augmented, His Majesty was prepared to act offensively against
France; and in 1758 the _light troop_ of the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed
part of an expedition commanded by Charles, Duke of Marlborough,
which landed on the coast of Brittany and destroyed the French
shipping and magazines at _St. Maloes_. This troop was afterwards
engaged in a second expedition to the coast of France, commanded
by General Bligh, when a landing was effected in the Bay des
Marées, and _Cherbourg_ was taken: it was also engaged in the
second descent on the coast of Brittany.
[Sidenote: 1759]
[Sidenote: 1760]
On the 5th of April, 1759, the colonelcy, having become vacant
by the decease of General Hawley, was conferred on HENRY SEYMOUR
CONWAY, from the fourth Irish horse, now seventh dragoon guards. In
the same year the establishment of each of the six heavy troops was
augmented to sixty private men, and the light troop to eighty-nine;
making a total of five hundred and forty-four officers and men; and
in the following year the light troop was further augmented to four
officers, one quarter-master, four serjeants, four corporals, two
drummers, and one hundred and eighteen private men.
In the mean time a British army had proceeded to Germany,
and was serving in conjunction with the Hanoverian, Hessian,
and Brunswick troops, commanded by Prince Ferdinand, Duke of
Brunswick; and in the spring of 1760 the ROYAL DRAGOONS, commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel JAMES JOHNSTON,[49] embarked for foreign
service, and, having landed at Bremen, in Lower Saxony, on the 16th
and 17th of April, joined the army encamped near Fritzlar, in the
principality of Lower Hesse, on the 21st of that month. On the 22nd
they were reviewed by the Duke of Brunswick, who was pleased to
express his approbation of their appearance.
After much manœuvring and skirmishing, thirty thousand French
troops, commanded by the Chevalier de Muy, crossed the Dymel to
cut off the communication of the allied army with Westphalia. The
ROYAL DRAGOONS, with several other corps, were immediately sent
forward to Liebenau, under the command of the Hereditary Prince
of Brunswick, to secure the bridge across the Dymel; and being
followed by the main body, the Prince advanced to the vicinity of
_Warbourg_, and reconnoitred the French forces in position near
that place, whom he resolved to attack on the following day.
At daybreak on the morning of the 31st of July the ROYAL DRAGOONS,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel JAMES JOHNSTON, left their camp
on the heights of Corbeke, and making a detour through several
villages gained the left flank of the French army. Several other
corps having arrived at the same point, the attack was immediately
commenced, and after a sharp dispute the enemy gave way and retired
upon _Warbourg_, where he was again attacked and driven across
the Dymel with great loss. The ROYAL DRAGOONS encountered the
French cavalry corps of royal Piedmont, and acquitted themselves
with their accustomed gallantry. They afterwards charged a corps
of Swiss infantry (the regiment of Planta) with distinguished
bravery, broke its ranks, and after sabring many of the men took
twenty-one officers and two hundred soldiers prisoners: many of
the Swiss attempting to escape were drowned in the Dymel. Three
troops of the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed part of the force under the
Marquis of Granby, which pursued the enemy across the Dymel and
halted that night on the heights of Wilda: the other three, having
suffered severely in the attack on the Swiss infantry, remained
at Warbourg.[50] In a general order issued on the occasion,
Prince Ferdinand declared that "ALL THE BRITISH CAVALRY PERFORMED
PRODIGIES OF VALOUR."
The ROYAL DRAGOONS lost in this action eight men and twenty-one
horses killed; and twelve men and thirteen horses wounded.
The regiment was subsequently encamped on the banks of the Dymel,
and on the 1st of October was despatched towards the Lower Rhine,
forming part of a separate corps under the Hereditary Prince, which
invested _Wesel_, a town in the duchy of Cleves.
The enemy advanced in force to relieve the besieged, and encamped,
on the 14th of October, behind the convent of _Campen_. Immediately
after dark on the evening of the same day, the ROYAL DRAGOONS and
other corps advanced towards the enemy, the Hereditary Prince
designing to surprise him in the night; but it was found necessary
to dislodge a corps which occupied the convent of _Campen_, and
this occasioned some firing, which alarmed the French camp, and
the troops were immediately formed in order of battle.
The action commenced before daybreak, and a succession of attacks,
repulses, and charges were kept up until nine at night, in which
the ROYAL DRAGOONS took an active part, and they are reported to
have "behaved extremely well." Two pieces of cannon and a pair of
colours were captured; but at length the Prince perceived that it
was impossible to drive the enemy out of a wood of which he had
possessed himself, and, the allied infantry having expended all
their ammunition, his Highness ordered a retreat.
The ROYAL DRAGOONS had eight men and ten horses killed;
Lieut.-Colonel Johnston, two men, and four horses, wounded; Captain
Wilson, Lieutenant Goldsworthy, Cornet Duffe, and twenty-five men,
taken prisoners. The regiment repassed the Rhine on the 18th of
October, and was cantoned in the principality of Hesse, where the
officers received orders to wear mourning for his late Majesty King
George II.
[Sidenote: 1761]
In February, 1761, the regiment was engaged in an incursion into
the French cantonments, and took part in several skirmishes with
the enemy. In the spring a remount joined from England.
After much manœuvring, the allied army took post in Prussian
Westphalia, on the rivers Asse and Lippe, and the ROYAL DRAGOONS
were encamped on the heights between Illingen and Hohenover.[51] On
the 15th of July the enemy attacked the troops under the Marquis
of Granby at _Kirch Denkern_, when the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched
across the Asse by the bridge at Hans Hohenover, and advanced to
support the corps attacked. After a sharp action the enemy was
repulsed with loss. The fire of the skirmishers was, however, kept
up throughout the night, and on the following morning the enemy
renewed the engagement with great fury. During this day the ROYAL
DRAGOONS were posted near Vellinghausen, and, when the enemy's
columns of attack were repulsed, advanced to charge, but were
prevented by the hedges and marshy hollows which intersected the
country. They were subsequently employed in military operations on
the Dymel, and afterwards marched into the electorate of Hanover,
and were engaged in a skirmish near _Eimbeck_ in the early part
of November. On the same night they marched through a heavy
snow to _Foorwohle_, where they encountered and drove back some
French cavalry. On the 9th of November they had another skirmish
at _Foorwohle_, and subsequently marched into quarters in East
Friesland.
[Sidenote: 1762]
The ROYAL DRAGOONS left their winter quarters in May, 1762, and
on the 18th of June joined the army encamped at Brackel, in the
bishopric of Paderborn, from whence they marched to the heights
of Tissel. The French army, commanded by Marshals d'Estrées and
Soubise, took post at _Groebenstien_, where Prince Ferdinand
resolved to attack them on the 24th of June, and the army was
ordered to move forward in several columns for that purpose.
Moving from their camp-ground at daybreak, the ROYAL DRAGOONS
passed the Dymel at Liebenau about four in the morning, and
advanced against the enemy's camp. The manœuvre was conducted with
such address, that the army was in presence of the French before
they had the least apprehension of an attack, and, being instantly
assaulted in front, flank, and rear, they retired in confusion,
leaving all their equipage behind them. The ROYAL DRAGOONS had
advanced against the enemy's front, and they were subsequently
employed in surrounding a division of the French army commanded by
General Stainville in the woods of _Wilhelmsthal_, where several
corps were made prisoners. The pursuit was continued, and the
French took refuge under the cannon of Cassel; the ROYAL DRAGOONS
then retired a few miles, and encamped near Holtzhausen.
During the remainder of the campaign the ROYAL DRAGOONS were
employed in operations on the Fulde, the Eder, and the Lahn, which
were attended with such signal success, that a considerable portion
of territory was wrested from the power of the enemy, and the
allies took Cassel.
These successes were followed by a treaty of peace, and the ROYAL
DRAGOONS proceeded into quarters in the bishopric of Munster.
At the close of the military operations of the year, when the
army marched into winter quarters, Colonel JAMES JOHNSTON, of the
ROYAL DRAGOONS, who had commanded the regiment since the 7th of
April, 1759, and during the campaign of 1762 had commanded the
brigade composed of the ROYALS and second dragoon guards, received
a most flattering mark of the approbation of the Hereditary Prince
of Brunswick (afterwards reigning Duke, who married Princess
Augusta, sister to George III.; he died of the wounds he received
at the battle of Jena in 1808), namely, a valuable gold snuff-box,
embellished with highly-chased military trophies, accompanied by an
autograph letter, of which the following is a copy:--
"_Munden_, ce 17 de Nov. 1762.
"Monsieur,
"Vous m'obligerez sensiblement en acceptant la babiole que je
joins ici, comme une marque de l'estime et de la considération
parfaite que je vous porte, et comme un souvenir d'un ami qui
jamais ne finera d'être,
"Monsieur,
"Votre très humble et très dévoué serviteur,
"CHARLES PR. HER. DE B.
"_A Mons. le Col. Johnston._"
[Sidenote: 1763]
During the winter shipping arrived from England to convey the
troops home. The ROYAL DRAGOONS commenced their march for
Williamstadt in February, 1763, and embarked at that port for
England. According to the official returns, the strength of the
regiment was fourteen officers, three hundred and twenty-nine men,
and four hundred and twenty-three horses, with twenty-four servants
and thirty-five women.
After their return from Germany the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered
to proceed to Scotland; at the same time the light troop was
disbanded, and the establishment was reduced to two hundred and
thirty-one officers and soldiers. Eight men per troop were equipped
as light dragoons, and mounted on small horses for skirmishing and
other light services; the remainder of the regiment was mounted on
large horses of superior weight and power.
[Sidenote: 1764]
In 1764 the regiment marched to South Britain; and an order was
received to remount with long-tailed horses. On the 9th of May
in the same year the colonelcy was conferred on HENRY EARL OF
PEMBROKE, who had recently distinguished himself in the campaigns
in Germany.
[Sidenote: 1766]
[Sidenote: 1767]
[Sidenote: 1768]
[Sidenote: 1769]
[Sidenote: 1770]
[Sidenote: 1771]
[Sidenote: 1772]
[Sidenote: 1773]
The six drummers borne on the establishment were, in 1766,
ordered to be replaced by trumpeters; and on the 4th of May in
the following year King George III. reviewed the regiment in Hyde
Park, and expressed his approbation of its appearance and high
state of discipline.[52] After the review it marched to the north
of England; and in 1769 was stationed in Scotland; but returned
to England in the following year, and, after occupying various
quarters in the southern and western counties, was again reviewed
by his Majesty on the 17th of May, 1773, on Finchley Common; and,
according to the journals of that period, its excellent condition
and correct manœuvring procured the approbation of the King, and
excited the admiration of the princes, noblemen, general officers,
and other spectators.
[Sidenote: 1774]
[Sidenote: 1775]
[Sidenote: 1777]
During the summer the ROYAL DRAGOONS again proceeded to the north,
and, after occupying quarters for a short period in Yorkshire,
marched to Scotland, where they were stationed during the summer of
1774; but returned to England in the succeeding year; and on the
24th of May, 1777, were reviewed in brigade with the second dragoon
guards, on Wimbledon Common, by the King, accompanied by several
of the young princes, and attended by a retinue of noblemen and
general officers.
[Sidenote: 1778]
Hostilities having commenced between Great Britain and the colonies
in North America, an augmentation was made in the strength of
the regular army; and in 1778 six serjeants, six corporals, and
one hundred and twenty-six private men were added to the ROYAL
DRAGOONS. During the summer they were encamped, with several other
corps, on Coxheath, near Maidstone, where they were reviewed by the
King.
[Sidenote: 1779]
In 1779 the men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS, equipped as light
dragoons, with the light troops of the third dragoon guards, and
sixth and eleventh dragoons, were incorporated into a regiment
which was numbered the twentieth light dragoons.[53] During the
summer the third dragoon guards, ROYALS, fifteenth, twentieth,
and twenty-first dragoons were encamped on Lexden Heath, near
Colchester.
[Sidenote: 1780]
[Sidenote: 1781]
[Sidenote: 1783]
During the great riots in London in 1780 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were
ordered to march thither. In the following year they proceeded to
Scotland; and at the termination of the American war, in 1783, the
establishment was reduced to two hundred and thirty-one officers
and soldiers.
[Sidenote: 1784]
[Sidenote: 1789]
[Sidenote: 1790]
[Sidenote: 1791]
The regiment left Scotland in 1784, and occupied various quarters
in the western and northern counties of England six years. On
the breaking out of the revolutionary proceedings in France, the
establishment was augmented nine men per troop, and in the spring
of 1790 the six troops proceeded to Scotland; they, however,
returned to England in the following year, and were employed in
suppressing riots at Birmingham.
[Sidenote: 1792]
[Sidenote: 1793]
A further augmentation was made to the establishment in 1792, and
again in the spring of 1793, when four troops were ordered to be
held in constant readiness for foreign service.
The enormities committed by the French republicans occasioned
another war; Holland was attacked; a body of British troops was
sent to assist the Dutch; and on the 10th of June, 1793, four
troops of the ROYAL DRAGOONS embarked for the Netherlands to join
the army commanded by his Royal Highness the Duke of York. After
landing at Ostend the four troops marched up the country, and
formed part of the force which drove a body of French from the
_Camp de Cæsar_, behind the Scheldt, on the 8th of August. The
ROYAL DRAGOONS were also with the covering army during the siege
of Dunkirk, and after the attempt on that place was abandoned, they
were employed in operations near the frontiers of Flanders, where
they had a sharp encounter with a corps of French cavalry on the
27th of October.
[Sidenote: 1794]
On the 28th of January, 1794, the colonelcy of the regiment, being
vacant by the decease of the Earl of Pembroke, was conferred on
Major-General PHILIP GOLDSWORTHY.
In April the four troops on foreign service were assembled with the
army near Cateau, and were engaged in the general attack made on
the enemy's positions at _Prémont_, &c. on the 17th of April, when
Captain-Lieutenant the Honourable Thomas Carlton, of the regiment,
was killed. The siege of Landrécies was immediately undertaken: the
ROYAL DRAGOONS formed part of the covering army, and on the 24th
of April were engaged in an affair with the enemy at _Villers en
Couché_, when the French lost twelve hundred men and three pieces
of cannon: the ROYALS had one man and two horses killed, and two
men and three horses wounded.
The ROYAL DRAGOONS had another opportunity of distinguishing
themselves on the 26th of April at _Cateau_. The enemy had marched
out of Cambray, and at daybreak attacked the British army. The Duke
of York detached the ROYALS and seven other cavalry regiments to
turn the left flank of the French army: this movement was attended
with the most brilliant success; the enemy was overthrown with
immense slaughter; the rout became general--cavalry and infantry,
mingled in promiscuous crowds, were scattered over the plains, and
the fugitives fell beneath the sabres of the British dragoons,
who captured the French commander, Lieut.-General Chapuy, and
thirty-five pieces of cannon. The Duke of York, in his account of
this action, observes, "THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE BRITISH CAVALRY HAS
BEEN BEYOND ALL PRAISE." The ROYAL DRAGOONS were among the corps
which were declared in general orders to have "ACQUIRED IMMORTAL
HONOUR." Their loss on this occasion was six men and twelve horses
killed; with Lieutenant Froom, two serjeants, eleven men, and
fourteen horses wounded.
After the capture of _Landrécies_ the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched to
the vicinity of _Tournay_, where they were again engaged with the
enemy on the 10th of May; and the Duke of York observed in his
public despatch, that the troops had "well supported the reputation
acquired on the 26th of last month." The loss of the ROYALS was
only two horses killed, and one man and three horses wounded.
The ROYALS were in reserve when the attack was made on the French
positions on the 17th of May. The army afterwards resumed its
post before _Tournay_, where it was attacked on the 22d of May by
General Pichegru with an immense force. The British heavy cavalry
had, it appears, become a terror to the enemy, for Brown, in his
Journal, observes (22d May), "A column of five or six thousand men
made its appearance towards our left, on which account the brigade
of guards and the British heavy cavalry remained ready for action
on their camp ground; but the French, observing our advantageous
situation, _and dreading the thought of meeting the British cavalry
a second time on an open plain_, thought proper not to approach."
Finally the French were repulsed at every point of attack, and
retreated in the evening.
At length the enemy defeated the Austrians, and brought forward
such immense numbers that the English army had no chance of
success: the Duke of York retreated, and the final evacuation of
Flanders followed.
In the mean time another squadron of the ROYALS embarked for
foreign service; but having been driven back by severe weather, the
officers and men were ordered to disembark and remain in England.
In July that part of the regiment which was in England marched
from Salisbury to Weymouth, in consequence of his Majesty visiting
that place; and in October, when the King returned to London, they
marched to Dorchester barracks.
During the winter the four troops on foreign service were exposed
to privations and inclement weather, which occasioned the death of
many men and horses. The winter was particularly severe, the Dutch
people were favourable to the French, and the British troops, in
their retreat through Holland during a hard frost and storms of
snow and sleet, were treated as enemies by the inhabitants; at
length the troops arrived in the duchy of Bremen, where they had
repose and kind treatment.
[Sidenote: 1795]
The ROYAL DRAGOONS were not engaged in any further hostilities on
the continent. During the summer of 1795 they were encamped on one
of the plains of Westphalia, and in the winter embarked for England.
[Sidenote: 1796]
Meanwhile, that part of the regiment which was on home service was
again employed on King's duty at Weymouth, during his Majesty's
stay at that place, and afterwards proceeded to Dorchester, where
the four troops returning from the continent arrived in January,
1796. In July of the same year the regiment encamped on Barham
Downs, near Weymouth, and in September marched into quarters at
Canterbury.
[Sidenote: 1797]
[Sidenote: 1798]
[Sidenote: 1799]
In October, 1797, the regiment marched for Birmingham and Coventry;
in July, 1798, for Exeter and Taunton; and in the following summer
proceeded to Radipole barracks, Weymouth; but marched from thence,
in November of the same year, for Salisbury, Warminster, &c.
In August, orders were received for the regiment to be mounted
on nag-tailed black horses;[54] and the horse's tails were
consequently cut.
[Sidenote: 1800]
During the summer of 1800 an encampment of about thirty thousand
men was formed on Swinley common, near Windsor; the ROYAL DRAGOONS
joined the camp in July; the troops were frequently exercised in
the presence of the royal family, and the King reviewed the several
corps previous to their departure. On the 11th of August the
regiment quitted the camp, and proceeded to Croydon barracks and
Epsom, with a squadron detached on coast duty in Sussex.
[Sidenote: 1801]
On the 7th of January, 1801, his Majesty conferred the colonelcy
of the regiment on Major-General THOMAS GARTH, in succession to
Lieut.-General Goldsworthy, deceased.
Towards the end of May the regiment marched to Canterbury, and
furnished numerous detachments on the revenue duty at the maritime
towns and villages on the coast of Kent, where they assisted in
making large seizures of smuggled goods, for which they received a
reward of upwards of one pound per man.
[Sidenote: 1802]
A treaty of peace with the French republic having been signed at
Amiens, a reduction of two troops was made in the establishment,
and the officers were placed on half-pay.
[Sidenote: 1803]
In July, 1802, four troops were ordered to Trowbridge to aid the
civil power in the suppression of riots. In October following the
regiment proceeded to Exeter and Taunton, with detached troops
on coast duty in Cornwall; and in April, 1803, it was removed to
Dorchester, Radipole, and Wareham barracks, from whence it marched
in July following to Arundel and Chichester. At the same time, the
war with France having recommenced, the establishment was augmented
from eight to ten troops.
[Sidenote: 1804]
A change of quarters took place in April, 1804, and the regiment
was stationed at Ipswich and Woodbridge; from whence it proceeded,
in November following, to Colchester, where it passed the winter.
[Sidenote: 1805]
[Sidenote: 1806]
The regiment quitted Colchester in April, 1805, and proceeded to
York, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Birmingham. In January, 1806, it
returned from the north, and was again stationed at Woodbridge;
and in March of the same year it once more proceeded northward,
and, on arriving in Scotland, its head-quarters were established at
Edinburgh, with detached troops at Dunbar, Haddington, and Perth,
having marched upwards of six hundred miles in three months.
[Sidenote: 1807]
[Sidenote: 1808]
Embarking from Scotland in January, 1807, the regiment proceeded
to Ireland, from which country it had been absent one hundred and
fifteen years; and on its arrival the head-quarters were stationed
at Dundalk, with detached troops at Belturbet, Lisburn, Monaghan,
Enniskillen, Sligo, and Londonderry. In June, 1808, it proceeded to
Dublin, with detached troops at Carlow and Athy.
In the mean time important events had transpired in the Peninsula.
Napoleon Buonaparte (whom the French had elevated to the throne)
had obtained possession of the kingdoms of Portugal and Spain by
treachery; had placed his brother Joseph on the throne of Spain,
and supported these usurpations by an immense French army. The
Spaniards and Portuguese, being impatient of the bondage into which
they were brought, made energetic struggles for liberty, and, a
British force proceeding to their aid, Portugal was delivered from
the power of Buonaparte. Lieut.-General Sir John Moore advanced
from Lisbon into Spain to aid the patriots; and the ROYAL DRAGOONS
were directed to proceed on foreign service to reinforce the army
in the Peninsula; but, on arriving at Cork for embarkation, news of
the result of Sir John Moore's expedition occasioned the order to
be countermanded.
[Sidenote: 1809]