“Loudon’s bonnie woods and braes,
I maun lea’ them a’, lassie;
Wha can thole when Britain’s faes
Would gi’e Britons law, lassie?”
WARS OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION—REBELLION OF 1715—SEVEN\
YEARS’ WAR—1693–1793.
Our last chapter closed the dark record which unhappily clouds the early
history of the Royal Scots Dragoons, and it is with pleasure we turn
from the record of these unnatural and suicidal wars to narrate the
nobler deeds of the regiment on a nobler field. The accession of
William, Prince of Orange, to the throne, is not to be regarded merely
as the triumph of the Protestant party, but as involving the dawn of
freedom to an oppressed people; as the guarantee of liberty of
conscience; and as the harbinger of peace, especially to distressed
Scotland. In 1694, the Royal Scots Dragoons, accompanied by Cunningham’s
Scots Dragoons—now the Seventh (Queen’s Own) Hussars—and associated with
the First (Royal English), the Third (King’s Own Hussars), the Fourth
(Queen’s Own Hussars), and the Fifth (Royal Irish Lancers) Dragoons,
were sent over to the Netherlands against the French. Here they
represented the nation with credit, especially at the siege of Namur,
until the conclusion of peace, four years afterwards, permitted their
return.
Unfortunately, the peace was not of long duration, and afforded but
a short respite, during which the regiment was remounted on grey
horses, as a _corps élite_. The question of the Spanish succession
rousing the ambition of France, the flames of war were again
rekindled. Accordingly, in 1702, the regiment was called to maintain
the honour of their country on the plains of Holland. The earlier
campaigns were chiefly made up with a variety of sieges—Venloo,
Ruremonde, Stevenswaert, Liege, Bonn, Huy, Limburg, &c., in all of
which the regiment had a part. Lord Hay, afterwards Marquis of
Tweeddale, this year (1704) purchased the colonelcy of the regiment.
The daring spirit and rising genius of Marlborough, who then
commanded the British army, aspiring to something mightier, turning
his eye towards Germany, selected a grander field of action—planned
a campaign, which, taking Europe by surprise, fell like a
thunderbolt upon the foe, and produced the most glorious results.
The soldierly bearing of the Royal Scots Dragoons had already
attracted the keen eye of the Commander-in-Chief, and won for them
this tribute to their fidelity and worth, inasmuch as they were
selected to be his own body-guard. They were, moreover, destined to
lead the van, or, at all events, to assume a first place in the
memorable actions of the campaign. Their firmness and valour helped
their great commander to a great renown, as they were honoured to
share with him the dangers and the glories of the campaign, and so
“win laurels that shall never fade.” Not less brave, although not so
favoured, were the gallant troops which accompanied the Royal Scots
Dragoons in the marvellous march from the Netherlands to Germany,
and who alike contributed to the success of the expedition. These
comprised the First (King’s), the Third (Prince of Wales’), the
Fifth (Princess Charlotte of Wales’), the Sixth (Carabineers), the
Seventh (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards, and the Fifth (Royal
Irish Lancers) Dragoons; besides the infantry which followed,
including the Foot Guards, the First (Royal Scots), the Third (East
Kent Buffs), the Eighth (the King’s), the Tenth (North Lincoln), the
Fifteenth (York, East Riding), the Sixteenth (Bedfordshire), the
Eighteenth (Royal Irish), the Twenty-first (Royal North British
Fusiliers), the Twenty-third (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), the
Twenty-fourth (Warwickshire), the Twenty-Sixth (Cameronians), and
the Thirty-seventh (North Hampshire) regiments of Foot. Marlborough
having successfully accomplished with rapidity and secrecy this
masterly man[oe]uvre, and united his army to the Imperialists—hardly
allowing the French and Bavarians time to know, far less to recover
from their surprise—immediately prepared for action. The assault
upon the French lines on the heights of Schellenberg, and the
consequent capture of Donawerth, was the first event calling forth
the bravery of the Scots Greys. But this was but the precursor to a
more decisive blow. On the 13th of August the French and Bavarians
were encountered in the vicinity of the village of Blenheim. The
struggle was a severe one. The Greys and other troops attacking the
village, which was strongly occupied by the French, for long waged a
very doubtful conflict; but at length, by indomitable efforts, they
succeeded in driving back the enemy, and cutting off their
retreat—twenty-four battalions of infantry and twelve squadrons of
cavalry surrendered. The campaign closed with the siege of Landau.
Having delivered Germany from the immediate presence of the enemy,
Marlborough withdrew the British army into winter quarters in the
Netherlands. The only action of importance which falls to be
recorded in the succeeding year is the victory of Helixem, where the
same redoubtable British cavalry successfully attacked and broke in
upon the French lines.
A mightier achievement awaited the arms of our “gallant Greys” in 1706.
At the battle of Ramilies, after much hard fighting, the regiment
succeeded in penetrating into the village of Autreglize, inflicting a
dreadful carnage, and were honoured in receiving the surrender of the
French “Regiment du Roi,” with arms and colours. Amid the trophies of
the day, the Greys are said to have taken no fewer than seventeen
standards. At the close of the battle a very curious circumstance was
brought to light, affording an illustrious example of woman’s love,
fidelity, endurance, and heroism. Amongst the wounded of the Scots
Greys, a female (Mrs Davies) was discovered, who, donning the
habiliments of man, had enlisted in the regiment, braved the perils of
Schellenberg and Blenheim, that in this disguise she might follow her
husband, who was a soldier in the First (Royal Scots) Foot, then with
the army. Her case at once excited the interest and sympathy of the
whole army; and awakening the generosity of the officers, especially of
the colonel of _her_ regiment, she was restored to her true position as
a woman, lived to be of considerable service as envoy to the army, and
at her death in 1739 was buried with military honours in Chelsea
Hospital.
In the autumn of this eventful year, the Greys were called to mourn the
death of their colonel, who had been with them throughout the war, and
who was cut off by fever in the midst of a bright and glorious career.
He was succeeded in the colonelcy by the Earl of Stair. About the same
time the regiment was authoritatively designated the Royal North British
Dragoons, and in 1713 was further registered as the Second Regiment of
Dragoons.
It is superfluous to say that, at the battle of Oudenarde, in 1708, the
sieges of Lisle and Tournay, and specially at the battle of Malplacquet
in 1709—where, thrice charging the French household cavalry, they
ultimately broke through that magnificent and hitherto invincible
corps—as well as at a variety of minor engagements, the Greys maintained
their high character. On the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, they returned to
England loaded with the honours of war.
In the following year, the Earl of Portmore, a distinguished one-eyed
veteran, was appointed colonel in room of the Earl of Stair—retired.
The rebellion of 1715, in Scotland, in favour of the Pretender, again
called for the service of the Greys, who, with a firm fidelity,
continued to discharge their duty to the king—notwithstanding many
pressing temptations to desert. Whilst quartered at Stirling, they
dispersed gatherings of rebels at Kinross and Dunfermline. With the
Third (King’s Own Hussars), the Fourth (Queen’s Own Hussars), the Sixth
(Inniskillings), and the Seventh (Queen’s Own Hussars) Dragoons; also
the Third (East Kent Buffs), the Eighth (the King’s), the Eleventh
(North Devon), the Fourteenth (Buckinghamshire), the Seventeenth
(Leicestershire), the Twenty-first (Royal North British Fusiliers), the
Twenty-fifth (King’s Own Borderers), and the Thirty-Sixth
(Herefordshire) regiments of foot, in all 4000 men, they were present at
the drawn battle of Sheriffmuir, where the enemy mustered fully 10,000
men. The royalist army was mainly saved from utter defeat by the
dauntless valour of the Greys, who, repeatedly charging the cavalry and
right wing of the rebel army, succeeded in driving back and ultimately
dispersing them, so as to counterbalance the success of the rebels on
the left. Although forced to retreat for the time, the royalists,
recruited by other regiments, were soon able once more to assume the
offensive, and, notwithstanding the presence of the Pretender himself,
ultimately dispersed the rebel army. A second attempt, aided by a
Spanish force, in 1719, met with the same firmness, and fared no better.
The rebel army, encountering the king’s army—including the Greys—at
Strachell, were completely routed.
Meanwhile the regiment was permitted to enjoy its laurels in peace. In
1717, General John Campbell had been appointed colonel of the Scots
Greys, in room of the Earl of Portmore—resigned.
In 1742, France, Prussia, and Bavaria having leagued together for the
destruction of Austria, George II., espousing the cause of Austria, in
person, led an army of 16,000 British through Flanders into Germany. Of
this force the Greys formed a part, under the command of their own
chivalric monarch. The battle of Dettingen, in 1743, was the first event
of importance in the war, in which the Greys were engaged—successively
charging and defeating the imposing line of French Cuirassiers, and
thereafter the magnificent array of the French household cavalry;
capturing from these last a white standard—a trophy which never before
had been taken by an enemy.
The army having been withdrawn into Flanders, and placed under the
command of the Duke of Cumberland, achieved nothing of importance until
the disastrous battle of Fontenoy, in 1745, in which, although no very
prominent place had been assigned the Scots Greys, they nevertheless
suffered severely—especially in the loss of their gallant colonel,
General Campbell. He was succeeded in the colonelcy by the Earl of
Stair—reappointed.
The rebellion of 1745, in Scotland, occasioning the withdrawal of a
large portion of the army, the following regiments were left behind to
make head against the overwhelming hosts of France:—the Second (Scots
Greys), the Sixth (Inniskillings), the Seventh (Queen’s Own Hussars)
Dragoons; the Eighth (King’s), the Eleventh (North Devon), the
Thirteenth (1st Somersetshire or Prince Albert’s), the Nineteenth (1st
York, North Riding), the Twenty-fifth (King’s Own Borderers), the
Thirty-second (Cornwall), and the Thirty-third (Duke of Wellington’s)
Foot. These were aided by a few regiments of Dutch and Hessians. Taking
advantage of these circumstances, the enormous masses of the French
under Marshal Saxe were advanced, with the intent to overwhelm this
handful of brave men. The attack was accordingly made at Roucoux, but
failed; although the British general was forced to retreat, which was
accomplished with success, notwithstanding the immediate presence of a
foe greatly superior in numbers. It was the intrepidity of the British
cavalry which rescued the army from destruction.
The following year the Earl of Crawford was appointed colonel in room of
the then deceased Earl of Stair. He was an officer of very extensive
military knowledge, having served in many of the continental armies, as
a volunteer, with credit.
The bloody and glorious battle of Val, fought in 1747, and which may
fitly be considered the closing event of the war, exhibits in bold
relief what may well be esteemed as the crowning achievement of the
Scots Greys. Towards the close of this desperate fight, the regiment was
ordered to charge. Notwithstanding their resistless bravery and
accompanying success, by which the French cavalry were broken and lost
four standards, these fortunate results and glorious trophies were
dearly won, not merely because of the numerous casualties which the
regiment was called to mourn (157 killed and wounded), but on account of
the loss of that which to a soldier is dearer than life itself—a
standard. It fell into the enemy’s hands in the confusion of retreat.
On the conclusion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1749, the regiment
returned to England. In the following year the Earl of Crawford dying,
the colonelcy of the regiment was conferred on the Earl of Rothes, but
exchanging into the Third (Scots Fusiliers) Foot Guards in 1752, he was
succeeded in the command by General Campbell, afterwards Duke of Argyle.
On the breaking out of war with France in 1758, whilst a newly-raised
light troop of the regiment was engaged with other troops in successive
descents on the French coast, viz., St Maloes, Cherbourg, and Lunar, the
remainder of the regiment was sent to Germany, to aid in the liberation
of Hanover from the French yoke. Under the command of the Duke of
Brunswick, the Greys were present at the battles of Bergen and Minden,
but it was not until the assault upon Warbourg that they seriously
encountered the enemy. Their conduct on the occasion is well described
by the Commander-in-Chief when he says they performed “prodigies of
valour.” At Zierenberg the battle was decided by a brilliant and
successful charge of the Greys and Inniskillings. A variety of
man[oe]uvres and skirmishes continued to agitate the conflict in the
following year, in all of which the regiment upheld its reputation. The
peace of 1763 at length released the regiment from the turmoil of war,
and permitted it to return home and rest awhile upon its honours.
It is interesting to observe that in nearly every instance the Royal
Scots Dragoons shared the dangers and glories of the conflict with the
Royal Irish or Inniskilling regiments of dragoons. It is still the same.
Scotland and Ireland, side by side, are to be recognised fighting their
country’s battles. It is an ancient and happy alliance which,
strengthening with years, has been of signal service in the past, is
blessed in the present, and promises to be of further use in the future.
In 1770, on the death of the Duke of Argyle, the Earl of Panmure was
advanced to the colonelcy, and on his death, in 1782, General Preston
was appointed colonel, but he in turn passing away in 1785, made room
for General Johnstone.
These were times of peace, and afforded no opportunity for these
venerable soldiers to distinguish their stewardships. The succeeding
chapter introduces us to more stirring times.
[Illustration]