TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
A superscript is denoted by ^x, for example und^r or iv^s.
Some minor changes are noted at the end of the book.
HISTORICAL RECORDS
OF THE
BRITISH ARMY.
PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE
ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
THE FIRST,
OR
THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS.
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 FIRST,
OR
THE ROYAL REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOONS;
CONTAINING
AN ACCOUNT OF ITS FORMATION
IN THE REIGN OF
KING CHARLES THE SECOND,
AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES TO 1839.
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES._
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN, ORME, AND CO.,
PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND BY MESSRS. CLOWES AND SONS,
14, CHARING CROSS;
AND TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.
1840.
LONDON:
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS,
Stamford-street.
[Illustration: Eagle and Colour of the 105th Regiment of French
Infantry, captured at Waterloo by the First, or Royal Dragoons,
18th June, 1815.]
THE FIRST
OR
THE ROYAL REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOONS
BEARS ON ITS GUIDONS,
AS A
REGIMENTAL BADGE,
AN
"EAGLE,"
WITH THE FOLLOWING HONORARY INSCRIPTIONS--
"PENINSULA"--"WATERLOO."
CONTENTS.
Anno Page
1661 A troop of HORSE raised for service at TANGIER,
and equipped as CUIRASSIERS 1
---- Proceeds to Africa 3
1663 Skirmishes with the Moors 4
1664 Captures a splendid Moorish standard --
1664}
to } Skirmishes with the Moors 5
1679}
1680 Three additional troops of Horse raised and sent to
Tangier --
---- A general engagement with the Moors 7
1683 The Tangier Horse constituted the ROYAL REGIMENT
OF DRAGOONS 8
1684 Establishment 9
---- Returns to England, and equipped as dragoons 11
---- Description of the standards--Names of officers 12
---- Royal warrant respecting the rank of the regiment 13
1685 Battle of Sedgemoor 15
1688 The Revolution 18
1689 Proceeds to Scotland 21
---- Embarks for Ireland 22
1690 Siege of Charlemont 23
---- Battle of the Boyne 24
---- Embarks for England--Returns to Ireland --
---- Skirmishes with the Rapparees 25
1691 Actions with the Irish 26
---- Siege of Limerick 27
1692 Embarks for England 29
1694 Proceeds to the Netherlands --
---- Skirmishes near the Mehaine 30
1695 Covering the siege of Namur 31
1697 Returns to England 32
1702 Proceeds to Holland 33
---- Covering the sieges of Venloo, Ruremonde, Stevenswaert,
and Liege 34
1703 Covering the siege of Bonn 34
---- Skirmish with a French piquet --
---- Covering the sieges of Huy and Limburg 35
---- Proceeds from Holland to Portugal --
1704 Services on the frontiers of Spain 36
1705 Capture of Valencia de Alcantara and Albuquerque 37
---- ---------- Barcelona 38
---- Relief of St. Mattheo 40
1706 Services in Catalonia and Valencia --
---- -------- during the siege of Barcelona by the French 43
---- Advances to Madrid 44
---- Returns to Valencia 45
1707 Services after the battle of Almanza 46
1709 Capture of Balaguer and Ager 47
1710 Battle of Almanara 48
---- Skirmish at Penalva 49
---- Battle of Saragossa --
---- Advances to Madrid--Disaster at Brihuega 51
1712 Returns to England 53
1715 Rebellion of the Earl of Mar--Affair at Preston 54
1719 Proceeds to Scotland--Returns to England 56
---- Detachment to Spain--Capture of Vigo, &c. --
1720 Prices of commissions 57
1735 Proceeds to Scotland 59
1737 Returns to England --
1742 Embarks for Flanders 60
1743 Battle of Dettingen 61
1745 --------- Fontenoy 63
---- Embarks for England 64
1751 Description of the clothing and guidons 65
1755 A light troop added 67
1758 Expedition to St. Maloes and Cherbourg 68
1760 Embarks for Germany --
---- Battle of Warbourg 69
---- --------- Campen 70
1761 --------- Kirch Denkern 72
---- Skirmishes at Eimbeck and Foorwohle --
1762 Battle of Groebenstien 73
1763 Returns to England 74
---- The light troop disbanded 75
---- Proceeds to Scotland --
1764 Returns to England 75
1766 Drummers replaced by trumpeters --
1769 Proceeds to Scotland --
1770 Returns to England --
1773 Proceeds to Scotland 76
1775 Returns to England --
1781 Proceeds to Scotland 77
1784 Returns to England --
1790 Proceeds to Scotland --
1791 Returns to England --
1793 Embarks for the Netherlands --
---- Action at the Camp de Cæsar --
1794 --------- Prémont 78
---- --------- Villers en Couché --
---- Battle of Cateau --
---- --------- Tournay 79
---- Retreats to Germany 80
1795 Returns to England 81
1806 Proceeds to Scotland 83
1807 Embarks for Ireland --
1809 ----------- Portugal 84
1810 Skirmishes at Frexadas and Alverca 86
---- Battle of Busaco --
---- Skirmishes at Pombal and Quinta de Torre 87
1811 ------------- Pecoloo, Pombal, Redinha, Casal
Nova, Foz d'Aronce, Sernadilla, and Alverca 88
---- Battle of Sabugal 90
---- Skirmish near Fort Conception --
---- Battle of Fuentes d'Onor --
---- Skirmish near Barba del Puerco 91
---- -------- during the retreat to Nave d'Aver 92
---- -------- at Aldea de Ponte 93
1812 Covering the sieges of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz 94
---- Skirmishes at Llera, Maguilla, &c. 95
---- Advances to Madrid--Retreats to Portugal 97
---- Skirmish at Arguilla --
1813 Battle of Vittoria 98
---- Blockade of Pampeluna 99
1814 Battle of Toulouse 100
---- Returns to England --
1815 Embarks for Flanders 101
---- Battle of Waterloo 102
1815 Advances to Madrid 109
1816 Returns to England 110
1817 Proceeds to Scotland 111
1818 Embarks for Ireland --
1820 Returns to England --
1824 Proceeds to Scotland 112
1825 Embarks for Ireland 113
1829 Returns to England --
1835 Embarks for Ireland 115
1839 Returns to England --
---- The conclusion --
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
1683 John Lord Churchill 117
1685 Edward Viscount Cornbury 122
1688 Robert Clifford --
---- Edward Viscount Cornbury --
1689 Anthony Hayford 123
1690 Edward Matthews --
1697 Thomas Lord Raby --
1715 Richard Lord Cobham 124
1721 Sir Charles Hotham, Bart. 126
1723 Humphrey Gore --
1739 Charles Duke of Marlborough 127
1740 Henry Hawley --
1759 Honourable Henry Seymour Conway 128
1764 Henry Earl of Pembroke 129
1794 Philip Goldsworthy 130
1801 Thomas Garth --
1829 Lord Edward Somerset 131
1836 Sir Frederick C. Ponsonby --
1837 Sir Hussey Vivian, Bart. 133
LIST OF PLATES.
The regimental guidons;--with the Eagle and Colour of the 105th
French Infantry Regiment, captured at Waterloo; to follow the
title-page.
The capture of a Moorish Standard at Tangier in 1664, to face
page 4.
The uniform of 1839 to face 116.
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF
THE FIRST,
OR
THE ROYAL REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOONS.
[Sidenote: 1661]
The anarchy, devastation, and bloodshed which had prevailed in
Britain during the rebellion and tyrannical usurpation of Cromwell,
having been succeeded by the restoration of monarchy,--the despotic
sway of sectarians and republicans put down by the establishment of
a regular government on constitutional principles,--and the army of
the commonwealth disbanded, King Charles II. directed his attention
to domestic concerns, and engaged in a matrimonial alliance with
Donna Catherina, Infanta of Portugal; and this event gave rise to
the formation of a troop of CUIRASSIERS, which was the nucleus of
the corps now bearing the distinguished title of THE ROYAL REGIMENT
OF DRAGOONS.
By the marriage treaty the ancient and once magnificent city of
TANGIER, in Africa, and the island of Bombay in the East Indies,
were ceded by the king of Portugal to the British crown; and,
with a sum equal to three hundred thousand pounds, constituted the
Infanta's dowry.
As the possession of the important fortress of TANGIER, with
its harbour and local advantages, appeared to open a new field
for commercial pursuits, and was expected to be followed by the
acquisition of extensive possessions in that part of the world,
four regiments of foot and a troop of horse were appointed
to garrison that fortress, and the EARL OF PETERBOROUGH was
constituted captain general, chief governor, and vice admiral of
that part of his Majesty's dominions.
Three of the regiments of foot, commanded by Sir Robert Harley, and
Colonels Fitzgerald and O'Farell, were withdrawn from the garrison
of Dunkirk, and were composed of men who had fought in the royal
cause during the civil war, and afterwards in the Netherlands. The
other regiment of foot, (now the second, or Queen's royal,) and
the troop of HORSE (now ROYAL DRAGOONS) were raised in England by
the Earl of Peterborough in the autumn of 1661, and were mustered,
the former on Putney Heath, and the latter in St. George's Fields,
Southwark, in October.[7]
The troop of HORSE consisted of three officers, one quarter-master,
four corporals, one trumpeter, and one hundred private men; the
ranks were completed with veterans of the civil war, who were armed
with cuirasses, iron head-pieces called potts, long swords, and
a pair of large pistols, to which a short carbine was afterwards
added: they were mounted on long-tailed horses of superior weight
and power, wore high boots reaching to the middle of the thigh, and
scarlet vests: the officers wore hats decorated with a profusion of
feathers; and both officers and men ornamented their horses' heads
and tails with large bunches of ribands. The officers of this troop
were,--
THE EARL OF PETERBOROUGH, Captain and Colonel.
ROBERT LEECH, Captain-Lieutenant.
JAMES MORDAUNT, Cornet.
The appearance and equipment of the officers and men were commended
in the ephemeral publications of that period. They embarked in the
middle of December, and in a letter to the Earl of Peterborough,
dated the 21st of December, the King observed: 'I desire you to
lett those honest men knowe who are along with you, y^t they
shall allwayes be in my particular care and protection as persons
y^t venture themselves in my service. And so, wishing you a good
voyage, I remain, &c., CHARLES R.'[8]
[Sidenote: 1662]
[Sidenote: 1663]
The troops arrived at Tangier in January, 1662, and a war
commencing soon afterwards between the British occupants of this
part of Africa and the Moors, frequent encounters occurred between
detachments of the garrison of Tangier and the barbarians, in which
the former had a decided superiority, and the English horsemen
became celebrated for gallant achievements.[9]
The veteran EARL OF TEVIOT, who was appointed governor of Tangier
in 1663, in succession to the Earl of Peterborough, occasionally
penetrated into the adjacent country at the head of a detachment of
horse, and many brilliant exploits were performed by the gallant
English troopers, among the rocks, in the woods, and on the plains
of this part of Africa, where they frequently surprised lurking
parties of Moors, and captured cattle and other booty. The Africans
were, however, expert horsemen, and fought with lance, sword, and
short fusils.
[Sidenote: 1664]
In February, 1664, a Moorish army, commanded by Gaylan, usurper
of Fez, appeared before Tangier to besiege the fortress. On the
1st of March the Earl of Teviot, observing a body of Moors, with a
splendid scarlet standard, stationed on an eminence near the city,
ordered the troop of HORSE to sally and bring in the standard. The
command was instantly obeyed; the brave troopers, led by Captain
WITHAM, issued from the city, traversed the intervening space with
signal intrepidity, routed the Moorish band, and captured the
standard, with which they returned in triumph to the fortress, and
erected it on the top of one of the towers, to the surprise and
chagrin of the Moorish chiefs, who, being posted at a distance with
the main body of their army, witnessed this brilliant exploit.
[Illustration: Capture of a Moorish Standard by the English Horse,
at Tangier, in 1664. Now 1st Royal Dragoons.
[To face page 4
]
On the 13th of March the English horsemen had a sharp encounter
with some of the enemy's best cavalry; and on the 27th, the Earl
of Teviot led them against a horde of Moorish lancers and foot
who were concealed in ambush, and the barbarians were routed and
pursued among the woods and broken grounds with great slaughter.
The English horsemen, however, suffered severely on the 4th of May
in the same year, when the governor, having been deceived by a
false report, advanced too far into the country, and was surprised
by a numerous band of Moors in ambush. A fearful slaughter
followed, and the EARL OF TEVIOT was numbered among the slain.
[Sidenote: 1665]
[Sidenote: 1666]
Frequent encounters took place in the subsequent years between
detached parties of British and Moors, and in this desultory
warfare the English horsemen preserved their high character.
Hostilities were occasionally terminated, and renewed after short
intervals of peace; and during the period of seventeen years the
garrison resisted, with firmness and success, every attempt of the
Moors against the city.
[Sidenote: 1679]
[Sidenote: 1680]
In 1679 a numerous army of Moors appeared before Tangier, and
destroyed two forts situate at a distance from the town. They
afterwards withdrew, but re-appeared in the spring of 1680, with
augmented numbers, and swarms of expert Moorish lancers, on light
and swift horses, hovered round the fortress and confined the
Christians within narrow limits. King Charles II. sent a battalion
of foot guards and sixteen companies of Dumbarton's (now first
royal) regiment, to reinforce the garrison, and issued commissions
for raising a regiment of foot (now the fourth, or the King's own)
and six troops of HORSE in England: at the same time arrangements
were made for procuring the service of three troops of Spanish
cavalry.
The six troops of English horse were raised by Major-General
the EARL OF OSSORY, Lieutenant-Colonel SIR JOHN LANIER,[10]
Captains ROBERT PULTENEY, JOHN COY,[11] CHARLES NEDBY, and THOMAS
LANGSTON:[12] the three last-named officers having been captains
in the Duke of Monmouth's regiment of horse, which was disbanded
only a few months before, their troops were speedily completed with
disciplined men who had served in that regiment; and the demand for
cavalry at Tangier being urgent, they were furnished with horses
and equipment from the life guards,[13] and arrived at Tangier in
the early part of September: at the same time the three troops of
Spanish horse arrived from Gibraltar.
The cavalry at Tangier now consisted of seven efficient troops of
cuirassiers, who were engaged in a sally on the 12th of September,
when the Moorish horsemen were driven from under the walls, and
several outworks were recovered from the barbarians. Another sally
was made on the 21st of the same month, and on the following day
the English cuirassiers had a sharp skirmish with the Moorish
lancers, and had eight men killed and twenty wounded. An attack
was made on the enemy's lines on the 24th of September, when the
governor, SIR PALMES FAIRBORNE, was mortally wounded.
On the 27th of September, the garrison, amounting to about 4000
men, issued from the fortress and attacked the Moorish army of
about 15,000 men in its intrenched camp with signal gallantry. So
eager were the troopers to engage their adversaries that a dispute
occurred between the English and Spanish horse, each claiming
the honour of charging first: the subject was referred to the
lieutenant-governor, Colonel Sackville, who gave the Spaniards the
precedence on this occasion, because they fought as auxiliaries.
The Moors, having a great superiority of numbers, stood their
ground resolutely for some time; and the thunder of cannon, the
roll of musketry, the clash of arms, the loud shouts of the
British, the cries of the Africans, produced an awful scene of
carnage and confusion. The English horse stood in column of troops
until the first intrenchment was carried, and a space levelled
for the cavalry to pass, when they filed through the aperture
and rushed at speed upon the dark masses of barbarians, who were
broken, trampled down, and pursued with a dreadful slaughter;
while the musketeers, pikemen, and grenadiers followed, shouting
as the dismayed Africans fell in succession beneath the sabres of
the English and Spanish troopers. Many of the Moors faced about
and confronted their pursuers; numerous single combats took place,
and the vicinity of the camp was covered with slain. Captain
NEDBY'S troop of English horse particularly distinguished itself,
and captured a splendid Moorish colour of curious workmanship. The
Spaniards also captured a colour, Dumbarton's Scots another, and
a fourth was taken by a battalion of marines and seamen from the
fleet.[14]
The Moorish legions, having been driven from before the town with
severe loss, this victory was followed by a treaty of peace, and
the troops of horse raised by the Earl of Ossory, Sir John Lanier,
and Robert Pulteney, not having left England, were disbanded.
[Sidenote: 1682]
[Sidenote: 1683]
The improved military system introduced among the Moors by European
renegades, having rendered it necessary to employ a much stronger
garrison at Tangier than formerly, the subject was brought before
parliament; but the question of a popish successor to the throne
was agitating the people, and no grant was voted. The king, being
unwilling to bear the expense of the fortifications and troops
without pecuniary aid from parliament, resolved to destroy the
works and mole, and to withdraw the garrison.
At this period the attention of King Charles II. was directed to
the improvement of his army; and, resolving to retain the Tangier
HORSE in his service, he commissioned Colonel JOHN CHURCHILL
(afterwards the great DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH) to raise a troop of
dragoons at St. Alban's and its vicinity; and VISCOUNT CORNBURY
(son of the Earl of Clarendon) to raise another troop of dragoons
at Hertford; and His Majesty constituted these two troops, with
the four troops of Tangier horse, a regiment, to which he gave the
distinguished title of THE KING'S OWN ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS:
the words "KING'S OWN" were, however, discontinued soon afterwards,
and the regiment was styled "THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS."[15]
The colonelcy was conferred on JOHN CHURCHILL, who was advanced to
the peerage of Scotland by the title of Baron Churchill of Aymouth;
and the lieutenant-colonelcy on VISCOUNT CORNBURY, by commission
dated the 19th of November, 1683.
[Sidenote: 1684]
The establishment was fixed by a warrant bearing date the 1st of
January, 1684, from which the following is an extract:--
"CHARLES R.
"CHARLES THE SECOND, by the Grace of God, King of England,
Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.
"OUR WILL AND PLEASURE IS, that this establishment of our
Guards, garrisons, and land forces within our Kingdom of
England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and
the Islands thereunto belonging, and of all other officers and
charges therein expressed, do commence on the 1st day of January,
1683-4, in the Thirty-Fifth year of our Reign."
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| HIS MAJESTY'S OWN ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS. |
+---------------------------------------------------+------------------+
| STAFF-OFFICERS. | Per Diem. |
+---------------------------------------------------+----+------+------+
| | £.| _s._ | _d._ |
| Colonel, _as Colonel_, xii^s, and iij horses } | | | |
| iij^s } | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Lieutenant-Colonel, _as Lieut.-Colonel_, vij^s, } | | | |
| and ij horses ij^s } | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Major, as Major v^s, and j horse j^s | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Chaplaine | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| | | | |
| Chirurgeon iv^s, and j horse to carry his chest,} | | | |
| ij^s } | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Adjutant iv^s, and for his horse j^s | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Quarter-Master and Marshal in one person iv^s, } | | | |
| his horse j^s } | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Gunsmith iv^s, and his servant i^s | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| +----+------+------+
| | 2 | 17 | 8 |
| +----+------+------+
| THE COLONEL'S TROOP. | | | |
| | | | |
| The Colonel, _as Captaine_, viii^s, and iij } | | | |
| horses iij^s. } | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Lieutenant iv^s, and ij horses ij^s | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Cornett iij^s, and ij horses ij^s | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Quarter-Master, for himself and horse | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Two Serjeants each j^s vi^d, and ij^s for horses | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Three Corporals each j^s, and iij^s for horses | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Two Drummers each j^s, and ij^s for horses | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Two Hautboys each i^s, and ij^s for horses | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| Fifty Soldiers each i^s vi^d for man and horse | 3 | 15 | 0 |
| +----+------+------+
| | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| +----+------+------+
| Five Troops more at the same rate | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| | | | |
| The Major to have no Troop, but instead thereof } | | | |
| the pay of a Captain xi^s, in lieu of servants} | | | |
| iii^s } | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| +----+------+------+
| Total | 39 | 11 | 8 |
| +----+------+------+
| TOTAL PER ANNUM £14,447 18_s._ 4_d._ | | | |
+---------------------------------------------------+----+------+------+
The four troops at Tangier arrived in England in February,
1684;[16] and, having returned their armour into store, the whole
were equipped as dragoons with long muskets and bayonets.[17]
The uniform of the regiment was scarlet lined with blue. The men
wore hats bound with silver lace, and ornamented with blue ribands,
having a metal headpiece fastened inside the crown; also high
boots: their horse furniture was made of scarlet cloth trimmed
with blue, with the King's cipher embroidered in yellow characters
on the housings and holster-caps. The drummers and hautboys were
clothed in splendid liveries, which (according to the War-Office
Records) cost upwards of 10_l._ per suit; and each troop was
furnished with a crimson standard or guidon, with the following
devices embroidered thereon, namely:--
On the standard of THE COLONEL'S TROOP,--the King's cipher and
crown.
THE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL'S TROOP,--the rays of the sun, proper,
crowned, issuing out of a cloud, proper: a badge used by the Black
Prince.
THE FIRST TROOP,--the top of a beacon crowned, or, with flames of
fire, proper: a badge of Henry V.
THE SECOND TROOP,--two ostrich feathers crowned, argent: a badge of
Henry VI.
THE THIRD TROOP,--a rose and pomegranate impaled, leaves and stalk
vert: a badge of Henry VII.
THE FOURTH TROOP,--a phœnix in flames, proper: a badge of Queen
Elizabeth's.[18]
The following officers were at this period holding commissions in
the regiment:--
TROOPS. CAPTAINS. LIEUTENANTS. CORNETS.
Colonel's. Lord Churchill Thos. Hussey Wm. Hussey
Lieut.-Col.'s Visc. Cornbury Charles Ward Piercy Roche
1st Troop. Alex. Mackenzie H. Wyndham[19] John Cole
2nd " Chas. Nedby John Williams George Clifford
3rd " John Coy Charles La Rue Wm. Stamford
4th " Thos. Langston F. Langston[20] Thos. Pownel
Hugh Sutherland Major
Thomas Crawley Adjutant
Henry Hawker Quarter-Master & Marshal
Theobald Churchill Chaplain
Peregrine Yewel Chirurgeon
THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS being constituted, generally,
of men of military experience and approved valour, appears to
have advanced, at once, into royal favour; and as soon as it was
regularly organized, it marched into quarters in the borough of
Southwark. On the 1st of October it was reviewed, with several
other corps, by King Charles II., accompanied by the Queen, the
Duke of York, and many distinguished personages, on Putney Heath;
and on the 13th of that month marched into quarters at Newbury,
Abingdon, and Hungerford. Shortly afterwards the following order
was issued relative to the regiment:--
'CHARLES R.
'For the preventing of all disputes that might arise concerning
the rank of OUR ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS, or of any other
regiment of Dragoons that shall be employed in Our service, We
have thought fit hereby to declare Our pleasure,
'That OUR ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS, and all other regiments
of Dragoons which may be employed in Our service, shall have
precedency both as HORSE and FOOT, as well in garrison as in the
field, and in all councils of war and other military occasions;
and the Colonels and Officers of the said regiments of Dragoons
shall command as officers of Horse and Foot, according to the
nature of the place where they shall be: that is to say, that in
the Field the said regiments shall take place as regiments of
Horse, and the officers shall command and do duty as officers of
Horse, according to the dates of their commissions; and that in
Garrison they shall command as Foot officers, and their regiment
take place amongst the Foot according to their respective
seniorities from the time they were raised.
'Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 30th day of October, in the
thirty-sixth year of Our reign (1684).
'By His Majesty's Command,
'SUNDERLAND.'
[Sidenote: 1685]
The decease of King Charles II. took place on the 6th of February,
1685; and on the evening of the same day, his successor (James
II.) commanded the ROYAL DRAGOONS to march into quarters in the
immediate vicinity of the metropolis. Previous to the coronation
they were furnished with new standards, and the drummers and
hautboys with new liveries.[21] The ceremonial of their Majesties'
coronation was conducted with extraordinary magnificence: but the
agitated state of the United Kingdom gave early indication of
approaching contests; and, towards the end of April, two troops
of the ROYAL DRAGOONS were despatched to Carlisle, and placed
under the command of the governor, Sir Christopher Musgrave,
for the purpose of assisting in the seizure of 'divers outlawed
and seditious persons, who, for the avoiding of Justice, have
fled from Scotland into the county of Cumberland and parts
adjacent.'[22] These troops arrived at Carlisle on the 10th of
May, and several persons were apprehended. In the middle of that
month an insurrection, headed by the EARL OF ARGYLE, broke out in
Scotland; and in June, JAMES DUKE OF MONMOUTH raised the standard
of rebellion in the west of England and proclaimed himself king.
The establishment of the ROYAL DRAGOONS was immediately augmented
to sixty men per troop: an independent troop of dragoons, raised
by Colonel STROTHER in 1683, was incorporated in the regiment; and
five troops of dragoons were raised in the vicinity of London by
RICHARD LEVESON, JOHN WILLIAMS, EDWARD LEA, FRANCIS RUSSEL, and
THOMAS HUSSEY, and added to the ROYAL DRAGOONS: the numbers were
thus increased to twelve troops, amounting to about nine hundred
officers and men.
Two troops of the regiment, with some other forces, were despatched
under Brigadier-General Lord Churchill against the rebels in the
west; and on the 19th of June two other troops marched for the
same destination under the orders of Lieutenant-General the Earl
of Feversham, who was appointed to the chief command of the King's
army. The royal forces having been united, the four troops of
dragoons were placed under the orders of Viscount Cornbury; and the
whole marched in pursuit of the rebels.
After several marches and skirmishes the Duke of Monmouth took post
at Bridgewater; and the Earl of Feversham, having sent a troop of
the ROYAL DRAGOONS, commanded by Captain Coy, to Lamport, to secure
that pass, and to gain intelligence in the event of the rebels
marching westward, advanced with the royal army to Weston (about
three miles from Bridgewater), where he arrived on Sunday, the 5th
of July. Having quartered the cavalry in the village, and ordered
the infantry to encamp on a plain fronting _Sedgemoor_, he sent a
party of life guards to patrole in the direction of Bristol, and
posted a piquet of fifty of the ROYAL DRAGOONS with a squadron
of the blues supported by one hundred men of the royal regiment
of foot, on the moor, in front of the camp. A guard of the ROYAL
DRAGOONS was also posted over the artillery, which consisted of
sixteen pieces, and was drawn up on the high road from Weston to
Bridgewater.
During the night the Duke of Monmouth marched out of Bridgewater
with the view of surprising the royal army; but the piquet in
advance gave the alarm, and after exchanging a few shots with the
rebels, retreated to the camp, and formed on the right of the
infantry; at the same time the remainder of the ROYAL DRAGOONS,
being aroused in their quarters in the village of Weston, turned
out in the dark in good order, and formed on the left of the foot.
The rebels commenced the attack with loud shouts,--the contest
became general along the whole line,--and the moor sparkled with
fire. The rebel horse soon gave way and fled in disorder; but their
infantry stood firm and fought with great resolution. Day at length
began to break; and the King's foot advancing to the charge, whilst
the ROYAL DRAGOONS and other cavalry attacked the flanks of the
rebels and put them in disorder, their whole line then gave way and
fled in confusion, and were pursued across the moor and adjoining
corn-fields with great slaughter. Two troops of the ROYAL DRAGOONS
continued the pursuit as far as Bridgewater, where they were
ordered to halt by the Earl of Feversham.
In the mean time Captain Russel's troop of the ROYAL DRAGOONS had
been attached to three Scots regiments of foot, which had recently
arrived from Holland under the command of Major-General Mackay,
and ordered to join the army in the west; but, on the news of
Monmouth's defeat at Sedgemoor, these forces were directed to halt
at Bagshot; the ROYAL DRAGOONS were subsequently dispersed in small
parties into the adjoining counties to seize suspected persons; the
Scots regiments returned to Hounslow, and, after encamping a short
time on the heath, re-embarked for Holland.
One troop of the ROYAL DRAGOONS was ordered to Winchester to escort
the Duke of Monmouth and other prisoners to London; on its arrival
this troop was quartered in the Borough of Southwark, and it was
under arms when the Duke was beheaded on Tower Hill on the 15th of
July. Two other troops were ordered to Salisbury to mount guard
over the prisoners there, and were subsequently directed to attend
Judge Jeffries during the trial and execution of the captured
rebels; in which painful service the troopers were spectators of
numerous acts of barbarity perpetrated by the remorseless Judge,
who sacrificed the lives of upwards of two hundred persons in these
"bloody assizes," as historians have denominated them.
After the suppression of this rebellion the establishment of the
ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS was reduced to eight troops, of forty
private men per troop; and the supernumerary troops were embodied
into a regiment of dragoons, which was commanded by the Duke of
Somerset, and is now the third light dragoons.
On the 1st of August Lord Churchill was appointed colonel of the
third troop of life guards, and the colonelcy of the ROYAL DRAGOONS
was conferred on Lieutenant-Colonel Viscount Cornbury. The two
troops of the regiment having returned from Carlisle, the whole
were stationed in London in October, and subsequently marched into
quarters in Devonshire.
[Sidenote: 1686]
[Sidenote: 1687]
[Sidenote: 1688]