THE HISTORY OF THE
SECOND DRAGOONS
"Royal Scots Greys"
[Illustration: Lady Butler
"Scotland for Ever."
By kind permission of the Artist, and by arrangement with the
proprietors of the Copyright, Messrs. S. Hildesheimer & Co. Ltd.]
THE HISTORY OF THE
SECOND DRAGOONS
"Royal Scots Greys"
BY
EDWARD ALMACK, F.S.A.
_With Forty-four Illustrations_
LONDON
1908
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
+Aberdeen University Library+, per +P. J. Anderson+, Esq.,
Librarian
+Edward Almack+, Esq., F.S.A.
Mrs. +E. Almack+
+E. P. Almack+, Esq., R.F.A.
Miss +V. A. B. Almack+
Miss +G. E. C. Almack+
+W. W. C. Almack+, Esq.
+Charles W. Almack+, Esq.
+Army & Navy Stores+, Ltd., London, S.W.
Lieut.-Col. +Ashburner+, late Queen's Bays
His Grace The +Duke of Atholl, K.T.+, etc., etc.
+C. B. Balfour+, Esq.
+G. F. Barwick+, Esq., Superintendent, Reading Room, British
Museum
Lieut. +E. H. Bonham+, Royal Scots Greys
Lieut. +M. Borwick+, Royal Scots Greys
Messrs. +Bowering & Co.+, Booksellers, Plymouth
Mr. +W. Brown,+ Bookseller, Edinburgh
Major +C. B. Bulkeley-Johnson+, Royal Scots Greys
Messrs. +Cazenove & Son+, London, W.C.
Major +Edward F. Coates+, M.P., Tayles Hill, Ewell, Surrey
Major +W. F. Collins+, Royal Scots Greys
+W. J. Collins+, Esq., Royal Scots Greys
Capt. +H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.G., G.C.V.O.+, Royal
Scots Greys
The Hon. +Henry H. Dalrymple+, Lochinch, Castle Kennedy,
Wigtonshire
+Cyril Davenport+, Esq., F.S.A.
+J. Barrington Deacon+, Esq., Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth
Messrs. +Douglas & Foulis+, Booksellers, Edinburgh
+E. H. Druce+, Esq.
Second Lieut. +Viscount Ebrington+, Royal Scots Greys
Mr. +Francis Edwards+, Bookseller, London, W.
+Lord Eglinton+, Eglinton Castle, Irvine, N.B.
Lieut. +T. E. Estcourt+, Royal Scots Greys
Capt. +R. D. Fordyce+, Royal Scots Greys
Mr. +H. G. Gadney+, Bookseller, Oxford
The +Galignani Library+, Booksellers, Paris
+J. Hamilton+, Esq., Houldsworth, Castlebank, Lanark, N.B.
Second Lieut. +E. J. Hardy+, Royal Scots Greys
Lieut. +S. J. Hardy+, Royal Scots Greys
Capt. +Claudius Shirley Harris+, 90, Woodstock Road, Oxford
Capt. The Hon. +A. M. Henley+, 5th Lancers, York
+Walter Johnson+, Esq., Armcliffe Hall, Northallerton
Mr. +G. P. Johnston+, Bookseller, Edinburgh
+Percy R. Laurie+, Esq., Royal Scots Greys
Capt. +W. E. Lawrence+, Royal Scots Greys
Major +A. Lawson+, Royal Scots Greys
Major The Hon. +R. H. Lindsay+
Capt. and Adj. +W. Long, D.S.O.+, Royal Scots Greys
Lieut. +C. J. A. Maberly+, 5th Lancers
Mrs. +N. Maberly+, 14 The Avenue, Clifton, Bristol
Messrs. +Macniven & Wallace+, Booksellers, Edinburgh
Lieut. +W. M. Duguid McCombie+, Royal Scots Greys
Capt. +Geo. Middleton+, Royal Scots Greys, Wilderness, Kelmarsh,
Northampton
Col. +A. D. Miller+, D.S.O., Royal Scots Greys
+W. R. Mitchell+, Esq., 68, Washington Place, New York, U.S.A.
Lieut. +A. R. Moncrieff+, Royal Scots Greys
Second Lieut. Hon. +F. C. Montgomerie+, Royal Scots Greys
+Alexander Moring+, Esq.
+Clement O. E. Nicholson+, Esq., late Royal Scots Greys
+H. Stafford O'Brien+, Blatherwyche Park, Wansford,
Northamptonshire
+Cecil W. Otway+, Esq., Royal Scots Greys
Second Lieut. +H. D. Pender+, Royal Scots Greys
Lieut. +F. A. U. Pickering+, Royal Scots Greys
+J. J. Readman+, Esq.
Messrs. +Robson & Co.+, Booksellers, London, W.
The Right Hon. The +Earl of Rosebery, K.G.+, etc., etc.
Capt. Hon. +A. J. M. St. Clair+, Royal Scots Greys
Mrs. +Sanderson+, "Glenlaggan," Parton, N.B.
Major-General +H. Scobell, C.B.+, Commander 1st Cavalry Brigade,
Aldershot
Capt. +A. G. Seymour+, Royal Scots Greys
The +Signet Library+, Edinburgh
Col. +Smythe+, of Methven
+J. M. F. Sprot+, Esq., of Riddell, Roxburghshire, Lieut. Royal
Scots Greys
+John Stansfeld+, Esq., late Capt. Royal Scots Greys, Dunninald,
Montrose
Capt. +F. Swetenham+, Royal Scots Greys
+Toronto Public Library+
Capt. +H. B. Towse+, Royal Scots Greys
Col. +F. J. A. Wallace+, Arrandale, Ayre, N.B.
Lieut.-Col. +Welby+, M.P., 26, Sloane Court, Chelsea, S.W.
Col. +Coventry Williams+, late Royal Scots Greys
Second Lieut. +J. M. Wilson+, Royal Scots Greys
+A. B. Winch+, Esq., Royal Scots Greys
[Illustration: "+Ane Account deu be Thomas Dalzell of bins for his
fathers funerall, to George Porteous the 2 of Sept 1685.+"]
PREFACE.
In bidding farewell to this book before publication, I am most anxious
to thank with hearty sincerity all those who, as past or present
officers and friends of this historic regiment, have helped my
efforts. There are two names above all that I must most particularly
record--(i.) that of Colonel Coventry Williams, lately commanding
the Greys, who has helped in so many details, though I can only
particularly refer readers to pages 291, 292 and 293. Colonel Williams
is the half-brother of Captain Williams, a portrait of whom, as he
stands by his charger, I have been able to include in this volume, and
who, as named by Kinglake (quoted on page 78), brought the Greys out
of action at Balaclava. There, too, Kinglake refers to the anonymous
officer whose Crimean recollections are given on pages 80 to 84. That
officer has since died, and so, too, has Russell, the famous _Times_
correspondent, with whom he was exchanging affectionate greetings.
(ii.) In the next place I must record my gratitude to Major Lindsay,
who has shown the keen instinct native to the noble house of Crawford.
His grandfather opened his famous record with this quotation from
"Schir David Lyndesay of the Mont allias lyoun herauld king of Armes":--
"Who that antique stories reads
Consider may the famous deeds
Of our nobil progenitours;
Which should to us be right mirrours,
Their virtuous deedis to ensue,
And vicious living to eschew."
The fact is that to hold the King's commission in the Royal Scots Greys
inspires a host of chivalrous thoughts and memories. Picture the simple
pride shown in the laconic words quoted on page 293, "Greys, from your
right number off ten!" and see pages 52 to 74. Here are letters from
Francis Charlton Kinchant, who received his commission on 18th January,
1815, and was killed at Waterloo. After writing to a friend accounts
describing how zealously he was learning to practise the art of war,
he goes on: "The regiment is without doubt the best and the most crack
cavalry corps in the service. I don't think there is a private in it
under 5 feet 11 inches." The next personal allusion, describing the
uniform of the corps, is to his own father: "Our dress altogether is
extremely rich and consequently costs lots of money. The Court dress
coat alone is 40 guineas. It is covered with lace from head to foot.
The jackets are handsome, but they cost £15. 15. each. Every other
part of the equipment is equally as expensive. In fact we make a most
dashing appearance. I should like much to meet the old Buck at Bath or
Clifton. I do not think he would know his hopeful son."
It is interesting to identify the noble Colonel James Gardiner, killed
at Preston Pans, as an officer in the Greys. Of course the regiment has
always held a peculiarly interesting position. For instance, it does
not join the ordinary rota for foreign service. It shares with a very
few the privilege of having a special honorary Colonel-in-chief.
Before writing of Sir Thomas Dalyell, the first colonel of the
regiment, I wish to thank most cordially Mrs. Cornwall Dalyell of
The Binns, who most kindly allowed photographs to be taken of the
manuscripts of (and relics pertaining to) Sir Thomas Dalyell himself.
Thomas Dalyell or Dalzell, of Binns, was born about 1599, and seems
to have taken part in the Rochelle expedition in 1628, as captain in
the Earl of Morton's regiment. In 1640 he was serving under Major
Robert Monro at Aberdeen. He accompanied Monro in his expedition to
Ireland, 8th April, 1642, having obtained a commission as colonel to
command 2,500 men. On 6th May, 1651, he was appointed by the King as
General-Major of Foot, and fought at Worcester on 3rd September. He
was taken prisoner and committed to the Tower, but escaped to the
Continent. In March, 1654, he appeared off the northern coasts of
Scotland, and helped in the rebellion in the Highlands in that year.
Although a reward and free pardon were offered to anyone who would
give him up, dead or alive, he again escaped to the Continent, and
received from Charles a special letter of thanks, dated Cologne, 30th
December, 1654. On 19th July, 1666, he was appointed Commander-in-chief
in Scotland. Captain Crichton wrote of him: "He was bred up very hardy
from his youth; he never wore a peruke, nor did he shave his beard
since the murder of King Charles the First. He died on Sunday evening,
23rd August, 1685."
E. A.
ERRATA.
P. 76. _For_ "India" _read_ "Brighton, 1841, Exeter, 1842 and
1843."
P. 84, last line. _Add_ Middelburg, 1904.
P. 102, l. 22. _For_ Capt. C. B. Bulkeley Johnston _read_ Capt.
C. B. Bulkeley-Johnson.
P. 226, l. 18. _For_ 1844 _read_ 1848.
P. 292, sixth line from foot. _For_ "charged on a trout" _read_
"changed on a trout."
P. 293, l. 7. _After_ "Greys, from your right number off!" _add_
"ten." (_Note._--See a variant of this story on p. 82.)
(See also _Addenda_ to List of Officers Past and Present, on p.
261.)
[Illustration: +A Letter to General Dalzell dated 30th December, 1654,
wholly in the King's own hand.+]
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I
The title Dragoon--the beginning of the Royal Scots Greys (royal
warrants of 1672 and 1678)--the state of Scotland in 1678--warrants
appointing officers, 1678--order relating to three Independent Troops
of Dragoons--appointment of the Duke of Monmouth, 1679--appointment
of Thomas Dalzell, 1679--memoirs and experiences of Captain John
Crichton--murder of the Archbishop of St. Andrews--battle of
Bothwell Bridge--desperate fight in Airs Moss--warrant of Charles
II. regimenting six troops and establishing Royal Scots Greys,
1681--warrant of establishment, 1681--commission of Lord Charles
Murray, and of Thomas Dalzell as colonel, 1681--Creighton's account
of the coming of William III.--Creighton's imprisonment in the
Tolbooth--establishment of the regiment at accession of James II.
and William III.--the Greys proceed to Flanders, 1694--take part
in the campaigns of Marlborough, siege of Venloo, Stevenswaert,
Ruremond, Liege--brilliant rescue of treasure from French troops
by the Greys--their gallant capture of the enemy's post at
Schellenberg--the Greys take part in the battle of Blenheim, a cavalry
victory--contemporary account from Hare's journal.
CHAPTER II
The siege of Landau, 1704--British camp visited by the King of the
Romans--battle of the river Geet--Sir Walter Scott's praise of the
regiment--victory of Ramillies--the Greys defeat the Regiment du Roi at
Autreglize--strange history of "Mother Ross," a famous Amazon, wounded
as a trooper of the Greys at Ramillies--desperate battle of Malplaquet,
signal bravery of the Greys--battle of Oudenarde--exploit of the
Greys at Pont-à-Nache--sieges of Aire and Saint-Venant--end of the
campaign--fresh campaign in French Flanders--siege of Bouchain--French
sue for peace, 1712--Treaty of Utrecht, 1713--question of precedence,
1694--Greys rank as Second Dragoons, 1713--Greys take part in putting
down the Rebellion of the Old Pretender--and defeat Jacobites at
Strachell--Greys reviewed at Hounslow by George II.--suppression of
Kentish smugglers, 1737--Greys encamped in Windsor Forest--reviewed by
George II. on Kew Green--arrive at Dover--_British Military Journal_,
1799--heroism of the Greys at Dettingen--and Fontenoy--Greys capture
the White Standard--campaign in Flanders.
CHAPTER III
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748--short-sighted reduction of the Greys'
numbers--the brigade fire the shipping at St. Malo--Greys take part
in the capture of Cherbourg--notes from a Regimental Order Book,
1759--defeat of the French under Marshal Broglio at Zierenberg--account
of the battle in the _London Gazette_, 1760--surprise and complete
success of the night attack--signing of peace, 1763--Greys return
to England, and are reduced as usual!--Greys reviewed by George
III.--Greys during the French Revolution, 1793--war declared
against England by the Convention, 1793--siege of Valenciennes,
Dunkirk--magnificent charge of Greys at the battle of Tournay--return
to England--the folly of reduction again!--war with France, 1803--Greys
take part in the procession at Nelson's funeral--return of the Greys
to Scotland, 1807--the Greys reviewed by the Prince Regent, King of
Prussia, and Czar of Russia, in Hyde Park, 1814--Napoleon returns to
France, 1815.
CHAPTER IV
Records relating to Colonel Hamilton (originally James
Anderson)--account of Colonel Hamilton's heroism when wounded at
Waterloo--story of Colonel Hamilton (James Anderson) from _Good
Words_, 1866--letters by Cornet Kinchant before Waterloo, also letters
describing his death by treachery in the battle, and the vengeance
taken by Sergeant Ewart of his troop--great gallantry and success of
Sergeant Ewart--his capture of a French Eagle--extracts from a Waterloo
Journal, by Lieutenant A. J. Hamilton--copy of a letter from Lieutenant
A. J. Hamilton, written from the camp, near Mons--letter from Cornet
Clape, of the Greys, a week after the battle--letter from Lieutenant
Macmillan, Adjutant of the Scots Greys, at the battle of Waterloo,
giving an account of the part played at Waterloo by the Scots Greys.
CHAPTER V
Greys return to England, 1816--and are reduced in numbers, 1816 and
1821--Greys attend on George IV. in Scotland--Greys inspected by
Queen Adelaide, 1830--the Crimean campaign, account from the Historic
Register of the Second Dragoons, describing the Greys' action at
Balaclava--account given by Kinglake--account from the _Illustrated
London News_ of 1854--charges of the Light and the Heavy Brigade.
CHAPTER VI
Crimean campaign, _continued_--account written by a Crimean
officer of the Greys--decision to invade the Crimea--Greys embark
for Constantinople--French and British fleets in the harbour of
Sebastopol--victory of the Alma--Greys as the advanced guard of
the allied forces--Burgoyne's suggested plan of attack--the flank
march--Sir Edward Hamley's account, 1855--circumstances of the battle
of Balaclava sifted--the battle not merely 'a dash and a ride'--Sir
E. Hamley and the Heavy Brigade--subsequent home movements of the
regiment, 1857-1906.
CHAPTER VII
The Boer War--account taken from the Historical Records of the Royal
Scots Greys, 1899-1902--the Greys embark at Glasgow, 1899--the Greys
hold the line of the Orange River, December, 1899--messages from
the Queen--action at Koodoosburg--relief of Kimberley--the Queen's
telegram--Greys march to Paardeburg--Cronje's surrender--1st Squadron
Australian Horse attached to Greys--Greys take key of Boer position
at Bloemfontein--surrender of Bloemfontein--relief of Ladysmith--Army
Order by Lord Roberts--Greys march to relief of General Broadwood's
column at Sannah's Post--Greys take part in general advance of the
army to Pretoria--Greys dislodge enemy at Kalkheuvel Pass--Greys help
to release prisoners at Watervaal--reverse at Commando Nek--great
captures made by the Greys at Barberton--address by General French at
Ermelo--farewell order by General French--Greys take enemy's position
at Reit Kuil--Greys take part in holding the railway--lists of Greys'
casualties in 1900--engagement at Naauwpoort Hill--Greys cover
return of convoy at Kaalbult--Greys march to Johannesburg--farewell
address by General Gordon--operations under Lieut.-General
French in Eastern Transvaal against General Botha--engagement at
Boschman's Kop--Greys march to Vereeniging--crossing of the Assegai
River--telegram from the Commander-in-Chief to General French--Greys
capture guns--engagements at Idalia and Reitvlei--Boers attack Greys'
rearguard at Mooifontein, but are repulsed--regiment remounted
at Witbank--enemy engaged at Vierfontein, Straffontein, and Van
Dyks Post--enemy repulsed at Rustenburg--captures at Kleinfontein,
Brakspruit, and Vlaksplaats--continued sniping--successful ambush at
Wagons-pad Spruit--engagement at Damhoek--Greys protect S.A.C. building
blockhouses--Greys rush Boer laager at Schaap's Kraal--crossing of
the Buffalo River--many horses lost from exposure--Greys take part in
relief of Colonel Benson's column near Standerton--telegram from Lord
Kitchener--rearguard attacked at Rooipoort--captures at Tweefontein,
Wilmansrust, and Middelkraal--Greys take part in capture of Boers,
including Major Pretorius (Staats artillery), at Roodebloem--further
captures by Greys--losses of Greys in action at Klipfontein--list of
Greys' casualties in 1901--capture of Boers at Straffontein--losses of
Greys in action at Leeuwkop--Greys take part in drives at Balmoral,
Vlakfontein, Heidelburg, etc.--Peace signed--lists of Greys' casualties
in 1902 and during campaign.
+Uniform and Arms+
General Dalzell's action in obtaining cloth for uniforms--other
details of uniform, 1683-1704--inventory of clothes and accoutrements,
1706--regulation of George II. relating to the Greys' uniform,
1751--further changes, 1759-1788 (bearskins, 1768)--account of articles
of cavalry equipment furnished to recruits, 1803-1807--order to cut
hair short, 1808--changes in 1811 and 1812, badge of an eagle displayed
on the guidons--"Waterloo" added to guidons and grenadier caps to
commemorate the battle--changes in 1846 (officers' bearskin cap with
white hackle feather), 1864, and 1894.
CHAPTER VIII
Composition of the Greys at their first recorded muster in 1683, from
the original Roll in Edinburgh--pay of the regiment--account of money
paid by the Greys' Quartermaster in 1688, from an original document of
the Greys--List of Officers, past and present.
APPENDIX
Extracts from orders of the Scots Greys' Troop Orderly Book--notes
of Inspection Returns, from the Record Office--a notable prayer,
commending the Greys to favour--copies of two holograph letters of
Charles II. relating to Thos. Dalzell, and translation of General
Dalzell's Russian commission, furnished by Captain Lindsay--entry
from the original MS. in the General Register House, Edinburgh,
1685--extract from "Papers connected with the Royal Scots Dragoons,"
1696--1704-6 (two letters from General Dalzell)--extract from order in
Record Office, 1684--muster-roll, 1702-3--account of the Waterloo Ball,
from reprint in the _Globe_, 1906--extract from pamphlet, "Military
and Biographical Notices of the Fallen Heroes," 1815--extract from
contemporary pamphlet relating to cavalry losses at Waterloo--letter
of William Knox, 1759--anecdotes of the Greys--song, "The Bonnie Scots
Greys," by A. C. E. Welby--inscription on mural tablet in memory of
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Pate Hankin, Kt.--extract from letter written
by the Hon. Charles Hamilton to his brother, during the Westphalian
campaign--notes on Creichtoun's Memoirs, and on General Dalyell, by J.
B. Dalzell, Esq.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
_Facing Page_
"+Scotland for Ever.+" By kind permission of the Artist, and by
arrangement with the proprietors of the copyright, Messrs. S.
Hildesheimer & Co., Ltd. _Frontispiece_
Facsimile of "Ane Account deu be Thomas Dalzell of Bins for his
Fathers funerall, to George Porteous the 2 of Sept 1685" ix.
Facsimile of a letter to General Dalzell, dated 30th December, 1654,
wholly in the King's own hand xiii.
"Generall Thomas Dalyell who served Charles the Second King of
Great Brittaine as Major Generall of his Army at the Battle of
Worcester and thereafter being taken prisoner by the Rebells after
long imprisonment made his escape out of the Tower of London
went to Muscovie where he served the Emperor of Russia as one
of the Generals of his Forces against the Polanders and Tartars
till the year 1665 when he was recalled by King Charles the second
and thereafter did command His Majesties Forces at the defeat of
the Rebells at Pentland Hills in Scotland and continued Lieutenant
Generall in Scotland when His Majestie had any standing
Forces in that Kingdom till the year of his death 1685 in the
Raigne of our present Soveraigne James the second of Great
Brittaine" 1
Facsimile of Charles II.'s Commission, dated 19th July, 1666,
appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Captaine' of a Troupe of
Horse" 2
Facsimile of Charles II.'s Commission, dated 19th June, 1679,
appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over
all the Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland" 6
Facsimile of Charles II.'s Commission, dated 11th November, 1681,
appointing "Lieutenant Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Colonell' of a
Regiment of Dragoones to be formed out of the three Companies
of Dragoones already standing in that our Kingdome" 8
Facsimile of Warrant of Charles II., granting "certain revenues to
Thomas Dalzell as Lieutenant Generall in command of the
Forces in Scotland" 16
Facsimile of James II.'s Commission, dated 30th March, 1685,
appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over
all our Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland" 18
Facsimile of Warrant of William and Mary, 1692, confirming the title
"Our Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons" 20
His Excellency, John, Earl of Stair 21
Facsimile of "Signatures of Colonel Agnew's Troop, for receipt of
Bountie Monie for Campaigne of 1704" 29
Field Marshal John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair, K.T. Born 1673;
died 1747. From the painting at Lochinch 30
Grenadier Cap of the Scots Greys, 1743, preserved in the Museum of
the United Service Institution 36
Farm Buildings, Lochinch, Castle Kennedy, Wigtonshire. The farm
buildings were used as barracks by the Scots Greys under
command of John, Earl of Stair 36
Charles Ewart, Sergeant in the Scots Greys, carrying off the Eagle
belonging to one of the most distinguished divisions of the
French Infantry at the Battle of Waterloo 60
The Grave of Ewart, who captured the Eagle at Waterloo 61
Facsimile of "Muster Role of Waterloo Men 2nd (or R.N.B.)
Regiment of Dragoons." Rouen, 11th September, 1815 64, 65
Facsimile of "Signatures of Officers present of the 2nd (or R.N.B.)
Regiment of Dragoons entitled to share of Prize Money granted
for the Waterloo Campaign." Canterbury, 29th May, 1817 69
Hoof of a Charger of the Greys at Balaclava 76
Captain Toosey Williams 78
Memorial to the Memory of Fallen Heroes of the Royal Scots Greys,
Edinburgh 85
From a Coloured Drawing in the British Museum, dated 1742 136
General Dalzell's Comb 139
General Thomas Dalzell's Dagger and Spoon 140
An Officer of the Royal Scots Greys, about 1834. From a rare print
kindly lent by Messrs. Robson & Co. 141
An Officer in Levée Dress, Crimean period 142
Anitchkoff Palace, St. Petersburg, 2nd of February, 1895--The
Emperor of Russia accepting the Picture, presented by the
Officers, of H.I.M. as Colonel-in-Chief marching past at
the head of the Regiment 155
Colonel Clarke 173
John, Earl of Craufurd 176
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Hankin, present with the Greys at
Waterloo 201
Lieutenant-Colonel Hippisley 205
Lieutenant-Colonel James Charles Maberly 220
Lord Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore 227
H.I.M. the Emperor of Russia, Colonel-in-Chief of the Scots Greys 229
General Nugent 230
Colonel Sanderson 241
Colonel H. J. Scobell 242
The Right Honourable John, Earl of Stair 246
Colonel Wallace 255
Lieutenant-Colonel Welby 256
Lieutenant-Colonel Coventry Williams 258
Regimental Standards 282
_Colonel-in-Chief_
+His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II., Emperor of Russia+
_Colonel_
Major-General A. S. M. Browne
_Lieutenant-Colonel_
Coventry Williams
_Major_ (_2nd in command_)
A. D. Miller
_Majors_
C. B. Bulkeley-Johnson
W. F. Collins
A. Lawson
_Captains_
Hon. R. H. Lindsay
A. G. Seymour
Hon. A. J. M. St. Clair
F. Swetenham
R. D. Fordyce
W. Long
[1]H. B. Towse
G. G. Middleton
W. E. Lawrence
[1]H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught
_Lieutenants_
W. McC. Duguid McCombie
Hon. A. M. Henley
C. R. Pawson
F. A. U. Pickering
S. J. Hardy
J. M. F. Sprot
[1]A. R. Moncrieff
[1]E. H. Bonham
[1]P. R. Laurie
[1]M. J. C. S. Johnstone
[1]A. B. Winch
_Second Lieutenants_
[1]M. Borwick
[1]T. E. Estcourt
[1]J. J. Readman
E. J. Hardy
J. M. Wilson
[1]Viscount Ebrington
_Adjutant_
Capt. W. Long
_Riding Master_
G. Parker (Hon. Captain)
_Quarter Master_
T. M. Ross (Hon. Lieutenant)
[1] This list is taken from the June Army List and checked with that
for July, 1907. The officers marked with an asterisk are those who
joined while the book was passing through the press.
[Illustration: Generall Thomas Dalyell who served Charles the Second
King of Great Brittaine as Major Generall of his Army at the Battle
of Worcester and thereafter being taken prisoner by the Rebells after
long imprisonment made his escape out of the Tower of London went to
Muscovie where he served the Emperor of Russia as one of the Generals
of his Forces against the Polanders and Tartars till the year 1665 when
he was recalled by King Charles the second and thereafter did command
His Majesties Forces at the defeat of the Rebells at Pentland Hills
in Scotland and continued Lieutenant Generall in Scotland when His
Majestie had any standing Forces in that Kingdom till the year of his
death 1685 in the Raigne of our present Soveraigne James the second of
Great Brittaine.]
HISTORICAL RECORDS
OF THE
ROYAL SCOTS GREYS.
CHAPTER I.
In writing this record of the history of the Royal Scots Greys I have
aimed at giving scenes and characters as exactly as possible. I have,
therefore, used contemporary language without any modern editing. The
book will contain particulars relating to every officer who has ever
held a commission in the Regiment.
Before describing the origin of this famous Regiment, it will be well
to refer briefly to the title Dragoon. It will be noticed that in
the early official warrants, Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, are always
three distinct forces. The Dragoon was nearly allied to the Mounted
Infantryman, who, in modern times, has evoked such great public
interest. A captain was usually described as appointed to command, not
a troop, but a company.
On the breaking out of the war with Holland in 1672 a regiment of
Dragoons was raised; the pay was at a lower rate than the Horse, and
the men were armed as Infantry, except that a limited number carried
halberds instead of pikes, and the others muskets and bayonets, and a
few in each troop had pistols.
The warrant, dated 2nd April, 1672, requires that the new force--
"shall be armed out of our stoares remaining within Our office of
the Ordinance as followeth; that is to say, three corporalls, two
serjeants, the gentlemen at armes, and twelve souldiers of each
of the said twelve Troopes, are to have and carry each of them
one halbard, and one case of pistolls with holsters; and the rest
of the souldiers of the several Troopes aforesaid, are to have
and to carry each of them one matchlocke musquet, with a collar
of bandaliers, and also to have and to carry one bayonet or great
knife. That each lieutenant have and carry one partizan, and that
two drums be delivered out for each Troope of the said Regiment."
By warrants dated 21st May, 1678, two independent troops of Dragoons
were raised, their respective Captains being John Strachan and John
Inglis.
This was the beginning of the Royal Scots Greys.
On 23rd September, 1678, Viscount Kingstoun was commissioned to be
Captain of "a new company of Dragoons appointed by us to be forthwith
levyed."
Four days later, Francis Stuart, of Coldingham, was appointed
Lieutenant of this new company.
On July 24th, 1679, Francis Stuart became Captain of this new company
in succession to Viscount Kingstoun who resigned.
By Royal Warrant on the 25th of November, 1681, three troops were
ordered to be added to the three already raised, and the whole six
formed into a regiment. See page 13.
The following extract relates to the state of Scotland and proposed
increase of forces there. (State Papers--Scotland--Warrant Books, vol.
iv., folio 370):--
"CHARLES R.
"Right trusty and welbeloued Cousins and Councellors.--Wee greet
you well. After full and satisfactory information from the
Lords commissionated by you here, of what has been done by you
in our Service, Wee doe againe approve of your proceeding, and
thank you for your care, assuring you of our favour, assistance,
and protection, upon all occasions; and for the more effectual
prosecution thereof, wee find it necessary to signify to you,
and by you to our people there, that wee are firmly resolved to
owne and assert our authority, so as may equally encourage you
and discourage all such as by seditious Practices endeavour in
aspersing you to lessen our Prerogative: And finding by good
information that the Phanaticks there, expecting encouragement from
such as oppose you, and taking advantage of the present juncture of
affaires here, have of late with great insolence flocked together
frequently and openly in ffield conventicles those Rendevouses of
Rebellion, and haue dared to oppose our fforces, though wee neither
heed nor doe fear such insolent attempts, yet from a just care of
our own authority, and a kindnesse to our good subjects there, we
haue thought fit to order that some more fforces may be trained;
and for that effect wee haue commanded the Lords of our Treasury to
take an effectuall course for providing what money wee shall find
necessary for raising and maintaining those Troopes at our charge,
And wee expect from you an exact and speedy Account of what number
and quality of Troopes may be necessary there upon this occasion;
to the end wee may direct commissions, and give such other orders
as wee shall find requisite. For doing whereof this shall be your
Warrant, and so wee bid you heartily ffarewell.
"Given at our Court at Whitehall the 7th day of May 1678, and of
our Reigne the 30th."
[Illustration: +Charles the Second's Commission dated 19th July, 1666+,
Appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Captaine' of a Troupe of
Horse, to be raised by you for Our Service, in the Regiment whereof
Lieut.-Generall Drumond is Colonell."]
Directed on the back thus:--
"To our right trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors ... our
Privy Councell of our ancient Kingdome of Scotland."
The very next warrant makes John Strachan Captain of one of "ye two
companies of Dragoons to be forthwith leavied." It was followed under
the same date by others, one making John Inglis Captain of the other
company, one making John Lauder Lieutenant of Strachan's company, and
another making William Cleland Lieutenant of Inglis's company. Then
followed still two more, one appointing John Livingston Ensign in
Strachan's and the other, Henry Dundas, Ensign under Inglis.
"CHARLES R.
"Charles the Second by yᵉ grace of God king of Scotland, england,
france and Ireland Defender of yᵉ faith &c. to our trusty and
welbeloved John Strachan greeting: Wee reposing speciall trust and
confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, doe by these
presents constitute and appoint you to be Captaine of one of yᵉ two
Companies of Dragoones appointed by us to be forthwith leavied for
our service in our ancient Kingdome of Scotland, which Company is
to consist of one hundred men besides officers. You are therefore
carefully to discharge the Duty of a Captaine by exercising yᵉ said
Company in Armes, both Officers and soldiers, and keeping them in
good order and Discipline. And wee doe hereby command them to obey
you as their Captaine, and you likewise exactly to observe and
follow all such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to
time receive from Us, our Privy Councell, the Commander in chiefe
of our fforces in that our Kingdome now or for the time being,
or any other your superiour officer, according to the Rules and
Discipline of Warre, in pursuance of yᵉ trust which wee doe hereby
repose in you.
"Given at our Court at Whitehall the 21th day of May 1678--and of
our Reigne the 30th year."
The following order relates in part to the _three Independent Troopes
of Dragoones_. (War Office Miscellany Orders, vol. v., folio 179):--
"Whereas his Majesty hath thought fitt to order the immediate
Raiseing of three Regiments of Horse consisting of eight Troopes
each Regiment, and sixty men in each Troope besides Officers: as
also three Regiments of Foot consisting of four Companyes each
Regiment, and one hundred men in each Company, besides officers;
and one Regiment of Dragoons consisting of eight Troopes, and
eighty men in each troope, besides officers, _and three other
Independent Troopes of Dragoons_, of the like number; and three
Troopes of Horse Granadiers, consisting of eighty men in one of the
Troopes, and sixty men in each of the other two Troopes, besides
officers.
"You are to pass and allow the said Regiments, Troopes and
Companies, according to the directions following.
"The first muster of any of the troopes of Horse is to be from the
officers first produceing twenty or more good men well mounted to
be mustered, and the following musters shall be upon produceing
five men with their Horses till the whole Troope be compleated. The
officers are to be allowed and enter into Pay from their said first
muster of Twenty.
"The foot are to be mustered as any of them are raised, and the
officers of each Company are to be allowed from the time they
muster twenty.
"The first muster of every Troope of Dragoones, is to be upon the
officers produceing twenty-five good men suitably mounted, and the
officers then are to be allowed, and the following musters shall
be of eight men with their Horses till the troope be compleated.
The first Muster of the Horse Granadiers is to be upon produceing
thirty men well mounted and the officers then to be allowed, and
the following Musters to be in the same manner as those of the
Dragoons. The field officers of each Regiment are to be allowed
from the first muster of their respective Companies, and you are to
pay the staff officers from the time appointed for the Regiment to
Rendezvous.
"Given at the Court at Whitehall this 11th day of June 1679.
"+Monmouth.+
"To Henry Howard, Esqre., Commissary General of the Musters."
The next is of varied interest, giving the Duke of Monmouth supreme
command, and urging to be kept informed by "flying packets." (Vol. v.,
page 156.)
"Whitehall, 11th June, 1679, at Midnight.
"May it please your Lordship I am commanded by his Majesty to
acquaint you that in pursuance of his Resolution to send some
Supplyes from hence to you for suppressing the Rebellion now
amongst the Phanaticks in the West of Scotland, he hath ordered
a Regiment of ffoote to be presently embarqued to goe by Sea to
Barwick together with cannon and ammunition sufficient, and his
Majesty has ordered two Regiments of ffoote more to be presently
leauied, the one to be commanded by the Lord Cavendish and the
other by the Lord Gray of Wark, as also three Regiments of Horse
under the command of the Duke of Monmouth, Duke of Albemarle,
the Lord Gerard, Together with eight hundred Dragoons, There is
likewise three troopes of Granadiers, and these last are to march
towards Scotland to-morrow. The King has also thought fit to name
the Duke of Monmouth Generall to command all his fforces so long as
his Grace shall remaine in Scotland. His Majesty by this Expedition
will be at the charge of upwards of five hundred pounds sterline
a day, which is more than £150,000 sterline by year if they
continue so long. And seeing the King has so early provided for
the preservation of his royall government and your common safety,
he has just reason to expect that in the meantime you will bestow
your utmost care and diligence as far as possible to suppresse that
vile Rebellion. His Majesty presseth much that frequent flying
packets may be sent at least every other day that he may know all
things that pass, and that they may bear large and exact accounts.
All which by his Majesty's command is signified to your Lordship
by my Lord, your Lordships most humble and most faithfull servant,
+Lauderdale+.
"To the Right Honᵇˡᵉ· The Earl of Rothes, Lord high Chancellor of
Scotland. To be communicated to the remnant Lords and other of his
Majesty's most honourable Privy Councell of that Kingdome."
The next relates to the rebellion, and to the appointment of "Thomas
Dalzell to be Lieutenant General of all His Majesty's forces in that
his ancient kingdome." (Vol. v., folio 167.)
"Whitehall, 19ᵗʰ June, 1679.
"May it please your Lordships. It was yesterday in the evening
that your Letter of yᵉ 15ᵗʰ instant (by a flying Packett) came
to my hand, and I did immediately waite on the King with it, who
after his reading it was pleased to declare that he was very well
satisfied with your recommending Generall Thomas Dalzell to be
Lieutenant Generall of all his Majesty's Forces in that his ancient
Kingdome, and gave me a command for Preparing his Commission for
that purpose; wherein I would lose no time, for it was ready this
morning for his Royall hand, and he was graciously pleased to
signe it, as you have it now hereinclosed. His Majesty is also
exceedingly well pleased with the march of his fforces last Munday
against the Rebells, and with the extraordinary care and diligence
that have appeared in all your consultations and actions since the
first notice you had of the breaking out of this Rebellion, which
he hopes (by the blessing of God, and the continuance of your
faithfull endeavours) will be soone crushed. It was likewise a
great satisfaction to his Majesty to know that you were resolved
to send fflying Packetts frequently for he has a very earnest
desire to be informed as often as possible, of the transactions
there, during the continuance of this Rebellion. Your Lordships may
be pleased to send this Letter to the Duke of Buccleugh, and this
commission to the Lieutenant Generall with all speed.
"I am My Lords, ...
"+Lauderdale+.
"To Earl Rothes...."
Folio 168 contains the Commission.
All the foregoing are from documents in the Record Office.
The next extracts are picked from the British Museum copy of a rare
autobiography, "The Memoirs of Captain John Crichton, written by
Himself." Printed in the year 1731. The peculiar interest of the words
that follow is that they were written wholly as the experiences of one
of the first officers of the Greys.
Whereupon Mr. Francis Stuart, grandson to the Earl of Bothwell, a
private gentleman in the Horse-Guards, like myself, and my intimate
acquaintance, was sent for, in haste, by the General; because the
Council of Scotland was then writing to the King that his Majesty would
be pleased to grant commissions to those persons whose names were to be
sent up to London that very night. Mr. Stuart gave me notice of this:
whereupon, although I was not sent for, I resolved to go up with him to
Edenborough, and solicit for myself.
The General: "Wha' the Deel sent for you up?" I answered that I hoped
his Excellency would now make good his promise of preferring me ... the
General stood my firm friend, and although the sons and brothers of
Lords and Baronets and other persons of quality solicited to be made
Lieutenants and Cornets, in these new raised Troops, yet the General
in regard to my services, prevailed with the Council that I might
be appointed Lieutenant to Mr. Stuart, who was then made Captain of
Dragoons.
Soon after this, the Archbishop of St. Andrews was murdered by the
Laird of Hackston and Balfour, assisted by four poor weavers.
[Illustration: +Charles the Second's Commission dated 19th June, 1679.+
Appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over all the
Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland."]
The Council finding the Rebels daily increasing in their
numbers ... his Majesty sent down the Duke of Monmouth ... to be
Commander-in-chief.... General Dalziel refused to serve under him,
and remained at his lodgings in Edenborough, till his Grace was
superseded, which happened about a fortnight after.... The General
Officers ... desired his Grace to let them know which way he designed
to take to come at the Enemy, the Duke answered, it must be by Bothwell
Bridge. Now the bridge lay a short mile to the right of the King's
Army, was narrow, and guarded with 3,000 of the Rebels, and strongly
barricaded with great stones; but although the Officers were desirous
to have passed the river, by easy fords, directly between them and
the Rebels and to march to their main body on the moor, before those
3,000, who guarded the bridge, could come to assist them; yet the Duke
was obstinate, and would pass no other way than that of the bridge.
Pursuant to this preposterous and absurd resolution, he commanded
Captain Stuart (whose Lieutenant I was) with his troop of Dragoons,
and 80 Musqueteers, together with four small Field-pieces, under
cover of the Dragoons, to beat off the party at the bridge. The Duke
himself, with David Lesly and Melvill, accompanyed us, and ordered
the Field-pieces to be left at the Village of Bothwell, within a
musquet-shot of the bridge. When the Duke and his men came near the
bridge, the Rebels beat a parly, and sent over a Laird, accompanied
with a Kirk Preacher.... While this Parly lasted, the Field-pieces
were brought down and planted over against the bridge, without being
perceived by the Rebels. The messengers ... they would not lay down
their arms unless their conditions were granted them; whereupon the
Dragoons and Musqueteers fired all at once upon those who guarded the
bridge, and the Field-pieces played so warmly, that some hundreds of
the Rebels were slain; the rest flying to the main body on the moor.
The Duke, as soon as he had commanded to fire, retired into a hollow
from the enemies' shot; ... and continued there till the action was
over. Then Captain Stuart ordered the Musqueteers to make way for the
Horse, to pass the bridge, by casting into the river the stones which
had been placed there to obstruct the passage over it; but the army
could not pass in less than five hours; and then marched up in order of
battle towards the enemy, who waited for them on the moor, confiding in
the superiority of their numbers. Clavers commanded the Horse on the
right, and Captain Stuart the Dragoons on the left. The Field-pieces
were carried in the centre of the Footguards, while the rest of the
Officers commanded at the head of their men; and the Duke, after the
enemy was beaten from the bridge, rode at the head of the Army. Upon
the first fire, the Rebel Horse turned about.... Sir John Bell, Provost
of Glasgow as soon as he saw the Rebels fly, rode into the town; from
whence, in a few hours, he sent all the bread he could find, together
with an hogshead of drink to each troop and company in the Army, out of
the cellars of such townsmen as were found to be abettors or protectors
of the Rebels.
The Pursuers were no sooner returned, and the whole action over, than
General Dalziel arrived at the camp from Edenborough, with a commission
renewed to be Commander-in-Chief, which he received that very morning
by an Express....
[Illustration: +Charles the Second's Commission dated 11th November,
1681.+
Appointing "Lieutenant Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Colonell' of a Regiment
of Dragoones to be formed out of the three Companies of Dragoones
already standing in that our Kingdome, and three Companies more to be
added to them."]
On Saturday morning when the army was to march to Glasgow, I desired
the General's leave to go with twelve Dragoons in search of some of
the Rebels, who might probably pass the Clyde, about Dunlatton, to
shelter themselves in the Highlands. With these Dragoons, clad in grey
coats and bonnets, I made haste down the side of the river; and about
midnight, after travelling twenty-four miles, I came to a church, and
while the soldiers stayed to refresh their horses in the churchyard,
I spyed a country fellow going by, and asked him in his own dialect,
"Whither gang ye this time of night?" He answered, "Wha are ye that
speers?" I replied, "We are your ane Foke." Upon this the fellow came
up and told me; there were 18 friends with horses at an old Castle
waiting for a boat to pass over into the Isle of Arran. I mounted the
man behind one of my Dragoons, and went towards the place; but the
Rebels not finding a boat were gone off, and the guide dismissed. There
was a great dew on the grass, which directed me and my party to follow
the track of their horses for three or four miles, till the dew was
gone off; I then enquired of a cowherd on a hill whether he saw any of
our poor Foke travelling that way; he answered that they had separated
on that hill and gone three several ways, six in a party, adding, that
in one party there was a bra muckle kerl, with a white hat on him,
and a great bob of ribbons on the cock o't. Whereupon I sent 4 of my
Dragoons after one party, 4 more after another, and myself with the
remaining 4 went in pursuit of him with the white hat.... The good man
of the house returning from putting the horses to grass in the garden
was going to shut the door, whereupon myself and one of the Dragoons
commanded him, with our pistols at his breast, to lead us to the room
where the man lay who wore a white hat. We entered the room, and before
he awaked I took away his arms, and commanded him to dress immediately;
then finding his companion asleep in the barn, I forced him likewise to
arise, and mounting them both on their own horses, came at 9 o'clock in
the morning with my two prisoners to the other Dragoons at the place
where we appointed to meet. From thence we rode strait to Glasgow,
and arrived thither about 8 in the evening, after a journey of 50
miles since we left the Army at Bothwell the day before. The man with
a white hat had turned out to be Master John King.... About a month
after I happened to dream that I found one Wilson, a Captain among the
Rebels at Bothwell Bridge, in a bank of Wood upon the river Clyde. This
accident made so strong an impression upon my mind that as soon as I
awaked I took six-and-thirty Dragoons, and got to the place by break
of day. Then I caused some of them to alight and go into the wood and
set him up, as hounds do a hare, while the rest were ordered to stand
sentry to prevent his escape. It seems I dreamt fortunately, for Wilson
was actually in the wood with 5 more of his company, as we afterwards
learned, who all seeing me and my party advancing, hid themselves in a
little island on the river among the broom that grew upon it. Wilson
had not the good fortune to escape.... I seized and brought him to my
quarters, and from thence immediately conveyed him to Edenborough,
where he was hanged; but might have preserved his life if he would have
condescended only to say, God save the King. This he utterly refused
to do, and thereby lost not only his life, but likewise an estate
worth twenty-nine thousand marks Scots. For this service, the Duke of
Queensberry, then High Commissioner of Scotland, recommended me to the
King, who rewarded me with the gift of Wilson's estate; but although
the grant passed the Seals, and the Sheriff put me in possession, yet I
could neither sell it nor let it, nobody daring, for fear of the Rebels
who had escaped at Bothwell Bridge, either to purchase or farm it, by
which means I never got a penny by the grant; and at the Revolution the
land was taken from me, and restored to Wilson's heirs....
"The winter following, General Dalziel, with a battalion of the Earl of
Linlithgow's Guards, the Earl of Airly's troop of Horse, and Captain
Stuart's troop of Dragoons, quartered at Kilmarnock in the west, 50
miles from Edenborough. Here the general one day, happening to look
on while I was exercising the troop of Dragoons, asked me, when I had
done, whether I knew any of my men who was skilful in praying well in
the style and tone of the Covenanters; I immediately thought upon one
James Gibb, who had been born in Ireland, and whom I made a Dragoon.
This man I brought to the General, assuring his Excellency that if I
had raked Hell, I could not find his match for his skill in mimicking
the Covenanters. Whereupon the General gave him £5 to buy him a gray
coat and a bonnet, and commanded him to find out the Rebels, but to
be sure to take care of himself among them. The Dragoon went 8 miles
off that very night, and got admittance into the house of a notorious
Rebel, pretending he came from Ireland out of zeal for the cause,
to assist at the fight of Bothwell Bridge, and could not find an
opportunity since of returning to Ireland with safety, he said he durst
not be seen in the day-time, and therefore after bewitching the family
with his gifts of praying, he was conveyed in the dusk of the next
evening, with a guide, to the house of the next adjoining Rebel; and
thus in the same manner, from one to another, till in a month's time
he got through the principal of them in the west, telling the General
at his return, that wherever he came he made the old wives in their
devout fits tear off their biggonets and mutches; he likewise gave the
General a list of their names and places of their abodes; and into the
bargain, brought back a good purse of money in his pocket. The General
desired to know how he had prayed amongst them; he answered that it was
his custom in his prayers to send the King, the Ministers of State,
the Officers of the Army, with all their soldiers, and the Episcopall
Clergy, all broadsides to Hell, but particularly the General himself:
"What," said the General, "did you send me to Hell, Sir?" "_Yea_,"
replied the Dragoon, "you at the head of them, as their leader....
"During the winter and the following spring I secured many of those
whose names and abodes the canting Dragoon had given a list of....
In July following, the General, by order of Council, commanded me to
go with a detachment of 30 Horse and 50 Dragoons in pursuit of about
150 rebels who had escaped at Bothwell Bridge, and ever since kept
together in a body up and down in Galloway. I followed them for 5 or
6 days from one place to another; after which, on 22nd of July, they
stayed for me at Airs Moss.... The Moss is 4 miles long from east to
west and 2 broad. The Rebels drew up at the east end, and consisted
of 30 Horse and 120 Foot. I faced them upon a rising ground with my
30 Horse and 50 Dragoons. The reason why the Rebels chose this place
to fight on rather than a plain field was for fear their Horse might
desert the Foot, as they did on Hamilton Moor, near Bothwell Bridge:
and likewise, that in case they lost the day they might save themselves
by retreating into the Moss. I placed myself on the left, as judging
that the best officer the Rebels had would command on the right. The
action began about 5 in the afternoon, but lasted not long; for I
ordered my men first to receive the enemy's fire, then to ride down the
hill upon them and use their broad-swords. They did so, and before the
enemy had time to draw theirs, cut many of them down in an instant.
Whereupon they wheeled about, and Captain Fowler, who commanded the
Rebels on the right, being then in the rear, advancing up to me, I gave
him such a blow over the head with my broad-sword as would have cleaved
his scul had it not been defended by a steel cap. Fowler turning about,
aimed a blow at me, but I warded it off, and with a back stroke cut the
upper part of his head clean off from the nose upwards. By this time
the Rebells, leaving their horses, fled to the Moss; but the Royalists
pursuing them killed about 60 and took 14 prisoners. Here Cameron,
the famous Covenanter, lost his life, and Haxton was taken prisoner,
infamous for embruing his hands in the blood of the Archbishop of St.
Andrews ... for which paricide both his hands were afterwards cut off,
and he was hanged at Edenborough. But this victory cost me very dear,
for being then in the rear I rode into the Moss after the Rebels where
I overtook a dozen of them hacking and hewing one of my men whose horse
was bogged; his name was Elliot, a stout soldier and one of Claver's
troop. He had received several wounds, and was at the point of being
killed when I came to his relief. I shot one of the rogues dead with my
carbine, which obliged the rest to let the poor man and his horse creep
out of the hole, but at the same time drew all their fury upon myself;
for Elliot made a shift to crawl out of the Moss leading his horse in
his hands, but was wholly disabled from assisting his deliverer, and
was not regarded by his enemies who probably thought he was mortally
wounded, or, indeed, rather that they had no time to mind him; for I
laid about me so fast that they judged it best to keep off and not
to venture within my reach, till it unfortunately happened that my
horse slipped into the same hole out of which Elliot and his horse had
just got. When they had me at this advantage they began to show their
courage and manfully dealt their blows with their broad-swords, from
some of which the carbine that hung down my back defended me a little.
As I was paddling in the hole, the horse not able to get out, one of
the rebels ran me through the small of the back with his broad-sword,
and at the same instant two more wounded me under the ribs with their
small ones. Then I threw myself over the head of my horse, taking
the far pistol out of the holster in my left hand, and holding my
broad-sword in my right; and as one of the villains was coming hastily
up to me his foot slipped, and before he could recover himself I struck
my sword into his skull; but the fellow, being big and heavy, snapped
it asunder as he fell within a span of the hilt. The Rebels had me now
at a great advantage. One of them made a stroak at me which I guarded
off with the hilt of the sword that was left in my hand, but the force
with which he struck the blow--and I kept it off--brought us both to
the ground. However I got up before him, clapped my pistol to his side
and shot him dead. As soon as this was done another came behind me, and
with some weapon or other struck me such a blow on the head as laid me
flat on my back, in which posture I remained a good while insensible,
the rogues taking it for granted that I was dead, scoured off.
"A little recovering my senses, I strove to lift up my head, which one
of the rogues happening to see at some distance, immediately returned,
and said in my hearing: 'God, the dog is no deed yet.' Then coming up
to me, took his sword, and putting its hilt to his breast and guiding
it with both his hands, made a thrust at my belly; but my senses were
now so far recovered that I parried the thrust with the piece of the
sword which remained still in my hand. The fellow, when he missed his
aim, almost fell on his face, for the sword ran up to the hilt in the
moss; and as he was recovering himself I gave him a dab in the mouth
with my broken sword which very much hurt him, but he aiming a second
thrust, which I had likewise the good fortune to put by, and having
as before given him another dab in the mouth, he immediately went off
for fear of the pursuers, whereof many were now returning. In this
distress I made a shift, with much difficulty and pain, to get upon my
feet, but my right leg being disabled by the wound I received from the
broad-sword, I was forced to limp by the help of the carbine, which I
made use of as a staff. I had lost my horse, for one of the rogues,
when I had quitted him in the hole, led him away through the Moss. I
recovered him about a year after from the man to whom the rebel had
sold him."
* * * * *
This next letter, from the King, taken from the Record Office, refers
to the three Independent Troops of Dragoons, and orders three more
Troops to be levied, and the whole six to be then _regimented_, thus
establishing the Royal Scots Greys:--
"CHARLES R.
"My dear and most entirely beloved Brother. Wee greet you well.
Wee have thought fit for the good of our Service to retrench all
the Companyes of ffoote of our Regiment of Guard commanded by the
Earle of Linlithgow, and likewise all the companies of the Regiment
of ffoote commanded by the Earle of Mar, as also to retrench every
one of the three Companies of Dragoons now standing. Therefore
you are to give order to Generall Thomas Dalyell, our Lieutenant
Generall, to reduce and disband six men out of every Company of the
above mentioned two Regiments of ffoote (and this ouer and aboue
any former Retrenchment made by us as to the ffoote) and forty-five
Dragoones of every one of the three Companies of Dragoones aboue
mentioned, together with one Corporall of Dragoones out of every
one of the said three Companies, and that this Retrenchment
be made upon the last day of November instant, and that these
Souldiers ffoote and Dragoones so disbanded receive pay till that
day inclusive. Wee have likewise thought it necessary for our
Service that three Companies of Dragoones be presently leavied,
each Company consisting of fifty souldiers, centinell Standers
(besides the officers' servants allowed by our Establishment), and
wee appoint each Company to haue two Sergeants, two Corporalls
and two Drummers, besides the officers commissioned by us. _Wee
haue likewise resolved that the three Companies of Dragoones
already standing so reduced with those three to be Leavied shalbe
Regimented_; and to that affect wee have commissioned our said
_Lieutenant Generall to be Colonel thereof, Lord Charles Murray to
be Lieutenant Colonell and Sir James Turner to be Major;_ and that
each of them have one Company in that Regiment. You are therefore
to give order to our Lieutenant Generall to cause these Companies
to be leauied accordingly, and to bring them as soon as can be to
a Muster; at and after which Muster they are to enter into Pay
conforme to our establishment. For doing of all which this shalbe
your Warrant, and so Wee bid you heartily farewell. Given at our
Court at Whitehall the 25 day of November 1681, and of our Reigne
yᵉ 33ᵈ year.
"By his Majesty's command,
"+Murray+.
"To our most dear and most entirely beloved Brother James Duke of
Albany and York, our high Commissioner in our ancient kingdome of
Scotland."
[Folio 515.]
"CHARLES R.
"Establishment for the Pay of his Majesty's present standing Forces
in his ancient kingdome of Scotland, according to twenty eight
dayes in each month, and for twelve months in the year."
Then are described the following; but I only give in full the
Regiment with whose history we are dealing:--
"His Majesty Troope of Guard.
"His Majesty's Regiment of ffoote Guard commanded by the Earle of
Linlithgow.
"The Regiment of ffoote commanded by the Earle of Marr.
"The Troope of Horse commanded by the Earle of Airlie, and 2 more
troopes, one commanded by the Master of Rosse, and the other by
John Graham of Claverhouse."
"The Pay of one Regiment of Dragoones consisting of Colonell,
Lieutenant Colonell, and Major, and six Companies, and for each
Company consisting of 50 souldiers, is as followeth, vizt.:
PER DIEM.
Colonell as Colonell 00 13 8
Lieutenant Colonell as such 7
Major as Major 5
Quartermaster 5
Marishall 2
Chyrurgeon and Mate 5
Aid Major 7 4
-----------
£2 5
Captaine 8s. and 2 Dragoones each 1s. 2_d._ 10 4
Lieutenant 5s., and 2 Dragoones each 1s. 2_d._ 7 4
Ensigne 4_s._, and 2 Dragoones at 1_s._ 2_d._ 5 2
Two Sergeants each 2_s._ 6_d._ 5
Two Corporalls each 1_s._ 8_d._ 3 4
Two Drummers each 1_s._ 8_d._ 3 4
Fifty Souldiers each 1_s._ 2_d._ 2 18 4
----------
£4 12 10"
After this come particulars of the gunners garrisoning Edinburgh
Castle, Stirling Castle, etc!
And lastly, the Militia, at an annual cost of £400 and occupying only
half a page in the book!
The foregoing establishment is dated 25 November, 1681, and the
following memorandum appears in the margin:--
"_Nota._--That the Originall of this establishment was written upon
a large sheet of velum in three columns; His Majesty having signed
on the middle of yᵉ top thereof, and added C:R: at the bottome of
each of the columns."
This next extract is Charles the Second's commission to Lord Charles
Murray as first Lieutenant-Colonel:--
"CHARLES R.
"Charles the Second by the grace of God, King of Scotland, England,
France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., To our right trusty
and welbeloved _Lord Charles Murray_, greeting.
"We reposing speciall trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage
and good conduct. Have nominated, constituted and appointed, and
by these presents doe nominate, constitute and appoint you to
be Lieutenant Colonell of that our Regiment of Dragoones in our
Ancient Kingdome of Scotland, Whereof Wee have appointed our right
trusty and welbeloved Councellor Thomas Dalyell Lieutenant Generall
of all our Forces there to be Colonell: As alsoe Wee doe nominate,
constitute and appoint you to be Captain of a Company thereof.
"You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty
of a Lieutenant Colonel and Captain of the said Regiment and
Company respectively by exercising the saem in armes both Officers
and Souldiers, and keeping them in good order and discipline.
And Wee doe hereby command them to obey you as their Lieutenant
Colonell and Captain, and your selfe likewise exactly to obserue
and follow all such Orders and Directions as you shall from time
to time receive from Us, our most Dear and most entirely beloved
Brother James Duke of Albany and York, our high Commissioner or our
Privy Councell of that our kingdome, our Lieutenant Generall and
Commander in Cheife of our Forces there, now or for the time being,
your Colonell or any other your superiour Officer, according to the
Rules and Dispositions of Warre, in pursuance of the trust hereby
reposed in you. Given at our Court at Whitehall the 25ᵗʰ day of
November 1681, and of our Reigne the 33ᵈ year.
"By his Maᵗⁱᵉˢ command
"+Murray+."
* * * * *
This next is the King's commission to Thomas Dalyell as Colonel of the
Regiment; it recites particulars of the founding of the Regiment:--
"CHARLES R.
"Charles the Second by yᵉ grace of God king of Scotland, England,
France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.: To our right
trusty and welbeloved Councellor, _Thomas Dalyell_ our Lieutenant
Generall of all our fforces in our ancient kingdome of Scotland,
greeting: Whereas Wee have thought fit for the good of our Service
to order a Regiment of Dragoones to be formed out of the three
Companies of Dragoones already standing in that our kingdome,
and three Companies more to be added unto them; Wee doe now (out
of the great experience wee haue of your Loyalty, Courage, and
good conduct) Nominate, Constitute and appoint you to be Colonell
of our said Regiment of Dragoones, as also Captain of a Company
thereof. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge
the Duty of a Colonel and Captain of the said Regiment and Company
respectively, by exercising the same in Armes both Officers and
Souldiers, and keeping them in good Order and Discipline. And wee
doe hereby command them to obey you as their Colonell and Captain,
and yourself likewise exactly to observe and follow all such Orders
and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from Us, our
most Dear and most entirely beloved Brother James Duke of Albany
and York, our high Commissioner, or our Privy Councell of that our
kingdome, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you. Given at
our Court at Whitehall the 26ᵗʰ day of November 1681, and of our
Reigne yᵉ 33ᵈ year.
"By his Majesty's command
"+Murray+."
[Illustration: +Warrant of Charles II.+,
Granting "certain revenues to Thomas Dalzell as Lieutenant Generall in
command of the Forces in Scotland."]
John Creichton, of the Massacre of Glencoe, writes:--
"McDonnal, Laird of Cappagh, in the Highlands, ... was unjustly
possessed, as most men believed, for many years, of an estate,
which in right belonged to the Laird of Mackintosh.... Soon after,
the Government ordered me to detach 60 Dragoons, with a Lieutenant,
Cornet, and Standard, and to march with Captain Streighton, and
200 of the Foot Guards against the McDonnels.... Whereupon we, who
were sent against him, continued to destroy all the houses and
corn, from the time of Lammas to the 10th of September; and then
we advanced towards the Borders, to join the Scotch army, at that
time marching towards England, against the Prince of Orange, then
intending an invasion."
[Creichton now goes on with his account of the coming of William the
Third, which is, of course, a mistake in order.]
"We arrived thither October 1st, after a march of 200 miles.... The
army did not reach London till about 25th October.... The Earl of
Airly, when he was Lord Ogleby, had attended the great Marquess of
Montrose in all his Actions, for King Charles the First and Second.
But at this time being old, it was reported that he was dead,
before the Scotch Forces went into England, to oppose the Prince of
Orange; whereupon the King had given his troop in Dundee's Regiment
to the Earl of Anandale: but the Earl having overtook the Army at
Cambridge, in their march, went on to London, and there presenting
himself before the King; his Majesty ... immediately restored his
Lordship to his Troop, ordering him at the same time to command
those 200 men who attended him down to Salisbury. When all the
Forces were arrived at Salisbury, the Earl of Dunmore, with his
Regiment of Dragoons, wherein I served, was ordered to a Pass 3
miles below the City, where I commanded the Guard that night.
"I now return to my Lord Dundee, and my Lord Dunmore. Their
Lordships acted no longer as Colonels, when they understood that
the Prince intended to place himself on the throne during his
Majesty's life.... After their Lordships were gone to Scotland, I
went to Watford, where my Lord Kilsythe, as Lieutenant Colonel,
commanded the Lord Dunmore's Regiment of Dragoons.... Major General
McCoy ordered the Lord Kilsythe to march the Regiment from place
to place till they should come to Congerton, a town in Cheshire.
Here they quartered, when the Prince and Princess of Orange were
proclaimed King and Queen of England, &c., by the Sheriff and
3 or 4 Bailiffs. It happened to be a very stormy day; and when
the Sheriff had done his Office, a crack-brained fellow, at the
head of a great rabble, proclaimed the Duke of Monmouth king, to
the great diversion of the Regiment; not believing he had been
beheaded. When my Lord Dunmore refused to serve the Prince of
Orange, Sir Thomas Levingston, of my Lord Kilsythe's family, got
the Regiment. This gentleman was born in Holland, and often used to
raise recruits in Scotland; upon which account he was well known
to the Regiment. He came down, Post, to Congerton, and at Supper,
told the officers that he was sent to know, which of them would
serve King William and which would not? Now the oath of allegiance
to that Prince, having not been offered to that Regiment, one of
the Company answered that we having sworn Allegiance to King James,
could not, in conscience and honour, draw our swords against him:
Whereupon Sir Thomas, drinking an health to King James, upon his
knees, answered that he wished he might be damned, whenever he
should command them to break that oath: and in order to ingratiate
himself further with the Regiment, added: that he would return to
London next day, for a command to march them strait to Scotland,
where their wives and friends were; and likewise to procure a
Captain's commission for me, since Sir Adam Blair, who commanded
the troop, in which I was Lieutenant, had refused to serve King
William, both which he accordingly obtained. When he returned from
London, he marched with the Regiment, directly through Berwick,
into Scotland.
"From this period, my troubles began; for I was then sent up to
Edenborough, and there imprisoned in the Tolbooth, together with my
Lord Kilsythe, Captain Levingston, Captain Murray, and Lieutenant
Murray, each of us in a separate dungeon; with orders that none
should be permitted to speak with us, except through the keyhole;
and in this miserable condition we lay for two months.... The
Council, although they could force no confession from me, or my
companions, that might affect my Lord Kilsythe, on whose estate
their hearts were much set, yet resolved to make a sacrifice of
someone among us ... the lot fell on me.... Lord Dundee, then at
Blair Castle in Athole, hearing this, wrote to the Council--that if
they hanged Captain Creichton, he would cut the Laird of Blair, and
the Laird of Pollock, joint by joint, and would send their limbs in
hampers to the Council."
The following entries are from two large folio manuscript Establishment
Books in my possession. Each volume is bound in boards covered with
fine white vellum, with gold tooling in Mearne's style.
The first opens with the Accession of James the Second; but the first
entry that concerns us is on page 63:--
"Our Will and Pleasure is that this Establishment for our Scots
Forces hereafter mentioned, do commence from the First day of
November, in the 4th year of our Reigne, and continue during their
stay in England."
* * * * *
[Illustration: +James the Second's Commission dated 30th March, 1685.+
Appointing "Generall Thomas Dalzell 'Lieutenant Generall' over all our
Forces within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland."]
REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS.
+Field and Staff Officers.+
PER DIEM. PER ANNUM
Colonel as Colonel 273 15
Lieut. Col. as Lᵗ. Col. 164 5
Major who has no troop, for himself and
servants 365
Adjutant 91 5
Chirurgeon 4_s._, and a horse to carry his
chest, 2_s._ 109 10
+One Troop.+
Capt. 8_s._, and 3 Horses 3_s._ 200 15
Lieut. 4_s._, and 2 Horses 2_s._ 109 10
Cornet 3_s._, and 2 Horses 2_s._ 91 5
Quarter Master for himself and Horse 4 73
2 Serjeants each 18_d._, and 2 for Horses 91 5
2 Drummers each 12_d._, and 2 for Horses 73
49 private soldiers at 18_d._ each per diem 1471 7 6
Two Corporals each at 12_d._, and 2_s._ for Horses 73
Five Troopes more at the same rates and
numbers £10265 12 6
------------
Total 18499 6 8
The next entry is under the 1st of May, 1689, in William the Third's
Establishment for England. On page 78 is recorded Sir Thomas
Levingston's Regiment of Dragoons.
The numbers and pay appear as before, except for these additions:--
Chaplain £134
Gunsmith 4_s._, and his servant 1_s._ 91 5
Also for each Troop are added:--
Two Hoboys each 12_d._, and 2_s._ for horses, £73; and 60 privates
in each troop. $/
The second volume begins with April, 1692, and on page 11 the
Dragoons are recorded with the same numbers and pay, as before.
The Establishment for Land Forces and Garrisons, 1694, opens on
page 75 with an interesting list of Regiments and their commanding
Officers:--Under Dragoons one entry is "Lord Tiviot's."
After the 1694 Establishment comes that for the 26th March, 1699.
On page 133, Dragoons are recorded. There is no mention of a
gunsmith. There is one "Hoboy" 2_s._ per diem.
Then on page 161 we reach the Establishment of Guards and
Garrisons, 25th April, 1700.
The Dragoon Regiments, as detailed on page 168, had only 40 private
soldiers to each troop.
The 1st of June (1702) Establishment gives the Dragoons 54 private
soldiers to a company.
The following relates to the title of the Regiment:--
William and Mary, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of Scotland,
England, France, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, &c., &c.
Whereas that Regiment of Dragoons to which our trusty and most
beloved Councillor, Sir Thomas Livingstone, Brigadier-General
of our Army, is Colonel, hath been formerly designed the Royal
Regiment of Scots Dragoons, and so, reposing special confidence in
the said regiment, we do, hereby, appoint and ordain the same to be
designed our 'Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons,' and we require all
general officers and others in our army so to design that regiment;
and to give the full title and honour that is due to our 'Royal
Regiment of Scots Dragoons.' Given under our royal hand and signet,
at our Court at Breda the seventh day of May, 1692, and of our
reign the fourth year.
"By His Majesty's command,
"+J. O. Dalrymple+."
On 31st May, 1694, the Regiment landed at Williamstadt, in North
Brabant, and on June 16th was reviewed by King William before occupying
cantonments near Arschot. No general engagement took place this year:
but the Regiment was twice engaged in skirmishes with the French
cavalry, and in October marched into cantonments in the villages near
Ghent. Coming out of winter quarters in April, 1695, the Regiment
proceeded to Dixmude, in West Flanders, and thence to join the Army
encamped at Arseele, and on 31st May were reviewed by King William
with the rest of the Army. During the progress of the siege of Namur
the Regiment formed part of the Army under the Prince of Vaudemont
which manœuvred so as to protect the troops employed before the town.
The Regiment was encamped a short time between Genappe and Waterloo;
it afterwards occupied, together with the Regiment of Foot of
Holstein-Ploen, an important post at Masy, and after the surrender of
the citadel of Namur marched into winter quarters in West Flanders.
[Illustration: +Warrant of William and Mary+, 1692,
Confirming the Title "Our Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons."]
[Illustration: His Excellency John Earl of Stair, Field Marshal,
General and Commander in Chief of his Majesties Forces & General of
the Hanoverian and Hessian Armies in the Service of Great Britain, His
Majesties Ambafsador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to the States
General of the United Provinces.]
In May, 1696, they encamped near Bruges and for some months were
stationed behind the canal between Ghent and Bruges, their duty
being to observe the motions of the French Army commanded by Marshal
Villeroy, which was encamped on the opposite side of the canal. In
October they marched into winter quarters in the villages behind
Bruges. In the spring of 1697 negotiations were opened for a general
peace. They were encamped for a short time between Brussels and Aeth,
afterwards between Vilvorde and Burntbridge, on the Brussels canal; and
when the peace of Ryswick was concluded they marched to Bruges. Before
the end of December the Regiment embarked for England and landing
at Harwich early in January, 1698, marched at once to Scotland. The
establishment which, during the war, had been 8 troops and 590 officers
and men was ordered to be reduced to 6 troops and 294 officers and men.
In 1701 the accession of the Duke of Anjou to the throne of Spain
caused war to be declared again on May 15th. The two troops were again
added, and early in 1702 the Regiment embarked for Holland.
The Regiment formed part of the guard for the English artillery train
at Breda, with which it joined the allied army under John Churchill,
Earl of Marlborough.
In the autumn of 1702 the Greys were engaged in covering the sieges
of Venloo, Ruremonde and Stevenswaert. The following is taken from
those most interesting records, Marlborough's own correspondence and
despatches:--
Sutendal, 21st September, 1702. The castle of Venloo was carried by
storm last Monday, so that they hope to be masters of the town by
Sunday or Monday. My Lord Cutts commanded at one of the breaches,
and the English grenadiers had the honour of being the first that
entered the fort. We are making all preparations we can for the
attack of Ruremond and Stevenswaert, and I think no other enemy but
ill weather can hinder us from taking them.
2 October. Our batteries began to play upon Stevenswaert on
Saturday last, and continued firing without intermission till
about 10 last night, when, the besieged having abandoned the
counterscarp, and our men being ready to mount the breach, they
beat the chamade, and desired to capitulate.
9 October. On Saturday at 3 in the morning, his Excellency the
Earl of Marlborough received an express from Ruremond, that our
batteries having begun to play upon the town on Friday morning,
about 6 the same evening the besieged had desired to capitulate.
The garrison, consisting of near 2000 men, are to march out this
day, and to be conducted, with two pieces of cannon, to Antwerp. We
found in the place 30 pieces of cannon....
The Regiment was also present at the taking of Liege, on October 23rd.
Before going into winter quarters one squadron acted as a body-guard
to Marlborough in visiting Venloo and Ruremonde. The Regiment wintered
in Dutch Brabant. Before the end of April, 1703, the Regiment took the
field again and encamped near Hamont, in the province of Limburg, from
whence they marched to Lardner Heath, afterwards to Château D'Horn,
near Ruremonde, and on May 7th they reached near to Tongres. In the
meanwhile a party of English cavalry, escorting a quantity of specie
for the Army, was attacked and defeated by a detachment of French
troops, who captured the treasure. The Greys were instantly ordered
out, and dashing across the country intercepted and defeated the French
troops and returned with the specie in triumph back to camp.
Next the Regiment was sent towards Bonn, then being besieged. After the
taking of Bonn it joined the main army near Maestricht on May 21st.
The Regiment was engaged in the siege of Limburg, which fell on
September 28th.
When the famous campaign of 1704 opened Lord John Hay, son of the
Marquis of Tweeddale, became, by purchase, Colonel in succession to
Viscount Teviot.
During the operations under Marlborough on the Dutch frontiers a body
of French troops passed the Black Forest and, joining the Bavarians,
gained several advantages over the Austrians, endangering the Imperial
throne.
In April, 1704, the Greys, joined by a remount from Scotland,
marched to Bedburgh on the Lower Rhine, where they were reviewed
by Marlborough, and on May 19th began its march on that important
expedition. To keep the enemy in suspense, the troops proceeded towards
the Moselle, but on the 25th May changed their route, and marched
to Coblentz. Having crossed the Rhine and the Moselle, Marlborough
pushed forward in advance with the cavalry for the Danube, ordering
the infantry to follow. Continuing their march through the States of
Germany, the regiments crossed the Necker in the early part of June,
while the rapidity of their movements and the secrecy of their design
filled all Europe with wonder and anxiety, and the enemy appeared
confused and lost in doubt and conjecture.
The British Regiments joined the forces of the Emperor, commanded by
the Margrave of Baden, when the new line of battle was formed and the
brigade, consisting of the Royal Scots and Royal Irish Dragoons, was
posted on the left of the first line. Marlborough wishing to possess
Donawerth as a place of arms, decided to attack a division commanded by
the Count D'Arco, posted on the lofty heights of Schellenberg, on the
north of the Danube commanding the passage of that river at Donawerth,
and the Greys formed part of the force chosen for this service. After
marching, on July 2nd, through a country intersected with rivulets
and other obstacles the troops came near to Schellenberg. At 6 in the
evening the attack was ordered, and the British infantry going forward
with firm and resolute step assaulted the entrenchments, while the
Greys and other cavalry moved forward in support. In a few moments a
storm of bullets assailed the ranks of the Bavarians, and the thunder
of the British fire echoed in the valley below. The post was valiantly
defended, and a fierce fight had gone on for some time when the Greys
were ordered to dismount, form as infantry, and assault the trenches.
The regiment instantly obeyed, and led by its gallant Colonel, Lord
John Hay, advanced boldly to the attack and mixed fiercely in the
conflict. At this instant the enemy gave way on all sides, and the
cavalry rushing forward sabred many as they fled towards the Danube;
whilst the Count D'Arco, and other officers escaped by crossing the
river.
The post won and the enemy's baggage, artillery, and many standards
captured, the Royal Scots Dragoons remounted. The Regiment lost in
the action Captain Douglas and 7 men killed, two officers, and 17 men
wounded. Donawerth was occupied on the following day.
The next great event to refer to is the Battle of Blenheim, in the
valley of the Danube, fought on August 13th. The following words are
Sir Edward Creasy's:--"Like Hannibal, Marlborough relied principally
on his cavalry for achieving his decisive successes, and it was by his
cavalry that Blenheim, the greatest of his victories, was won. The
battle had lasted till five in the afternoon. Marlborough had now 8,000
horsemen drawn up in two lines, and in the most perfect order for a
general attack on the enemy's line along the space between Blenheim and
Oberglau. The infantry was drawn up in battalions in their rear, so as
to support them if repulsed and to keep in check the large masses of
the French that still occupied the village of Blenheim.
"Tallard now interlaced his squadrons of cavalry with battalions of
infantry, and Marlborough, by a corresponding movement, brought several
regiments of infantry and some pieces of artillery to his front line
at intervals between the bodies of horse. A little after 5 Marlborough
commenced the decisive movement, and the allied cavalry, strengthened
and supported by foot and guns, advanced slowly from the lower ground
near the Nebel up the slope to where the French cavalry, 10,000 strong,
awaited them. On riding over the summit of the acclivity the allies
were received with so hot a fire from the French artillery and small
arms that at first the cavalry recoiled, but without abandoning the
high ground. The guns and the infantry, which they had brought with
them, maintained the contest with spirit and effect. The French fire
seemed to slacken; Marlborough instantly ordered a charge along the
line. The allied cavalry galloped forward at the enemy's squadrons,
and the hearts of the French horsemen failed them. Discharging their
carbines at an idle distance they wheeled round and spurred from the
field, leaving the nine infantry battalions of their comrades to be
ridden down by the torrent of the allied cavalry."
The Greys lost several men and horses wounded but none killed.
Extracts from a journal of the 1704 campaign kept by Mr. Hare, chaplain
to the Duke, and afterwards Bishop of Chichester:--
"Being thus resolved to attack the enemy, they gave orders that
the Army should march before break of day, and range itself in
order of battle upon the plain, between Grenhiern and Orklau. The
whole army as it was now (Brigadier Baldwyn and several other
parties not being yet come in) consisted of 66 Battalions and 160
Squadrons on the right wing, under Prince Eugene, there were the
seven Danish and eleven Prussian Battalions, which were all the
Foot his Highness had under his command; he had also 74 Squadrons
composed of the Imperial and Prussian Troops, with those of Swabia,
Franconia, Wurtemberg, and other Troops of the Empire.
"On the left wing against Marshal Tallard were 48 Battalions (viz.)
14 English, 14 Dutch, 7 Hessian, and 13 of Hanover, Luxembourg,
Zell, and Swiss; also 86 Squadrons (viz.) 14 English, 22 Danes, and
18 Dutch, 7 Hessian, and 25 of Lunenbourg, Hanover, and Zell. This
Army marched directly towards the enemies (which were then about 4
miles distant) before break of day in the following order.
"The Imperial Army filed off to the right in 4 columns (viz.) two
of Infantry and two of Cavalry. The Infantry marched to the right
of the Cavalry upon a rising ground, close by a wood which came
down to the River Kessel before mentioned. The two lines of Cavalry
marched to the left of them; the English and Dutch army filed off
also in 4 such Columns, having on their right the 2 Columns of
the Imperial Cavalry, and on their left the villages of Dapsheim,
Schwening and the Danube. Major General Wilkies and Brigadier Rowe,
with 9 Battalions that were left in Dapsheim, to maintain that post
all the last night, now marched to the left of all by themselves,
next the Danube. The Imperial Artillery followed the Infantry of
that wing, and the English and Dutch artillery and Pontoons marched
through the villages of Erlinghoffen, Dapsheim and Schweingen; and
all the baggage was sent back to Rittingen near Donawert, where it
was to be drawn up till further orders.
"His Grace caused the whole Army to halt, and then detached 11
Battalions out of both lines of the left wing to be joined to the
9 already detached under Major General Wilkie near the Danube. The
whole twenty were to be commanded by the Lord Cutts, and under him
Major General Wilkies and St. Paul, and Brigadier Ferguson, Rowe
and Hulson. Major General Wood and Brigadier General Ross were
ordered with 15 squadrons of Dragoons to sustain the Lord Cutts.
These Battalions and squadrons being joined with the other nine,
made a ninth column which marched upon the left of all, by itself,
next the Danube, the Lord Cutts being ordered with this detachment
to attack the village of Blenheim, which joined to that River.
"This being done the Army moved forwards, His Grace and Prince
Eugene advancing before all, with some squadrons of the Grand
Guard to take a view of the enemy; they discovered their advanced
parties before 6 in the morning, which parties as our squadrons
came up retired by degrees into their camp. About 7 our Generals
stood and took a full view of the enemies' camp upon a rising ground
over against Overklau, on our side the Rivulet; it continues to run
in two Branches till within a few paces before it falls into the
Danube, the meadows between them being soft and marshy. One of the
Branches had two mills upon it, at both which there was an easy
passage over the Rivulet.
"His Grace saw all this very plainly at half-a-mile distance, but
he was more particularly informed of the nature of this ground by
Major General Nazemere, of the King of Prussia's troops, who had
been wounded the year before in the defeat of Count Styrum by the
Elector of Bavaria and Monsieur Dupon upon the very place. All this
while, the morning being a little hazy, the enemy might think we
had only little parties abroad and not know that our whole Army was
in motion. However it was they lay quiet in their camp, and two
deserters from them gave his Grace a particular account how their
troops were encampt.
"Our Columns began to appear a little after 7 in the morning, both
officers and soldiers advancing very cheerfully and shewing a firm
and glad countenance and persuading themselves of a victorious day.
"All this while the village of Blenheim had been incessantly
attacked by the Lord Cutts, who having found it impracticable to
enter that place sword in hand, as the enemy were posted, had
altered his method and attacked with his fire only. The first
of his lines (which was posted near the enemy's entrenchments)
continually discharged in Platoons, and the other lines relieved
this and each other successively.
"Notwithstanding all which it held out still, and now gave work
to all our Infantry. For the moment that our Cavalry had beaten
that of the enemy and cleared the field of them, General Churchill
marched both the lines of Foot and laid them upon this village
in two different places, so that it was now quite surrounded and
there was no getting out of it but through the Danube, and to
prevent their escaping that way the Queen's Regiment (commanded
by Brigadier Webb) took possession of a little Barrier the enemy
had made to cover their retreat and was posted to the right of
all fronting to the street which led down to the Danube. By this
means several hundreds of the enemy endeavouring to get of that way
were made Prisoners by that Regiment which besides this service,
has the consideration due to it, that the Horses belonging to the
dismounted Regiments of French Dragoons were at their Piquets close
by this Regiment, yet there was not a man stirred out of his rank
to take one of them but they all fell a booty to other soldiers.
Prince George's Regiment (commanded by Colonel Byton) was posted
next the Danube to the left, on the other side of the Town; so
that all those of the enemy which came out that way were either
taken prisoners, killed, or forced into the Danube; some of them
endeavoured to break out in two other places of the village, _but
Major-General Wood (who was left with only the Lord John Hayes's
Regiment of Grey Dragoons)_ perceiving it immediately advanced
towards them, and taking the advantage of a rising ground, amused
them, and made them believe he had more squadrons behind him and so
drew up and stopped them there.
"Brigadier Ross (who was ordered to sustain Lieutenant-General
Ingoldsby) did the like on the other side of the Town with
5 squadrons of Dragoons and 3 squadrons of Horse which
Lieutenant-General Lumley had sent from the pursuit for this
purpose; two of which he soon after sent back again, upon order
he had received from the Duke of Marlborough to bring all the
squadrons he could to the right, where the Elector was marching off.
"It was now betwixt 3 and 4 o'clock when General Churchill sent
word to the Lord Cutts that the Duke of Marlborough had beaten
the enemies Horse out of the field. He also let him know that he
himself was going to attack the same village in Flank and Rear, and
therefore desired his Lordship to make another attack at the same
time in the front, if his troops were not too much spent, or at
least to make a feint of doing it. This was effectually executed
at once on all sides. The Earl of Orkney and Lieutenant-General
Ingoldsby entered the village at two different places at the Head
of their respective Lines, but not being able to make a front equal
to what the enemy had in the village, especially in the Churchyard
which had high walls round about it, they were forced to retire.
However this, and the frequent attacks the enemy had sustained in
their front for several hours together; the damage they suffered
by our Cannon which played all the afternoon furiously upon them
within musket shot, the great disorder they were put into by a
Battery of Howitzers, whose shells set all the Barns and Houses
on fire, and especially Monsieur Clerambaut their commander
being fled and as they were told, drowned in the Danube, and
being quite surrounded, and obliged to stand another attack at
a time when they had no hopes of relief, the Cavalry which was
to sustain them, being drove quite out of the Field: all these
together put them into so great consternation, that they demanded
a cessation, which being allowed, General Churchill sent orders
to the Lord Cutts to cease attacking in the Front, and the Lord
Orkney immediately sent in Captain Abercromby his Aid du Camp on
one side as Lieutenant-General Ingoldsby did Lieutenant-Colonel
Belville of the Tell regiment of de Beial on the other side. After
a very little time their Lieutenant-Colonel returned with Monsieur
Hautefeuille and Monsieur Blansac, and the Lieutenant-Colonel's
own Brother, who was Captain in Nasseys Regiment of Dragoons, then
dismounted in the Town. The Lord Orkney had also met with the
Marquis Desnouville, who commanded the French regiment Royal and
was already made prisoner, but was suffered to go into the Town
again, upon his parole to return immediately. This he did bringing
with him to the Lord Orkney several French generals. And as they
were all capitulating, General Churchill came up and told the
French Generals that he had no time to lose, (it being now past
7 in the evening), and that if they did not lay down their arms
immediately he would renew the attack, upon this they thought fit
to submit, and they, with all their regiments, were made Prisoners
at discretion."