CHANGE OF NUMBER
1786-1789
Regiment moved to Shevtamodoo--John Floyd--Number of regiment
changed to 19th--Uniform--Sir William Howe appointed
Colonel--Foundation of Indian native cavalry system laid by Floyd
and the 19th Light Dragoons.
One of the first acts of Sir John Dalling, after composing the
quarrels between the Civil Government and the King’s troops in
Madras, was to draw up a scheme for brigading the troops in
Cantonments. The scheme never took shape, beyond the formation of a
large Cantonment, in February 1786, at Wallajabad, near Conjeveram,
about fifty miles from Madras. Among the troops detailed for the new
Cantonment were the 23rd Light Dragoons. Before leaving their
quarters at San Thomé, they were reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief.
Being the only English Cavalry regiment in the country, the review
attracted some attention, and the following account was published in
the _Madras Courier_ for 29th March 1786.
[Illustration:
_Lieut: General Sir John Floyd Bart._
_from a portrait believed to be by A. W. Devis._
_Walker & Boutall ph. sc._]
“The review of the 23rd Dragoons on Saturday last, was far
superior to any expectation that had been formed of it, displayed
the most brilliant military exhibition that has ever been seen
in India, and it is presumed, equal to any that has taken place
at anytime in Europe. It reflects the highest honour on the
Commanding Officer, whose great military knowledge, joined
to indefatigable exertions, has brought the regiment to that
degree of perfection which, while it pleases and astonishes,
teaches the very useful, though long doubted lesson, that men
can be disciplined, and horses trained in this country equally
as well as in Europe. The most particularly striking manœuvre
was a charge at full speed for near three hundred yards in
a perfect line; and that of two squadrons dispersing, and
pursuing, supported by the regiment; these were performed with
the exactness of mechanical precision, and produced the most
beautiful effect; but what is very extraordinary the horses were
all perfectly obedient, and scarcely a single accoutrement of the
riders was discomposed.
“A Correspondent observes, that too much praise cannot be given
to the 23rd dragoons, for the excellent manner in which they
performed their manœuvres, at the review on Saturday last; that
the men were in the highest perfection of discipline; and that
the officers, the finest body belonging to any one corps that
he recollects to have seen, were so perfectly masters of every
manœuvre, and led each motion with so much judgment, that it were
impossible for any troops under them to make a single mistake.”
The 23rd Light Dragoons were not cantoned at Wallajabad, but Floyd
was directed to select a spot within a certain indicated area. He
fixed on Shevtamodoo, about two miles from Conjeveram, and nine miles
from Wallajabad.
“The spot is extremely beautiful, exceeding anything I have met
with in India, except among the hills. My barracks are building
something within the edge of an open grove of immense tamarinds.
The Officers’ barracks are within the grove. A plain extends
about half a mile in front, and something less in breadth along
the north bank of the river Paliar, above the ordinary level of
the country, with a large lake on the other side of the ground
towards its extremity, with a small woody island in it skirting
the whole plain. The plain is sprinkled by nature’s masterly hand
with enormous banyan trees, far exceeding the size of the very
largest trees known in Europe. My own barracks will stand at some
distance, nearly in the middle of the plain, under the largest of
these extraordinary trees.”[19]
It was here that Floyd laid the foundation of that excellence in
discipline and efficiency, that fitted the regiment to play the
distinguished part it was destined in after years to fill, with such
success, in the stirring affairs of southern India. This will be a
suitable place to give some account of this distinguished soldier.
John Floyd, born in 1748, was the son of an officer in the 1st
Dragoon Guards who served at Minden, and died in Germany six weeks
after the battle. In recognition of his father’s services, John Floyd
was given a commission in the 15th (Elliott’s) Light Dragoons, in
the year after the regiment was raised, and was present with it at
the battle of Emsdorf, on the 16th July 1760, when only twelve years
old. There he had his horse shot under him, while charging the French
ranks, and was only saved by a brother officer who cut down his
assailant. The sword of the French hussar is still preserved in the
family.
The 15th Light Dragoons under Sir John Elliott and Lord Pembroke were
regarded at that time as the school for British Light Cavalry. Lord
Pembroke had made a special study of military equitation, concerning
which he had written a book,[20] that went through several editions,
and was a recognized text book on military riding. He interested
himself in Floyd, and took pains to give him a complete education,
and made him a proficient horseman. Later, on Lord Pembroke obtaining
the command of the Royal Dragoons, he employed Floyd for twelve
months in teaching his system to that regiment. In 1777-78-79, Floyd,
under Lord Pembroke’s auspices, visited nearly every Court in Europe,
and reported on their armies. In December 1778, he was appointed
Major of the 21st Light Dragoons, and, on the formation of the 23rd
Light Dragoons for Indian service, he was selected to be its Lt.
Colonel. No better choice could have been made. A thorough soldier,
and a horseman from his youth up, brought up in the school of two
such cavalry soldiers as Sir John Elliott and Lord Pembroke, he was
an enthusiastic believer in the power of cavalry. Writing from San
Thomé in 1784, he says:
“You may depend upon it, the first military miracle that is to be
performed in India, will be wrought by cavalry. No one here has
an idea of that arm; a small body of well disciplined Europeans
on horseback, judiciously led, will defeat and destroy myriads of
Indian enemies. If I am of the party, it may perhaps afford me an
opportunity of deserving your applause.”
All soldiers know how an able commander can impress his character on
a regiment, to endure long after his connexion with it has ceased.
Such was the case with the regiment that gathered laurels as the 19th
Light Dragoons, and no small part of its glory was due to its first
Lieutenant Colonel, John Floyd. The correctness of his views as to
the great part cavalry might play, and the excellence of his system,
were demonstrated on many a field in which the regiment fought during
its career in India.
It has already been shown[21] how, in June 1783, the 19th Light
Dragoons and all Cavalry regiments above that number, on the
establishment in England, were disbanded. For three years, the fate
of the 23rd seems to have hung in the balance. At last, on 26th
April 1786, an order was issued to the effect that henceforward
the regiment was to be numbered the 19th, instead of the 23rd, a
designation under which it was destined to win itself fame and
honour.[22]
Before this, a change was made in the uniform of all the Light
Dragoon regiments in the service. Hitherto, all mounted regiments had
worn scarlet. In 1784, it was determined to distinguish the Light
Dragoons, by dressing them in blue, and the following order gives the
whole dress in detail.
_Regulations for the Clothing of the Light Dragoons, April 1784._
[Sidenote: 1784. April.]
The Clothing of a private Light Dragoon to consist of a Jacket
and Shell under waistcoat and leather Breeches.
The Jacket and Shell to be of blue cloth, the Collars and Cuffs
of the Royall Regiments to be Red;--and those of the other
Regiments to be of the colour of the facing of the Regiment,
looped upon the breast, and edged with white _thread_ Cord, and
to be lined with white, the 11th and 13th Regiments excepted,
which are to be lined with Buff.
The under waistcoat to be of flannel with Sleeves, and made so as
to be buttoned within the waistband of the Breeches.
The Breeches to be of Buckskin.
_N.B._--The make of the Dress and method of placing the Cord
upon the Breast of the Jacket, to be exactly conformable to the
pattern approved of by His Majesty.
OFFICERS AND QUARTER MASTERS.
The Dress Uniform of the Officers and Quarter Masters of the
Light Dragoons to be made according to the King’s regulation of
the 19th December 1768, excepting that the Coats are to be Blue
and faced with the same colour as the private Men, and that the
Royall Regiments are to be faced with scarlet.
FIELD UNIFORM OF THE OFFICERS AND QUARTER MASTERS.
The Jacket and shell to be made up in the same manner as those of
the Men, excepting that the Shell is to have Sleeves, and that
the Looping is to be of Silver, the 13th Regiment excepted which
is to be of gold.
SERJEANTS.
The Serjeants of the Light Dragoons to be distinguished by Gold
or silver looping.
CORPORALS.
The Corporals of the Light Dragoons to be distinguished by a Gold
or Silver Cord round the Collar and Cuff.
TRUMPETERS.
The Trumpeters to have a Jacket and Shell the Colour of the
facing of the Regiment, with Lace instead of Looping in front and
down the Seams.
_N.B._--A Pattern Suit of Clothing made up according to these
Regulations, will be deposited at the Army-Comptroller’s
Office--Horse Guards.
No record now exists to show what facings were worn by the Regiment
up to this date. Probably, their facings had never been decided on,
owing to their departure from England so soon after embodiment,
as, in December 1786, an order was issued, approving a pattern of
yellow cloth for their facings. The blue jacket with primrose yellow
facings and white or silver braid, continued to be the uniform of
the regiment till December 1802, when an order came into force for
Dragoon regiments, serving in India, to wear grey instead of blue.
In February 1786 an order was issued directing the Colonels of Light
Dragoon regiments to supply their men with blue cloaks instead of red.
The vacancy caused by the death of Sir John Burgoyne was filled by
the appointment of Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir William Howe,[23]
K.B., Colonel of the 23rd Foot, to be Colonel. He was an officer who
had seen much active service, principally in America, where he had
gained the reputation of a brave rather than of a skilful soldier.
As a young man he took part in the conquest of Quebec by Wolfe, and
led the forlorn hope of twenty-four men that forced the entrenched
path by which Wolfe’s force scaled the heights of Abraham. He served
at the siege of Belleisle (1761), where he was wounded. He commanded
the British troops at the pyrrhic victory of Bunker’s Hill; and
gained victories over the revolted colonists at Long Island and at
Brandywine.
We get a glimpse of the regiment on 15th December 1788, when they
were inspected by the Governor and Commander in Chief, Sir Archibald
Campbell, who, in a minute to the rest of the Government, recorded
that “H.M.’s 19th Regiment of Light Dragoons were complete in
horses and accoutrements, and their discipline equal to any Corps
in Europe.” In a general order he said “The rapid and accurate
manner with which the several evolutions were performed, and the
extraordinary velocity of their charge, than which nothing could
be more regular and correct, does infinite honour to Colonel Floyd
and the officers under his command, by whose unremitting zeal and
attention the discipline of the corps has been carried to so high a
state of perfection.”
The regimental muster rolls for 1788 and 1789 show that the strength
of the 19th, in those years, varied from 300 to 350 men present at
Shevtamodoo. The strength in horses seems to have exceeded that in
men, but the wear and tear in horseflesh was apparently very great,
and remounts in considerable numbers were constantly required.
It was during these years spent by the regiment at Shevtamodoo, that
the Madras Government dealt in earnest with the question of forming a
service of Native Cavalry. To assist them in this work they selected
Floyd, who was given a free hand in all that concerned the discipline
and equipment of the Native regiments. The system founded by him may
be said to have lasted nearly up to the present time.
From this time up to the date of their departure from India, the 19th
Light Dragoons never ceased to furnish non-commissioned officers and
privates as instructors to the Native Cavalry, not only in Madras,
but also in Bengal. In every muster roll they are shown on duty, at
Madras, Vellore, Hyderabad, Seringapatam, Poonamallee, and other
military stations in the Madras Presidency. In Bengal there were
always from four to sixteen sergeants, corporals, and privates on
this duty, as long as the regiment was in India, and, for a time,
some were on similar duty in Bombay and Poona. A General Order,
dated Fort William 3rd December 1795, sanctions the sergeants of the
19th Light Dragoons “now on service in this presidency instructing
the native cavalry, to receive the pay and allowances of Sergeant
Majors of Cavalry.” In 1798 a General Order was issued, directing
“the brass chapes and sockets to be made up according to the pattern
furnished by Major General Floyd.” And in December 1805, a few months
before the regiment left India, each native cavalry regiment in the
Presidency was ordered to send a detachment to Arcot, for instruction
in one uniform system by Lieutenant Neville, 19th Light Dragoons.
The system observed in the Company’s native cavalry up till 1857,
may be said to have been founded by Colonel Floyd and the 19th Light
Dragoons.