING dragoons occupied cantonments in
Scotland; they returned to England in the following year, and the
head-quarters were stationed at Coventry, where an order was
received for the drummers on the establishment to be replaced by
trumpeters.
[Sidenote: 1767]
The regiment marched into village cantonments, near London, in May,
1767, and was reviewed on the 11th of that month, in brigade with
the fourth dragoons, on Wimbledon Common, by King George III., who
was pleased to express his high approbation of the appearance and
discipline of the two regiments.
[Sidenote: 1768]
[Sidenote: 1769]
[Sidenote: 1770]
After the review the INNISKILLING dragoons marched into cantonments
in Worcestershire; in 1768 the head-quarters were removed to Lewes;
in 1769 to Ipswich; and in 1770 to York.
[Sidenote: 1771]
[Sidenote: 1772]
[Sidenote: 1773]
[Sidenote: 1774]
In the spring of the following year the regiment proceeded to
Scotland; but returned to England in the beginning of 1772, and was
stationed in Lancashire, the head-quarters being established at
Manchester; from whence they were removed in 1773 to Worcester, and
in 1774 to Canterbury.
[Sidenote: 1775]
A change of quarters took place in the summer of 1775, and the
regiment was stationed in Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, with
the head-quarters at Northampton.
On the decease of General Cholmondeley, in October, 1775, King
George III. conferred the colonelcy on Lieutenant-General Edward
Harvey, who so highly distinguished himself at the head of the
regiment in Germany during the seven years' war.
[Sidenote: 1776]
[Sidenote: 1777]
In the early part of 1776 the SIXTH dragoons commenced their
march for Scotland; from whence they returned in the beginning of
1777, and were cantoned in Warwickshire and Staffordshire, the
head-quarters being at Coventry.
[Sidenote: 1778]
The colonelcy having become vacant by the decease of General
Harvey, it was conferred on Lieutenant-General James Johnston, from
the first Irish horse, now fourth dragoon guards, by commission
dated the 2nd of April, 1778.
Meanwhile the American war had commenced, and the French monarch
having agreed to aid the revolted colonies, war was declared
against France. The British army was augmented, and one hundred
men and horses were added to the INNISKILLING dragoons; but the
scene of conflict was so little adapted for cavalry, that the heavy
dragoon regiments were not called upon to quit the United Kingdom.
The head-quarters were removed to Salisbury in May, 1778; and a
further augmentation of forty-eight men, who were to be mounted
on small horses and equipped as light dragoons, was added to the
regiment.
[Sidenote: 1779]
In April, 1779, the men equipped as light cavalry were
incorporated, with the men of the third dragoon guards, and first
and eleventh dragoons, into a regiment, which was numbered the
twentieth light dragoons. During the following summer, the SIXTH,
and five other regiments of cavalry, were encamped on Salisbury
Plain, under Lieutenant-General Johnston.
[Sidenote: 1780]
[Sidenote: 1781]
[Sidenote: 1782]
[Sidenote: 1783]
In the two following years the regiment occupied quarters in
Gloucestershire and Worcestershire; in 1782 it was stationed in
Dorsetshire, with the head-quarters at Dorchester; and in 1783 it
was removed into Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
The American war had, in the mean time, terminated, and the
establishment was reduced to two hundred and thirty-two officers
and men.
[Sidenote: 1784]
[Sidenote: 1785]
During part of the year 1784, the head-quarters were at Lincoln,
with detachments along the coast; in 1785 they were removed to
York, with detached troops in Northumberland, Durham, and on the
Yorkshire coast.
[Sidenote: 1786]
[Sidenote: 1787]
[Sidenote: 1788]
[Sidenote: 1789]
[Sidenote: 1790]
[Sidenote: 1791]
[Sidenote: 1792]
In 1786 and 1787 the regiment was stationed in Lancashire; in
1788 the head-quarters were at Exeter, with detachments on the
Devonshire coast; they were removed to Dorchester in 1789; to
Winchester in 1790; to Ipswich in 1791; and to York in 1792, with
detachments on coast duty.
[Sidenote: 1793]
A revolution had, in the mean time, taken place in France; and a
violent republican party had seized the reins of government, and
imprisoned their king. These indications of an approaching war
occasioned the establishment of the regiment to be increased sixty
men; in the beginning of 1793 it was augmented to nine troops, and
was held in constant readiness to proceed on foreign service; a
tenth troop was afterwards added.
The French republicans, pursuing a career of cruelty, spoliation,
and bloodshed, added to their multiplied enormities the
decapitation of their king. Infatuated by success in their
own land, they sought to subvert the liberties of other
countries,--to destroy the civil order of Europe,--to spread a
moral contamination of principle and practice which outraged the
nature of mankind,--and to involve every country in atheism,
despotism, and anarchy. They attacked Holland, when a British force
was sent to the assistance of the Dutch, and the INNISKILLING
dragoons marched from York in June, 1793,--embarked at Blackwall,
and having landed at Ostend, went into quarters for a short time
among the Flemish peasantry.
From Ostend the SIXTH proceeded to the vicinity of Bruges, and were
formed in brigade with the blues and royal dragoons. Meanwhile the
successes of the allies had removed the theatre of the war from
Holland, to the frontiers of French Flanders, and the INNISKILLING
dragoons advanced up the country and joined the forces commanded
by the Duke of York before _Valenciennes_, which fortress
surrendered to His Royal Highness a few days after the regiment
joined the army.
The British were separated from the remainder of the allies, with
a view of undertaking the siege of _Dunkirk_; and the INNISKILLING
dragoons marched from Valenciennes to the vicinity of the coast for
the purpose of forming part of the covering army. On the evening
of the 22nd of August the French were driven from the camp at
Ghivelde, and the covering forces took up a defensive position
under Marshal Freytag, while the Duke of York carried on the
operations against the fortress. The delay which took place in the
arrival of the battering train, and of a British naval force, to
co-operate with the army, gave time for the government of France to
assemble men from various parts, crowd them into coaches, waggons,
and other vehicles, and hurry them day and night towards Dunkirk.
On the 6th of September the enemy attacked the covering army with
overwhelming numbers, and, owing to the nature of the ground, the
INNISKILLING dragoons dismounted and formed as infantry. Some
sharp fighting occurred during the day, and after sunset the
covering army withdrew to a new position. The night was dark and
tempestuous; the advance-guard took a wrong road, and on entering
the village of _Rexpoede_ it was found to be occupied by the
enemy. Some confused fighting took place, and Marshal Freytag and
Prince Adolphus were surrounded, but escaped with slight wounds.
Finally the French were repulsed with great slaughter, and the
army, continuing its route, arrived at Hondschoote on the following
morning, and took up a new position. The SIXTH dragoons lost one
quarter-master, their sick men, the women, and the baggage, which
fell into the enemy's hands.
On the 8th of September the covering army was again attacked, and
driven from its ground by superior numbers; when the Duke of York
raised the siege and retired.
The Dutch posts on the Lys having been forced on the 12th of
September, they abandoned _Menin_, which fortress was immediately
taken possession of by the French. The Duke of York advanced, on
the 14th of September, to drive the enemy across the Lys; and the
INNISKILLING dragoons formed part of the force under Major-General
Harcourt, which joined the leading column of Austrians and Hessians
under Lieutenant-General Ehrbach. The French were forced to
evacuate Menin, and were pursued by two British squadrons and the
Austrian hussars towards Roncq.
After bivouacking a few days in the fields, near Menin, the
regiment marched to Tournay, where it was stationed several weeks,
and subsequently passed the severe winter months at Drongen.
[Sidenote: 1794]
Leaving Drongen in February, 1794, the regiment marched to
Oudenarde; in April it joined the army at Cateau, where it was
seen in marching order by the Emperor Francis; and on the 17th of
that month it supported the column which attacked and carried the
heights of _Vaux_.
The INNISKILLING dragoons formed part of the covering army during
the siege of _Landrécies_; and on the 21st of April, when the enemy
attacked the Prince of Coburg's advanced posts at _Blocus_, the
regiment formed part of the force which proceeded to the support
of the Austrians; the French were repulsed at this point; but they
succeeded in driving the Imperialists from Nouvion.
Thirty thousand French, commanded by Lieutenant-General Chapuy,
attacked the Duke of York's post at _Cateau_ on the 26th of April,
and several cannon shot and shells fell among the SIXTH dragoons
before they were mounted; but did little injury. The Duke of
York watched the enemy's movements from the top of a redoubt,
and observing their left uncovered, he detached a body of troops
against that flank; and after a sharp contest the French general
was taken prisoner, and his army driven from the field with severe
loss.
On the 27th of April the INNISKILLING dragoons were detached to
support the troops at _Courtray_ under General Clairfait, whose
advance-posts at Mourcon were attacked two days afterwards by
the French under General Pichegru, who carried the post after a
severe engagement, and also gained possession of Courtray. The
INNISKILLING dragoons rejoined the army under the Duke of York.
On the 1st of May the INNISKILLING dragoons encamped in front of
_Tournay_, with their left to the road leading towards Lisle, where
the army arrived from the vicinity of Landrécies, and took up a
position to oppose the enemy.
About three o'clock on the morning of the 10th of May a few
pistol-shots from the advance-posts gave indication of an
approaching enemy, and soon afterwards thirty thousand republican
troops appeared in dark masses advancing to battle. The British
soldiers stood to their arms, and the INNISKILLING dragoons mounted
and prepared for the combat. The report of musketry with the deep
tones of the artillery succeeded, and the enemy's attempt to turn
the left was repulsed by the fire of the Austrians posted in a
wood. A shower of bullets from the French artillery assaulted the
British centre, and through the clouds of smoke the opposing
columns rushed to battle. During the conflict several cavalry
corps were detached against the enemy's right flank. The Queen's
Bays, Scots Greys, and INNISKILLING dragoons, forming one superb
brigade, were led forward by the Duke of York, in open column of
half-squadrons; on approaching the enemy they formed line under a
heavy cannonade, and rushed sword in hand upon their adversaries.
Deep lines, bristled with bayonets, opposed a formidable
resistance; but they were broken by the terrific charge of the
British heavy cavalry, and the heroic troopers riding furiously
among their adversaries, cut them down with a terrible carnage. The
enemy commenced a retreat, but was speedily broken and pursued from
the field with great loss.
Three men and seven horses of the SIXTH dragoons were killed; seven
men and nineteen horses were wounded, and three horses missing.
A combined attack on the French posts having been resolved upon,
the SIXTH dragoons joined the column under General Count Kinsky,
who advanced on the morning of the 17th of May from Cysoing to
the La Marque, and forced the passage of the river at _Bauvines_,
in which service the INNISKILLING dragoons were engaged; but
no decisive results followed the movements of the army on this
occasion. On the evening of the same day the regiment joined the
Austrians under Archduke Charles, and advanced on the 18th to form
a junction with the column under the Duke of York at Roubaix, but
was suddenly ordered to take the route to Tournay, where the army
was again assembled.
The enemy attacked the position with great fury on the 22nd of May,
but was repulsed. The INNISKILLING dragoons were formed in column
on their camp ground; but the French did not attack that part of
the line.
The extraordinary efforts made by the French government to collect
an army of overwhelming numbers, were eventually attended with
complete success. The Austrians were overthrown and forced to
retreat; the Duke of York was obliged to withdraw from his position
in front of Tournay, and a series of retrograde movements followed,
during which the INNISKILLING dragoons performed much severe duty.
After encamping a short period at Rosendael, the regiment
withdrew with the army, in the early part of August, beyond
Breda. Thirty-five thousand men under the Duke of York confronted
a hundred thousand opponents; and when the French had made
preparations for enveloping this small body of British troops, His
Royal Highness withdrew to another post beyond Bois-le-duc, where
the SIXTH dragoons encamped in the beginning of September.
Strenuous exertions were made by the allies for the preservation
of Holland; but the Dutch, having imbibed the revolutionary
principles and doctrines of equality from the French, did not
second these efforts with zeal and energy, and the British troops
were opposed by such immense masses, that no chance of ultimate
success remained. The Duke of York withdrew beyond the Maese in the
middle of September; and early in October concentrated his forces
about Nimeguen, through which fortress the INNISKILLING dragoons
marched a few days before the place was besieged by the French, and
eventually went into quarters in the villages between Rhenen and
Wyck.
At length a severe frost set in, the rivers became frozen, so as to
admit of an army passing on the ice, and the advance of the enemy
being facilitated thereby, the prospect of being able to defend the
passage of the Waal became hopeless, and the regiment was directed
to pass the Rhine and occupy cantonments beyond that river.
[Sidenote: 1795]
In the early part of January, 1795, a sudden thaw rendering it
probable the army would be enabled to maintain a more forward
position and defend the passage of the Waal, the INNISKILLING
dragoons were ordered to advance; they repassed the Rhine on
the ice on the 8th of January, and joined the forces under
Major-General Sir David Dundas near Geldermalsen. The frost,
however, set in with greater severity than before, the country was
converted into a plain, and after some sharp fighting the British
troops fell back before the superior numbers of their opponents.
The SIXTH dragoons withdrew from their forward position; they
were joined by the Queen's Bays, and Scots Greys, on the 13th of
January; harassing marches over a region of ice and snow followed,
and several men and horses perished from the severity of the
weather.
On the 17th of January the INNISKILLING dragoons halted at
Campen in Overyssel; on the 26th they were at Steenwyk in the
same province, and continuing this harassing march, they passed
the confines of Holland, and arrived on the 10th of February at
the banks of the Ems, a river of Westphalia. They were to have
halted at Warmer, but a thaw occasioned them to prosecute their
journey and pass the river on the ice. Continuing the march on the
following day, the country for a considerable distance was under
water, and several horses which had become exhausted, were lost in
the inundations.