TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{x}; for example, und^r or 19^{th}.
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.
More detail can be found at the end of the book.
[Illustration:
BY COMMAND OF His late Majesty WILLIAM THE IV^{TH}.
_and under the Patronage of_
Her Majesty the Queen
HISTORICAL RECORDS,
_OF THE_
British Army
_Comprising the
History of every Regiment
IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE._
_By Richard Cannon Esq^{re}._
_Adjutant Generals Office, Horse Guards._
London
_Printed by Authority_:
1837.
_Silvester & C^o. 27 Strand._
HISTORICAL RECORDS
OF THE
BRITISH ARMY.
PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
THE FOURTH,
OR
ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS.
LONDON:
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS,
14, Charing Cross.
GENERAL ORDERS.
_HORSE-GUARDS,
1st January, 1836._
His Majesty has been pleased to command, that, with a view of doing
the fullest justice to Regiments, as well as to Individuals who have
distinguished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the Enemy,
an Account of the Services of every Regiment in the British Army
shall be published under the superintendence and direction of the
Adjutant-General; and that this Account shall contain the following
particulars: _viz._,
---- The Period and Circumstances of the Original Formation of
the Regiment; The Stations at which it has been from time to time
employed; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations,
in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any
Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies,
&c., it may have captured from the Enemy.
---- The Names of the Officers and the number of Non-Commissioned
Officers and Privates, Killed or Wounded by the Enemy, specifying
the Place and Date of the Action.
---- The Names of those Officers, who, in consideration of their
Gallant Services and Meritorious Conduct in Engagements with the
Enemy, have been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other
Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour.
---- The Names of all such Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers
and Privates as may have specially signalized themselves in
Action.
And,
---- The Badges and Devices which the Regiment may have been
permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges
or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted.
By Command of the Right Honourable
GENERAL LORD HILL,
_Commanding-in-Chief_.
JOHN MACDONALD,
_Adjutant-General_.
PREFACE.
The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend upon
the zeal and ardour, by which all who enter into its service are
animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that any
measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which alone
great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted.
Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable
object, than a full display of the noble deeds with which the
Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright
examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to incite
him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have preceded him
in their honourable career, are among the motives that have given
rise to the present publication.
The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the
'London Gazette,' from whence they are transferred into the public
prints: the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the
time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and
admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions,
the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on the
Commanders, and the Officers and Troops acting under their orders,
expressions of approbation and of thanks for their skill and bravery,
and these testimonials, confirmed by the high honour of their
Sovereign's Approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most
highly prizes.
It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which
appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies)
for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services
and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in
obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic account
of their origin and subsequent services.
This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His Majesty
having been pleased to command, that every Regiment shall in future
keep a full and ample record of its services at home and abroad.
From the materials thus collected, the country will henceforth
derive information as to the difficulties and privations which
chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In
Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to
the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and
where these pursuits have, for so long a period, been undisturbed
by the _presence of war_, which few other countries have escaped,
comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service,
and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the
British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or
no interval of repose.
In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the country
derives from the industry and the enterprise of the agriculturist
and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be supposed not often to
reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor,--on
their sufferings,--and on the sacrifice of valuable life, by which so
many national benefits are obtained and preserved.
The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endurance,
have shone conspicuously under great and trying difficulties; and
their character has been established in Continental warfare by the
irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in
spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and
steadiness with which they have maintained their advantages against
superior numbers.
In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample
justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the
Corps employed; but the details of their services, and of acts of
individual bravery, can only be fully given in the Annals of the
various Regiments.
These Records are now preparing for publication, under His Majesty's
special authority, by Mr. RICHARD CANNON, Principal Clerk of the
Adjutant-General's Office; and while the perusal of them cannot fail
to be useful and interesting to military men of every rank, it is
considered that they will also afford entertainment and information
to the general reader, particularly to those who may have served in
the Army, or who have relatives in the Service.
There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or are
serving, in the Army, an _Esprit de Corps_--an attachment to every
thing belonging to their Regiment; to such persons a narrative of
the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove interesting.
Authentic accounts of the actions of the great,--the valiant,--the
loyal, have always been of paramount interest with a brave and
civilised people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes who,
in moments of danger and terror, have stood, "firm as the rocks
of their native shore;" and when half the World has been arrayed
against them, they have fought the battles of their Country with
unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of achievements
in war,--victories so complete and surprising, gained by our
countrymen,--our brothers--our fellow-citizens in arms,--a record
which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant deeds
before us, will certainly prove acceptable to the public.
Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished
Officers, will be introduced in the Records of their respective
Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to
time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value and
importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth.
As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment will
be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall be
completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession.
INTRODUCTION.
The ancient Armies of England were composed of Horse and Foot; but
the feudal troops established by William the Conqueror in 1086,
consisted almost entirely of Horse. Under the feudal system, every
holder of land amounting to what was termed a "knight's fee," was
required to provide a charger, a coat of mail, a helmet, a shield,
and a lance, and to serve the Crown a period of forty days in each
year at his own expense; and the great landholders had to provide
armed men in proportion to the extent of their estates; consequently
the ranks of the feudal Cavalry were completed with men of property,
and the vassals and tenants of the great barons, who led their
dependents to the field in person.
In the succeeding reigns the Cavalry of the Army was composed of
Knights (or men at arms) and Hobiliers (or horsemen of inferior
degree); and the Infantry of spear and battle-axe men, cross-bowmen,
and archers. The Knights wore armour on every part of the body,
and their weapons were a lance, a sword, and a small dagger. The
Hobiliers were accoutred and armed for the light and less important
services of war, and were not considered qualified for a charge in
line. Mounted Archers[1] were also introduced, and the English nation
eventually became pre-eminent in the use of the bow.
About the time of Queen Mary the appellation of "_Men at Arms_"
was changed to that of "_Spears_ and _Launces_." The introduction
of fire-arms ultimately occasioned the lance to fall into disuse,
and the title of the Horsemen of the first degree was changed to
"_Cuirassiers_." The Cuirassiers were armed _cap-à-pié_, and their
weapons were a sword with a straight narrow blade and sharp point,
and a pair of large pistols, called petrenels; and the Hobiliers
carried carbines. The Infantry carried pikes, matchlocks, and swords.
The introduction of fire-arms occasioned the formation of regiments
armed and equipped as infantry, but mounted on small horses for the
sake of expedition of movement, and these were styled "_Dragoons_;"
a small portion of the military force of the kingdom, however,
consisted of this description of troops.
The formation of the present Army commenced after the Restoration
in 1660, with the establishment of regular corps of Horse and Foot;
the Horsemen were cuirassiers, but only wore armour on the head and
body; and the Foot were pikemen and musketeers. The arms which each
description of force carried, are described in the following extract
from the "Regulations of King Charles II.," dated 5th May, 1663:--
"Each Horseman to have for his defensive armes, back, breast, and
pot; and for his offensive armes, a sword, and a case of pistolls,
the barrels whereof are not to be und^r. foorteen inches in length;
and each Trooper of Our Guards to have a carbine, besides the
aforesaid armes. And the Foote to have each souldier a sword, and
each pikeman a pike of 16 foote long and not und^r.; and each
musqueteer a musquet, with a collar of bandaliers, the barrels of
which musquet to be about foor foote long, and to conteine a bullet,
foorteen of which shall weigh a pound weight[2]."
The ranks of the Troops of Horse were at this period composed of men
of some property--generally the sons of substantial yeomen: the young
men received as recruits provided their own horses, and they were
placed on a rate of pay sufficient to give them a respectable station
in society.
On the breaking out of the war with Holland, in the spring of 1672,
a Regiment of Dragoons was raised[3]; the Dragoons were placed on a
lower rate of pay than the Horse; and the Regiment was armed similar
to the Infantry, excepting that a limited number of the men carried
halberds instead of pikes, and the others muskets and bayonets; and a
few men in each Troop had pistols; as appears by a warrant dated the
2nd of April, 1672, of which the following is an extract:--
"CHARLES R.
"Our will and pleasure is, that a Regiment of Dragoones which
we have established and ordered to be raised, in twelve Troopes
of fourscore in each beside officers, who are to be under the
command of Our most deare and most intirely beloved Cousin Prince
Rupert, 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[4], 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[5]."
Several regiments of Horse and Dragoons were raised in the first year
of the reign of King James II.; and the horsemen carried a short
carbine[6] in addition to the sword and pair of pistols: and in a
Regulation dated the 21st of February, 1687, the arms of the Dragoons
at that period are commanded to be as follow:--
"The Dragoons to have snaphanse musquets, strapt, with bright barrels
of three foote eight inches long, cartouch-boxes, bayonetts, granado
pouches, bucketts, and hammer-hatchetts."
After several years' experience, little advantage was found to
accrue from having Cavalry Regiments formed almost exclusively for
engaging the enemy on foot; and, the Horse having laid aside their
armour, the arms and equipment of Horse and Dragoons were so nearly
assimilated, that there remained little distinction besides the name
and rate of pay. The introduction of improvements into the mounting,
arming, and equipment of Dragoons rendered them competent to the
performance of every description of service required of Cavalry;
and, while the long musket and bayonet were retained, to enable them
to act as Infantry, if necessary, they were found to be equally
efficient, and of equal value to the nation, as Cavalry, with the
Regiments of Horse.
In the several augmentations made to the regular Army after the
early part of the reign of Queen Anne, no new Regiments of Horse
were raised for permanent service; and in 1746 King George II.
reduced three of the old Regiments of Horse to the quality and pay of
Dragoons; at the same time, His Majesty gave them the title of First,
Second, and Third Regiments of _Dragoon Guards_: and in 1788 the
same alteration was made in the remaining four Regiments of Horse,
which then became the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Regiments of
_Dragoon Guards_.
At present there are only three Regiments which are styled _Horse_
in the British Army, namely, the two Regiments of Life Guards, and
the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, to whom cuirasses have recently
been restored. The other Cavalry Regiments consist of Dragoon Guards,
Heavy and Light Dragoons, Hussars, and Lancers; and although the long
musket and bayonet have been laid aside by the whole of the Cavalry,
and the Regiments are armed and equipped on the principle of the old
Horse (excepting the cuirass), they continue to be styled Dragoons.
The old Regiments of Horse formed a highly respectable and efficient
portion of the Army, and it is found, on perusing the histories of
the various campaigns in which they have been engaged, that they
have, on all occasions, maintained a high character for steadiness
and discipline, as well as for bravery in action. They were formerly
mounted on horses of superior weight and physical power, and few
troops could withstand a well-directed charge of the celebrated
British Horse. The records of these corps embrace a period of 150
years--a period eventful in history, and abounding in instances of
heroism displayed by the British troops when danger has threatened
the nation,--a period in which these Regiments have numbered in their
ranks men of loyalty, valour, and good conduct, worthy of imitation.
Since the Regiments of Horse were formed into Dragoon Guards,
additional improvements have been introduced into the constitution of
the several corps; and the superior description of horses now bred in
the United Kingdom enables the commanding officers to remount their
regiments with such excellent horses, that, whilst sufficient weight
has been retained for a powerful charge in line, a lightness has
been acquired which renders them available for every description of
service incident to modern warfare.
The orderly conduct of these Regiments in quarters has gained the
confidence and esteem of the respectable inhabitants of the various
parts of the United Kingdom in which they have been stationed; their
promptitude and alacrity in attending to the requisitions of the
magistrates in periods of excitement, and the temper, patience,
and forbearance which they have evinced when subjected to great
provocation, insult, and violence from the misguided populace, prove
the value of these troops to the Crown, and to the Government of the
country, and justify the reliance which is reposed on them.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] In the 14th year of the reign of Edward IV. a small force was
established in Ireland by Parliament, consisting of 120 Archers on
horseback, 40 Horsemen, and 40 Pages.
[2] Military Papers, State Paper Office.
[3] This Regiment was disbanded after the Peace in 1674.
[4] This appears to be the first introduction of _bayonets_ into the
English Army.
[5] State Paper Office.
[6] The first issue of carbines to the regular Horse appears to have
taken place in 1678; the Life Guards, however, carried carbines from
their formation in 1660.--Vide the 'Historical Record of the Life
Guards.'
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE FOURTH,
OR
ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOON GUARDS.
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1685;
AND OF
ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES TO 1838.
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES._
PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN, ORME, AND CO.,
PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON;
AND BY MESSRS. CLOWES AND SONS;
AND TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.
1839.
LONDON:
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS,
Stamford Street.
[Illustration: FOURTH OR ROYAL IRISH DRAGOON GUARDS.
_Madeley, lith. 3, Wellington St. Strand._]
CONTENTS.
Anno Page
1685 The Duke of Monmouth's rebellion 1
---- Six independent troops of horse raised 3
---- Constituted a regiment of _Cuirassiers_ --
---- Obtains rank as _Sixth Regiment of Horse_ 4
---- Arms and equipment --
---- Reviewed by King James II. 5
1686 Establishment, and names of officers 6
---- Reviewed by King James II. 7
1687 ----, and employed on the King's duty --
1688 The Revolution 8
1689 Accession of William III. 9
---- Employed on the King's duty 10
1690 Obtains rank as _Fifth Regiment of Horse_ 11
1691 Proceeds on foreign service 12
1692 Battle of Steenkirk --
1693 ---- Landen 13
1695 Covering the siege of Namur 15
1696 Attack on a French outpost 16
1697 Peace of Ryswick --
---- Returns to England 17
1698 Proceeds to Ireland --
1746 Styled _First Irish Horse_ 22
1751 Uniform, standards, &c. 23
1788 Reduced to the quality of Dragoons, and styled
_Fourth Dragoon Guards_ 31
---- Styled the _Fourth_, or _Royal Irish Dragoon Guards_ 33
1793 Proceeds to England 34
1795 Returns to Ireland --
1796 Disturbed state of Ireland 35
---- A French force arrives at Bantry Bay --
1797 Alterations in the equipment, &c. 36
1798 Rebellion in Ireland 37
---- Action at Naas --
---- ---- Prosperous and Carlow 38
---- ---- near Gorey 39
---- ---- at Ovidstown, Goff's Bridge, and Arklow 40
---- ---- Vinegar Hill 41
---- ---- Gore's Bridge and Kildare 43
1799 Proceeds to England 44
---- Horses' tails docked --
1800 Marches to Scotland --
1802 Returns to Ireland--Alteration in the clothing 45
1803 Bonaparte's threat of invading England --
---- Field officers released from the charge of troops 46
1804 Embarks for England --
1805 St. Patrick's fund established in the regiment 47
1806 Proceeds to Scotland--Returns to England --
1808 Riots at Manchester, &c. 48
---- Men's hair cut short, and powder discontinued 49
1809 Troop Quartermasters replaced by Troop Serjeant-Majors --
1810 Riots in the Coal districts --
1811 Six troops proceed to Portugal 50
1812 Covering the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo 51
---- ---- Badajoz --
---- Skirmish at Llerena 52
---- Advances to Madrid --
---- Retreats to Portugal --
1813 Returns to England 54
---- Regimental school established --
1814 Peace concluded--The establishment reduced 55
1814 Proceeds to Ireland --
1814 Alteration in the uniform 56
1815 War proclaimed--The establishment augmented --
---- Peace restored--The establishment reduced 57
1818 Embarks for England --
1819 Alteration in the uniform 58
1820 Riots at Wakefield and Sheffield 59
1821 Marches to Scotland --
1822 Embarks for Ireland 60
1826 ---- England 61
---- Riots at Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Lichfield --
1827 Alterations in the uniform 62
1830 Marches to Scotland 64
---- Lace changed from silver to gold --
1831 Riots at elections in Scotland --
1832 Embarks for Ireland 66
---- Riots in Ireland --
1834 Ditto 71
1835 Embarks for England, and stationed at Brighton 74
1837 Riots at elections in England 77
1838 Attends the coronation of Queen Victoria 78
---- Her Majesty approves of the regiment bearing the
_Harp_ and _Crown_, in addition to the _Star_ of
the Order of _St. Patrick_ 79
---- The conclusion --
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
Anno Page
1685 James Earl of Arran, K.T. 81
1688 Charles Earl of Selkirk 83
---- Charles Godfrey --
1693 Francis Langston 84
1713 George Jocelyn 85
1715 Sherrington Davenport 86
1719 Owen Wynne --
1732 Thomas Pearce 87
1739 James Lord Tyrawley 88
1743 John Brown 89
1762 James Johnston 90
1775 James Johnston --
1778 George Warde 92
1803 Miles Staveley --
1814 Sir Henry Fane, G.C.B. 93
1827 Sir George Anson, G.C.B. 94
PLATES.
The Standard of the Regiment to follow the regimental Title-page.
Colonel Francis Langston at the battle of Landen to face Page 14.
The Uniform in 1838 to face " 80.
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
FOURTH, OR ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOON GUARDS.
[Sidenote: 1685]
The Regiment, which forms the subject of the following memoir, is one
of the seventeen corps, now in the British army, which derive their
origin from the commotions in England during the first year of the
reign of King James II.
The origin of these commotions may be traced to the pernicious
councils adopted by King Charles I., which were followed by a flame
of puritanical zeal and of democratical fury and outrage in the
country, which deprived the monarch of life, and forced the royal
family to reside for several years in exile on the continent, where
King Charles II. and his brother, James Duke of York, imbibed the
doctrines of the Church of Rome. After the Restoration, in 1660, the
King concealed his religion from his Protestant subjects; but the
Duke of York openly avowed the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church,
which rendered him exceedingly unpopular. King Charles II. having
no legitimate issue, his eldest illegitimate son, JAMES DUKE OF
MONMOUTH, an officer of some merit, who had espoused the Protestant
cause with great warmth, and had become very popular, aspired to
the throne. In a few months after the accession of James II., this
nobleman arrived from Holland (11th June, 1685) with a band of armed
followers, and erecting his standard in the west of England, called
upon the people to aid him in gaining the sovereign power.
Although a deep feeling of anxiety was general in the kingdom at
this period, yet the King had declared his determination to support
the Protestant religion, as by law established, and his designs
against the constitution had not been manifested; hence loyalty to
the sovereign, a principle so genial to the innate feelings of the
British people, prevailed over every other consideration. A number
of Mendip miners and other disaffected persons joined the Duke of
Monmouth; but men of all ranks arrayed themselves under the banners
of royalty.
To officers and soldiers imbued with a laudable _esprit de corps_,
the particulars relating to the origin and services of their regiment
are of intense interest, and the circumstances which gave rise to
the formation of their corps are of themselves an era. To encourage
such feelings is one of the objects of the present undertaking,
and, although the general reader may think the narrative tedious,
the officers and men of the ROYAL IRISH DRAGOON GUARDS will feel
gratified at learning by whom, and where, each troop, of which their
regiment was originally composed, was raised. This information has
been procured from public documents, in which it is recorded that, in
the midst of the hostile preparations which the Duke of Monmouth's
rebellion occasioned in every part of the kingdom, a troop of horse
was raised by JAMES EARL OF ARRAN, eldest son of William Duke of
Hamilton, a nobleman distinguished alike for loyalty and attachment
to the Protestant religion; a second troop was raised, in the
vicinity of London, by Captain John Parker, Lieutenant of the Horse
Grenadier Guards attached to the King's Own troop of Life Guards (now
First Regiment of Life Guards); a third at Lichfield, by William
Baggott, Esq.; a fourth at Grantham, by Thomas Harrington, Esq.; a
fifth at Durham, by John Fetherstonhalgh, Esq.; and the sixth at
Morpeth, by William Ogle, Esq.; and that, after the decisive battle
of Sedgemoor had destroyed the hopes of the invader, these six troops
were ordered to march to the south of England, and were incorporated
into a regiment of CUIRASSIERS, which is now the FOURTH OR ROYAL
IRISH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS. The Colonelcy was conferred on
the EARL OF ARRAN, by commission, dated the 28th of July, 1685; the
Lieutenant-Colonelcy on Captain Charles Nedby,[7] from the Queen's
regiment of horse; and the commission of Major on Captain John Parker.
At the formation of this regiment it ranked as SIXTH HORSE, but was
distinguished by the name of its Colonel, the practice of using
numerical titles not having been introduced into the British army
until the reign of King George II. This corps being composed of the
sons of substantial yeomen and tradesmen, who provided their own
horses, it was held in high estimation in the country, and the men
were placed on a rate of pay (2_s._ 6_d._ per day) which gave them
a respectable station in society. Few nations in Europe possessed
a body of troops which could vie with the English horse in all the
qualities of good soldiers, and, in the reigns of King William III.
and Queen Anne, this _arme_ acquired a celebrity for gallantry and
good conduct; and these qualities, whether evinced by bravery in the
field, or by steadiness and temperate behaviour when their services
have been required on home duties, have proved their usefulness, and
have rendered them valuable corps during succeeding reigns.
The EARL OF ARRAN'S Regiment was armed and equipped, in common with
the other regiments of CUIRASSIERS, with long swords, a pair of long
pistols, and short carbines; the men wore hats, with broad brims
bound with narrow lace, turned up on one side, and ornamented with
ribands; large boots; and gauntlet gloves; their defensive armour was
steel cuirasses, and head-pieces. This regiment was distinguished
by white ribands, white linings to the coat, white waistcoats and
breeches, white horse-furniture, the carbine belts covered with
white cloth, and ornamented with lace, and the officers wore white
silk sashes;--each regiment had a distinguishing colour, which was
then called its _livery_, and which is now called _facing_, and the
distinguishing colour of the EARL OF ARRAN'S Regiment was WHITE.[8]
On their arrival in the south of England, ARRAN'S CUIRASSIERS
proceeded to the vicinity of Hounslow, and on the 20th of August
passed in review before King James II. and his court on the heath. In
order to make a display of his power and to overawe the disaffected
in the kingdom, His Majesty ordered an army of eight thousand men to
encamp on Hounslow Heath, of which this regiment formed a part; and
on the 22nd of August the King reviewed twenty squadrons of horse,
one of horse-grenadier guards, one of dragoons, and ten battalions of
foot on the heath. After the review ARRAN'S CUIRASSIERS marched into
quarters at Winchester and Andover, where they arrived on the 5th of
September.
[Sidenote: 1686]
In these quarters the regiment passed the succeeding winter; and on
the 1st of January, 1686, its establishment was fixed by a warrant
under the sign manual, from which the following is an extract:--
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
| THE EARL OF ARRAN'S REGIMENT OF HORSE. |
+-----------------------------------------------------+--------------+
| FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS. | Per Diem. |
+-----------------------------------------------------+----+----+----+
| | £. |_s._|_d._|
| The Colonel, _as Colonel_ | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel, _as Lieut.-Colonel_ | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| The Major (_who has no troop_), for himself, } | | | |
| horses, and servants } | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Adjutant | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Chaplain | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| Chirurgeon iv^s per day, and j horse to carry his } | | | |
| chest, ij^s per day } | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| A Kettle-Drummer to the Colonel's troop | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| +----+----+----+
| | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| +----+----+----+
| THE COLONEL'S TROOP. | | | |
| The Colonel, _as Captaine_, x^s per day, and ij } | | | |
| horses, each at ij^s per day } | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Lieutenant vi^s, and ij horses, each at ij^s | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Cornett v^s, and ij horses, each at ij^s | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Quarter-Master iv^s, and i horse, at ij^s | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Three Corporals, each at iij^s per day | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Two Trumpeters, each at ij^s viii^d | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Forty Private Soldiers, each at ij^s vi^d per day | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| +----+----+----+
| | 7 | 13 | 4 |
| FIVE TROOPS MORE, of the same numbers, and at the } | | | |
| same rates of pay as the Colonel's troop } | 38 | 6 | 8 |
| +----+----+----+
| TOTAL FOR THIS REGIMENT PER DIEM | 49 | 0 | 8 |
| +----+----+----+
| PER ANNUM £17|,897| 3 | 4 |
+-----------------------------------------------------+----+----+----+
At this period the following officers were holding commissions in the
regiment:--
_Troop._ _Captains._ _Lieutenants._ _Cornets._
1st Earl of Arran (Col.) Thos. Daliell Ch. Carterret
2nd Ch. Nedby (Lt.-Col.) Thos. Bagshaw Thos. Webster
3rd Wm. Baggott Rd. Fetherstonhalgh Mark Strother
4th Jno. Fetherstonhalgh Thos. Brackston Philip Lawson
5th Thos. Harrington Wm. Hall Jos. Ascough
6th Wm. Ogle Ar. Hepburn Surtes Swinburn
John Parker Major.
John Sharrall Chaplain.
Stephen Aston Adjutant.
Anthony Rouse Chirurgeon.
ARRAN'S CUIRASSIERS were called from their cantonments in Hampshire
in June, and again pitched their tents on Hounslow Heath, where they
were reviewed several times by the King; and afterwards marched
into quarters at Leicester, Ashby de la Zouch, Loughborough, and
Melton Mowbray; and while in these quarters their Lieutenant-Colonel
retired, and was succeeded by Major John Parker.
[Sidenote: 1687]
In the following summer they were withdrawn from Leicestershire,
and proceeding to the metropolis, occupied quarters for a short
time at Chelsea and Knightsbridge, from whence they proceeded to
Hounslow, and again pitched their tents on the heath. After having
been reviewed by the King, they marched (9th August) to Windsor and
adjacent villages, and furnished a guard for the royal family at
Windsor Castle; also a guard for the Princess Anne (afterwards Queen
Anne) at Hampton Court Palace, and one troop was stationed at London
to assist the Life Guards in their attendance on the Court.
On the 31st of August the regiment marched to London, and was
quartered in Holborn, Gray's Inn Lane, and the vicinity of
Smithfield, in order to take part in the duties of the court and
metropolis; and in September it furnished a detachment to protect a
large sum of money from London to Portsmouth.
[Sidenote: 1688]
Having been relieved from the King's duty, ARRAN'S CUIRASSIERS
marched to Richmond and adjacent villages in May, 1688; and in July
they once more encamped on Hounslow Heath. After taking part in
several reviews, mock-battles, and splendid military spectacles,
which were exhibited on the Heath by a numerous army, they proceeded
to Cambridge, Peterborough, and St. Ives, and afterwards to Ipswich,
where they were stationed a short time under Major-General Sir John
Lanier, but were suddenly ordered to march to London in the beginning
of November.
The circumstances in which the loyal officers and soldiers of
the King's army were placed were of a most painful character.
The King had been making rapid advances towards the subversion
of the established religion and laws of the kingdom; and loyalty
to the sovereign,--a distinguished feature in the character of
the British soldier, and the love of the best interests of their
native country,--which is inherent in men, were become so opposed
to each other, that it appeared necessary for one to be sacrificed.
ARRAN'S CUIRASSIERS were, however, spared this painful ordeal by the
circumstances which occurred. The King had resolved to remodel his
army in England by the dismissal of Protestants and the introduction
of Papists, as he had already done in Ireland; but the arrival
of the Prince of Orange, with a Dutch army to aid the English
nobility in opposing the proceedings of the Court, overturned the
King's measures. The loyalty and attachment to the King evinced by
the EARL OF ARRAN occasioned him to be promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General, and his regiment was considered one of the corps
on which dependence could be placed. It had completed an augmentation
of ten men per troop ordered in September, and was selected to remain
as a guard near the Queen and the infant Prince of Wales, who was
afterwards known as the Pretender: but a defection appearing in the
army, the infant Prince was sent to Portsmouth; and the regiment,
having been released from its duty of attendance on the Queen, was
ordered to march to Salisbury.
Many officers and soldiers joined the Prince of Orange, and amongst
others, Lord Churchill, Colonel of the third troop of Life Guards;
the King gave the Duke of Berwick the command of the third troop
of Life Guards; removed the EARL OF ARRAN to the Royal Regiment of
Horse Guards; and conferred the Colonelcy of the SIXTH HORSE on the
Earl's brother, CHARLES EARL OF SELKIRK, from Guidon and Major in the
fourth troop of Life Guards, his commission bearing date the 20th of
November, 1688.
The desertions which took place alarmed the King and Queen; Her
Majesty fled with the infant Prince to France, and was followed by
the King. The Prince of Orange assumed the reins of government, and
the EARL OF SELKIRK'S regiment was ordered to march to Stamford in
Lincolnshire.
On the 31st of December, 1688, the Prince of Orange conferred the
Colonelcy of the regiment on Colonel Charles Godfrey, who had
previously held a commission in the Duke of Monmouth's regiment of
horse.
[Sidenote: 1689]
The Prince and Princess of Orange having ascended the throne while
the regiment was quartered in Lincolnshire, it took part in the
solemnity of the proclamation of their Majesty's accession at
Stamford, on the 16th of February, 1689, on which occasion three
troops, with the trumpets and kettle drums, paraded the town, and,
'after firing several volleys, partook of a substantial repast,
with abundance of wine, and drank their Majesties' health amidst
reiterated acclamations.'
In the middle of March three troops proceeded to the Isle of Wight,
where 1500 Irish Roman Catholics were detained in the custody of a
military force. These men had entered the service of King James in
Ireland, and had been ordered to England to support the arbitrary
proceedings of the Court; at the Revolution they were deprived of
their arms and sent prisoners to the Isle of Wight, from whence they
were eventually transported to Hamburgh, to be disposed of in the
service of the Emperor of Germany.
Thirty men and horses of the regiment were transferred, in April, to
the Blues, to complete the establishment of that corps previous to
its embarkation for Holland.
During the summer three troops of the SIXTH HORSE were encamped on
Hounslow Heath. King William had reasons to suspect that several old
corps were not well affected towards his interests; but His Majesty
appears to have placed entire confidence in the attachment of the
officers and men of this regiment to his person and government; and
in August a strong detachment left the camp at Hounslow, to take part
in the duties of the Court and metropolis. The remainder of the three
troops of the SIXTH HORSE, encamped on the heath, proceeded into
quarters at Croydon and Mitcham; and in December, the three troops
in the Isle of Wight were removed to Salisbury.
[Sidenote: 1690]
The detachment having been relieved from the King's duty in London,
the regiment was removed in February, 1690, into quarters at Oxford
and Abingdon. In the following month it received orders to embark
for Ireland, to serve under King William, against the French and the
Irish Roman Catholics under King James. This order was, however,
countermanded, and when the King proceeded with three troops of
Life Guards to Ireland, this regiment marched into quarters in the
villages near London, in order to take part in the duties of the
Court. Having been relieved from this duty by the Fourth Horse (now
3rd Dragoon Guards), the regiment marched into quarters at Portsmouth
and Isle of Wight, and subsequently to Salisbury and Winchester.
During the winter, the Fifth Regiment of Horse[9] was disbanded in
Ireland; and the SIXTH HORSE obtained rank as FIFTH HORSE from this
period.
[Sidenote: 1691]
From Salisbury and Winchester the regiment, now taking rank as
FIFTH HORSE, was withdrawn in May, 1691, and proceeded to Hertford,
Dartford, and Romford, and one troop furnished the guard at Windsor
for the Queen Dowager, Catherine, consort of the late King Charles
II. In June one troop was in attendance on the Princess Anne at
Tunbridge; and in the autumn the regiment furnished a relay of
escorts to attend the King from Harwich to London, when His Majesty
returned from the Netherlands.
The conquest of Ireland having been achieved, the King was enabled
to augment his army in the Low Countries; and, soon after His
Majesty's arrival in England, GODFREY'S HORSE were selected to
proceed on foreign service. The regiment was, accordingly, embarked
in transports on the river Thames on the 27th of November, and sailed
on the following day. After its arrival in Flanders it went into
quarters at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1692]
In the spring of the following year, the FIFTH Regiment of Horse
took the field to serve its first campaign with the army under King
William III. in person, who was fighting for the preservation of
the Protestant religion and the balance of power in Europe, against
the forces of Louis XIV. of France. After several movements, King
William attacked the French army, commanded by Marshal Luxembourg,
at its position near _Steenkirk_, on the 24th of July, 1692. The
FIFTH HORSE supported the attacking column, and when the infantry
deployed, it drew up on the right skirts of a wood, through which the
main body of the army had to pass. The leading corps behaved with
signal gallantry, but were repulsed, and the main body of the army
was too far in the rear to give the required support. An immense body
of French cavalry menacing the British infantry, the FIFTH HORSE
were ordered to advance, and they succeeded in checking the enemy's
squadrons. Lord Mountjoy[10], a young nobleman of great promise, who
was serving as a volunteer, was killed by a cannon ball at the head
of the regiment. It soon afterwards received orders to retire, and
this movement was covered by a squadron of Horse Grenadier Guards.
The regiment was subsequently engaged in several movements, and in
the autumn it proceeded into winter-quarters.
[Sidenote: 1693]
Shortly after the battle of Steenkirk, the Princess Anne of Denmark's
regiment of horse,[11] which had lost many men and horses in the
action, was disbanded; and on the 7th of March, 1693, its Colonel,
Francis Langston, was appointed to the command of the FIFTH HORSE,
vice Colonel Charles Godfrey, who retired.
In the ensuing campaign the regiment was again engaged for several
weeks in marches, manœuvring, and occupying positions on the rich
plains of the Netherlands, to defeat the designs of the enemy; and
on the 19th of July it was engaged in the hard-contested battle of
_Landen_, where it had an opportunity of distinguishing itself. It
was formed, during the early part of the action, near the village
of Neer-Landen, to support the infantry on the left, and sustained
some loss from a heavy cannonade to which it was exposed. At length
Marshal Luxembourg, by means of an immense superiority of numbers,
carried the village of Neer-Winden, forced the position occupied by
his opponents, and his numerous cavalry overpowered the squadrons
in the right wing of the confederate army. King William instantly
ordered the English horse on the left to oppose the victorious
career of the enemy; and LANGSTON'S REGIMENT, galloping to the scene
of conflict, charged the French horsemen with signal gallantry.
The right squadron of this regiment, led by its Colonel, FRANCIS
LANGSTON, broke the French squadron to which it was opposed, and
made great slaughter; and the heroic LANGSTON, an officer remarkable
for prowess and valour, who had served against the Moors in Africa,
and at the battles of the Boyne, Aghrim, and Steenkirk, was seen
using his broadsword with terrible execution, but he was eventually
surrounded, severely wounded, and taken prisoner. Fresh squadrons of
French cavalry, flushed with the prospect of victory, renewed the
fight, and, notwithstanding the bravery evinced by the English horse,
superiority of numbers prevailed. King William ordered a retreat,
which, having to be made across bridges and by narrow defiles, was
not executed without much confusion and loss. His Majesty remained on
the ground until nearly surrounded by the enemy; but he was rescued
by a party of his Life Guards and a troop of Horse.
[Illustration: COLONEL FRANCIS LANGSTON, FIFTH HORSE
_At the Battle of Landen 19^{th} July, 1693_]
After retiring from the field, the regiment proceeded to Tirlemont;
it was subsequently engaged in several movements, and on the 5th of
August it was reviewed by King William, with the remainder of the
cavalry, near Wemmel. In November it marched into quarters at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1694]
Having been joined by a body of recruits and remount horses from
England, to replace the losses of the preceding campaign, the
regiment marched out of Ghent in May, 1694, to cantonments in the
villages between Brussels and Dendermond. The campaign of this year
was remarkable for the long and fatiguing marches performed by the
troops; but no general engagement occurred. After traversing Flanders
and Brabant in various directions, and experiencing much privation
from the country having so long been the seat of war, the regiment
returned to its former quarters.
[Sidenote: 1695]
The services of the regiment during the campaign of 1695 were limited
to covering the siege of _Namur_, one of the strongest fortresses
in Europe, and garrisoned by 15,000 men, commanded by a Marshal of
France (Boufflers). When the siege was formed, the regiment was
detached to graze the horses between Charleroi and Mons; it was
subsequently engaged in manœuvring to protect the besieging forces
from the attacks of the French army. In the beginning of August the
regiment was encamped at Waterloo, and subsequently in the immediate
vicinity of Namur. This fortress was eventually captured, and this
event was considered the brightest feature in King William's military
history, and one upon which he was often heard to declare his
satisfaction.
[Sidenote: 1696]
After passing the winter in Ghent, the regiment was brigaded with
the regiments of Lumley and Schomberg (now 1st and 7th Dragoon
Guards), and was reviewed by the King on the 30th of May, 1696, "and
made a very noble appearance." It served the campaign of this year
under the Prince of Vaudemont in Flanders; and was encamped--first at
Marykirk, and subsequently along the canal between Ghent and Bruges,
to protect these places, with Nieuport, and the other maritime
towns of Flanders, from the attacks of the enemy. A French army was
encamped on the opposite side of the canal, and several skirmishes
occurred, but no general engagement took place.
On the night of the 20th of September, Colonel Langston crossed the
canal with a squadron of this regiment and a party of dragoons, and
attacking one of the French outposts, defeated the guard and took
thirty prisoners. The Prince of Vaudemont reviewed the regiment a few
days after this event, and on the 5th of October it left the camp for
winter-quarters in Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1697]
The regiment having been selected to form part of the army of Brabant
during the campaign of 1697, it marched out of its winter-quarters in
the early part of May, and pitched its tents at St. Quintin Linneck
on the 16th of that month, and was formed in brigade with Leveson's,
Windham's, and Galway's regiments (2nd and 6th Dragoon Guards, and a
regiment of French Protestants.) It took part in several manœuvres,
and during the night of the 12th of June it retired with the army
through the forest of Soigne, and took post before Brussels, to
protect that city from a siege. The regiment was subsequently
encamped near Wavre, where it remained until peace was restored
by the Treaty of Ryswick[12], which was signed in September. It
afterwards marched to Ghent, and during the winter embarked for
England.
[Sidenote: 1698]
After its return from foreign service the regiment was quartered at
Northampton, Banbury, and Wellingborough; and, the House of Commons
having voted that only 10,000 regular troops should be kept in pay in
England, it was ordered, in February, 1698, to march to Highlake, in
Cheshire, and to embark for Ireland.
Having landed at Dublin on the 31st of March, the regiment was
placed on the Irish establishment, and the rates of pay of the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers were reduced; the troops in
Ireland being on a lower rate of pay than those in England.
[Sidenote: 1699]
The establishment of the regiment was fixed by a warrant under the
sign-manual, bearing date the 1st of May, 1699, at the following
numbers:--
Colonel, _as Colonel_, 12_s._; in lieu of servants, 3_s._ £0 15 0
Lieut.-Colonel, _as Lieut.-Colonel_ 0 8 0
Major, _as Major_ 0 5 6
Chaplain 0 6 8
Chirurgeon 0 4 0
Kettle-Drummer 0 2 6
_First Troop._
Captain, 10_s._; 2 horses, each 2_s._; in lieu of servants, 3_s._ 0 17 0
Lieutenants, 5_s._; do. 2_s._; do. 1_s._ 6_d._ 0 10 6
Cornet, 3_s._; do. 2_s._; do. 1_s._ 6_d._ 0 8 6
Quartermaster, for himself and horse 0 5 0
2 Corporals, each 2_s._ 6_d._ 0 5 0
1 Trumpeter, 2_s._ 6_d._ 0 2 6
36 Private Troopers, each 1_s._ 6_d._ 2 14 0
5 Troops more of the same numbers 25 12 6
--------
Total per day 32 16 8
--------
Per year £11,984 3 4
In the same year His Majesty issued an order--'That whatever regiment,
troop, or company shall be on duty in Dublin, there is to be allowed
unto each private horseman 3_d._ per diem, and to each private
foot soldier 1_d._ per diem, over and above what is otherwise
established[13].' The troopers of this regiment were the first to
derive the advantages given by this order, as they were on Dublin
duty at the time it was issued.
[Sidenote: 1701]
[Sidenote: 1702]