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 FIFTH,
OR
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S 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 pike-men 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 match-locke
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 FIFTH,
OR
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOON GUARDS:
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF
THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT
IN 1685;
WITH ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES
TO 1838.
ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES.
LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN, ORME, AND CO.,
PATERNOSTER ROW;
W. CLOWES AND SONS, 14, CHARING CROSS;
AND TO BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.
1839.
Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street.
CONTENTS.
Anno Page
1685 Formation of the Regiment 1
---- Equipped as Cuirassiers, and obtained rank as
_Seventh Horse_ 3
---- Reviewed by King James II. 4
1686 First Establishment 5
---- Names of Officers 6
---- Reviewed on Hounslow Heath --
1688 The Revolution 7
1689 Proceeds to Ireland 9
---- Siege of Carrickfergus --
1690 Battle of the Boyne 11
---- Siege of Limerick 12
1691 Skirmish near Brewsterfield --
---- Second Siege of Limerick 13
1692 Returns to England --
1693 Performs Court Duty 14
1694 Proceeds to the Netherlands --
1695 Covering the Siege of Namur --
1697 Skirmish near Enghien 15
1698 Returns to England 16
1700 Proceeds to Ireland --
1702 Three Troops return to England, and proceed to
Holland 17
---- Covering the Sieges of Venloo, Ruremonde,
Stevenswaert, and Liege --
1703 Skirmish near Haneff; and covering the Sieges of
Huy and Limburg 18
1704 Three Troops from Ireland to Holland --
---- Battle of Schellenberg 19
---- -------- Blenheim 20
---- Covering the Siege of Laudan 21
1705 Forcing the French Lines at Helixem and Neer-Hespen --
1706 Battle of Ramilies 24
---- Sieges of Antwerp and Dendermond 25
1708 Battle of Oudenarde 26
---- Siege of Lisle, and Action at Wynendale 27
1709 Covering the Siege of Tournay 28
---- Battle of Malplaquet --
---- Covering the Siege of Mons 29
1710 -------------------- Douay, Bethune, Aire, and
St. Venant --
1711 Forcing the French Lines at Arleux --
---- Covering the Siege of Bouchain 30
---- Skirmish near Wavrechin 31
1712 Covering the Siege of Quesnoy 33
1714 Proceeds to Ireland 34
1717 Facings changed from Buff to Full Green 35
1746 Styled the _Second Irish Horse_ 37
1751 Description of the Clothing and Standards --
1788 Title changed to _Fifth Dragoon Guards_ 40
1793 Proceeds to Flanders 42
1794 Action at Prêmont --
---- Covering the Siege of Landrécies --
---- Battle of Cateau 43
---- Action near Tournay 44
---- Retreat through Holland to Germany 45
1795 Embarks for England --
1796 Proceeds to Ireland --
1798 Rebellion in Ireland 46
---- Actions at Arklow, Ballycarnen, and Gorey --
---- ---------- Vinegar Hill and White Hills 47
---- Skirmish near Prosperous --
---- Action at Ballinamuck 48
1799 Returns to England 48
1804 Styled the _Fifth, or Princess Charlotte of Wales's
Regiment of Dragoon Guards_ --
1805 Proceeds to Ireland 49
1808 Returns to England --
1811 Reviewed by the Prince Regent --
---- Embarks for Portugal 50
1812 Covering the Siege of Badajoz 51
---- Action at Llerena --
---- Battle of Salamanca 56
---- Skirmish at Alba de Tormes 60
---- Advances to Madrid 62
---- Covering the Siege of Burgos --
---- Retreats to Portugal 63
1813 Advances into Spain 65
---- Battle of Vittoria --
1814 Advances through the Pyrenees into France 67
---- Action near Tarbes --
---- Battle of Toulouse 68
---- Returns to England 69
1816 Proceeds to Ireland 73
1817 Proceeds to Scotland, and from thence to England --
1821 Returns to Scotland, and embarks for Ireland 74
1825 Embarks for Scotland 75
1826 Proceeds to England --
1830 Reviewed by King William IV. at Windsor 76
1831 Embarks for Ireland 77
1834 Returns to England --
1835 Proceeds to Scotland --
1836 Returns to England --
1838 The Conclusion 78
SUCCESSION OF COLONELS.
Anno Page
1685 Charles Earl of Shrewsbury 79
1687 Marmaduke Lord Langdale 81
---- Richard Hamilton 82
1688 John Coy 83
1697 Charles Earl of Arran 84
1703 William Cadogan 85
1712 George Kellum 87
1717 Robert Napier 88
1740 Charles Neville 89
1744 Richard Viscount Cobham --
1745 Thomas Wentworth 90
1747 Thomas Bligh 91
1758 Hon. John Waldegrave 92
1760 Hon. John Fitz-William --
1789 John Douglas 93
1790 Thomas Bland --
1816 Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg 94
1831 Sir John Slade, Bart. 99
PLATES.
The Standard of the Regiment to precede 1
The Capture of the Bavarian Standards at the forcing of
the French Lines in 1705 to face 24
The Fifth Dragoon Guards at the Battle of Salamanca to face 60
THE FIFTH,
OR
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOON GUARDS,
BEARS UPON ITS STANDARDS
THE MOTTO
"_VESTIGIA NULLA RETRORSUM_;"
AND THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTIONS:
"SALAMANCA," "VITTORIA," "TOULOUSE," "PENINSULA."
[Illustration: FIFTH (THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S) REGIMENT
OF DRAGOON GUARDS.]
HISTORICAL RECORD
OF THE
FIFTH,
OR
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT
OF
DRAGOON GUARDS.
[Sidenote: 1685]
In the early periods of the history of this country a standing army
was unknown; but as the kingdom increased in arts, sciences, and
manufactures, and as national institutions, established upon sound
principles, assumed an important character, a regularly organized
military force was found necessary to protect the interests of
society, and to guard colonial possessions; and when the other
nations of Europe have from time to time augmented their standing
armies, it has been found necessary to make similar additions
to the regular force of Great Britain. After the Restoration in
1660, the army of the Commonwealth was disbanded, and a body of
household troops, with a few garrison companies, were considered
sufficient; but the acquisition of additional possessions, the
ambitious designs of foreign potentates, and internal commotions in
the kingdom, have occasioned numerous additions to be made to the
regular army. It was one of the last mentioned causes, which, in
the year 1685, gave rise to the formation of the corps which is the
subject of this memoir, and which now bears the title of the FIFTH,
OR PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS.
A difference in religious views and opinions has often occasioned
long and sanguinary wars; and the accession of a Roman Catholic
Prince (James II.) to the throne of Great Britain, was an event so
little congenial to the feelings of a Protestant people, that James
Duke of Monmouth (natural son of King Charles II.) was induced,
by the persuasions of men who were disaffected to the existing
government, to make a daring attempt to dethrone his uncle, and to
gain the sovereignty of the kingdom.
This event occurring at a time when the first feelings of alarm
at the appearance of a Papist on the throne had subsided, and
before the King had made any serious attack on the constitution or
established religion, the people were not prepared to throw off
their allegiance to their sovereign; consequently, while a few
thousands of disaffected persons joined the standard of rebellion,
much greater numbers arrayed themselves under the banners of
royalty. Many noblemen and gentlemen exerted themselves in raising
forces for the King; and it is stated in the public records, that
a number of the respectable yeomen and others who volunteered
their services in the royal cause, were incorporated into a troop
of horse by Charles Earl of Shrewsbury, at Litchfield; another
troop of horse was raised by Francis Lord Brudenel, at Kingston
upon Thames; a third by Sir Thomas Grosvenor, at Chester; a fourth
by Roger Pope, Esq., in the vicinity of Bridgnorth; a fifth by
Mr. Francis Spalding, at Bristol; and a sixth by the Honourable
John D'Arcy, (guidon of the second troop, now second regiment of
Life Guards,) in London. These formed part of an extensive body
of troops raised in a few weeks; but the rebellion was suppressed
by the old corps which the King had in his service, without the
aid of the new levies. His Majesty, however, looking forward to
the commotions which would probably follow the execution of the
attacks he was urged by his jesuitical councillors to make on the
established religion and laws, resolved to retain a considerable
portion of the newly-raised forces in his service; and these six
troops of horse were, on the 29th of July, 1685, constituted a
regiment of CUIRASSIERS, of which the EARL OF SHREWSBURY was
appointed Colonel, the Honourable John D'Arcy Lieutenant-Colonel,
and John Skelton, Esq., Major. This regiment ranked at that period
as SEVENTH HORSE; and is now the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS.
The uniform and equipment of this corps, like that of the other
regiments of horse, were hats, long scarlet coats, jacked-leather
boots, cuirasses, iron head pieces, swords, pair of pistols, and
short carbines. Each corps had a distinguishing colour, then called
its regimental _livery_, and now styled its _facing_, and the
distinguishing colour of SHREWSBURY'S CUIRASSIERS was _buff_; the
men had their coats lined with buff shalloon, and their waistcoats,
breeches, ribands in their hats, and horse furniture, were of the
same colour.
Soon after its formation the regiment marched into quarters near
Hounslow, and experienced officers were appointed to teach the men
the established military exercises; they formed two squadrons,
three troops in a squadron; but each troop had a standard of
buff-silk damask; and these loyal cavaliers, being mounted on
strong horses, had not only a warlike appearance, but they were
well calculated for a charge in line where weight and physical
power were necessary. The Cuirassiers had succeeded the ancient
Lancers (or Launces), formerly the highest class of military
force in Europe, and celebrated for valour, prowess, and feats
of chivalry. The Lancers were armed _cap à pié_, but the lance
having, to a great extent, been laid aside before the middle of
the seventeenth century, helmets, and armour on the limbs, were
also discontinued soon afterwards. The regiments of Horse, having
succeeded the ancient Lancers, were held in high estimation; and in
the succeeding reigns they acquired great celebrity.
After having been twice reviewed by King James II. on Hounslow
Heath, the regiment marched into quarters in Warwickshire, where it
passed several months.
The King, having acquired some practical knowledge of military
service in the civil war in France, and in the Netherlands, under
Marshals Turenne and the Prince of Condé, established several
useful regulations for the preservation of order and discipline
in his army; two experienced officers, Sir John Lanier and Sir
John Fenwick, were appointed Inspecting Generals of Cavalry; and
the first half-yearly inspection of this regiment was made by
Brigadier-General Sir John Fenwick, of the Life Guards, in its
quarters in Warwickshire.
[Sidenote: 1686]
While in these quarters, its establishment was fixed, by a royal
warrant dated the 1st of January, 1686, at the following numbers:--
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| THE EARL OF SHREWSBURY'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 |
|Chaplaine | 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 |
|Lievtenant 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_s._ 4_d._ | | | |
+-----------------------------------------------------+---+-----+-----+
The following officers were at this period holding commissions in
the regiment:--
+------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------------+
|Troop.| Captains. | Lieutenants. | Cornets. |
+------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------------+
| 1st. | Earl of Shrewsbury (Col.)| John Grosvenor | George Kellum. |
| 2d. | John Coy, (Lieut.-Col.) | James Bringfield| Hon. W. Brudenel.|
| 3d. | Sir Thomas Grosvenor | Henry Grosvenor | James Williamson.|
| 4th. | Roger Pope | Thomas Griffiths| Guy Forster. |
| 5th. | Francis Spalding | Thomas Doughty | William Rowley. |
| 6th. | Charles Orme | Thomas Manning | Ralph Pope. |
+------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------------+
| John Skelton Major. |
| Samuel Bowles Chaplain. |
| James Arden Surgeon. |
| George Briscoe Adjutant. |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
The EARL OF SHREWSBURY'S CUIRASSIERS were withdrawn from their
country quarters in the summer of this year, and were encamped
with other forces on Hounslow Heath; where they were practised in
military evolutions, under the direction of Lieutenant-Generals the
Earls of Craven, Feversham, and Dumbarton; and were several times
reviewed by King James II.: in August they struck their tents and
marched to Buckingham and Wendover.
[Sidenote: 1687]
The King, being surrounded by Roman Catholic priests, soon gave
indication of his designs against the reformed religion; the
Earl of Shrewsbury, who was a stanch Protestant, resigned his
commission, and afterwards proceeded to Holland and joined the
Prince of Orange, to whom the nation began to look for deliverance
from popish tyranny. His Majesty appointed, in January, 1687,
Marmaduke Lord Langdale, to the Colonelcy of the regiment, who
was succeeded in the following month by the HONOURABLE RICHARD
HAMILTON, a Roman Catholic officer, from the Colonelcy of a
regiment of dragoons in Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1688]
From this period until that great national event, the Revolution in
1688, few circumstances occurred, in which Hamilton's regiment was
particularly concerned, worthy of being recorded in this memoir. It
was encamped on Hounslow Heath in the summer of 1687, and also in
that of 1688; and its Colonel being a Papist, the attempt made by
the King to introduce officers and soldiers of that religion into
the army, would, doubtless, meet with no obstruction in this corps.
The majority of the officers and men were, however, firmly attached
to the Protestant cause.
The King had raised and equipped a fine army for the purpose of
making it subservient to his insidious designs; but the troops
proved faithful to the interests of their country and religion,
and an association of officers was secretly formed at the camp
on Hounslow Heath, in favour of the Prince of Orange, who was
preparing an army to invade England and to rescue the kingdom from
the power of the Papists.
Information having been received of the designs of the Prince of
Orange, HAMILTON'S CUIRASSIERS were ordered to Ipswich, where
the Earl of Arran's regiment (now Fourth Dragoon Guards), and
the Queen's (now Third) Dragoons, commanded by Colonel Alexander
Cannon, were assembled under the orders of Major-General Sir John
Lanier, to preserve Landguard Fort, and to prevent the Prince
landing there; and two regiments of horse and one of dragoons were
stationed at Colchester to support this force, if necessary. Sir
John Lanier is stated by King James, in his memoirs, to have been
one of the associated officers, and to have resolved to seize on
the Earl of Arran, and Colonels Hamilton and Cannon, and to have
joined the Prince with the three regiments; but this arrangement,
in which King James states, in his memoirs, most of the officers
had agreed to co-operate, was rendered void by his Highness landing
at Torbay.
HAMILTON'S CUIRASSIERS were afterwards ordered to march to the
metropolis, and from thence to Salisbury; but a general defection
appearing in the army, the King fled to France; the Prince of
Orange ordered the regiment to march to Fenny Stratford, and its
Colonel, the Honourable Richard Hamilton, was confined in the Tower
of London, for holding a commission for which he was disqualified
by law, he being a Papist.
On the 31st of December, 1688, the Prince of Orange conferred the
Colonelcy of the regiment on the Lieutenant-Colonel, John Coy; and
during the eight succeeding years it bore the title of COY'S HORSE,
or CUIRASSIERS.
All the Papists having been dismissed, the regiment received a
draft of one hundred men and horses from the Marquis of Miremont's
regiment of horse,--a corps which had been recently raised, and was
now disbanded.
[Sidenote: 1689]
These events were followed by the accession of William and Mary,
the Prince and Princess of Orange, to the throne; and the first
duty in which the regiment was called upon to engage under the new
dynasty, was the patrolling of the public roads to prevent highway
robberies, which, owing to the commotions recently experienced in
society, had become very frequent. It also furnished a detachment
to protect the King's herd of deer in the Forest of Dean against
the depredations of organized bands of deer-stealers.
From these duties COY'S HORSE were soon relieved to engage in
military operations in Ireland, which country had become the
theatre of intestine war. The Papists were in arms in favour of
King James, who had arrived in Ireland with a body of troops
from France; and, following that system of cruelty which has
invariably been practised when religion has been the subject of
contention, the hapless Protestants, being the weaker party, had
been made to feel the full weight of Catholic vengeance. Many of
the Protestants, particularly in Inniskilling and Londonderry, had
taken arms. King William sent a body of troops under Duke Schomberg
to their aid, and COY'S HORSE embarked at Highlake, in Cheshire, in
the middle of August, 1689, for the same service.
After landing at Belfast, the regiment was employed in covering
the siege of _Carrickfergus_, and had its post in the lines before
the town. This place having surrendered on the 28th of August,
a detachment of the regiment, commanded by Captain Sir William
Russel, escorted the garrison, consisting of two regiments of
foot, "all stout fellows, but ill clothed," the first stage
from the town; and such cruelties had been practised by the
Papists, that, according to Story, who was an eye-witness, the
troopers experienced some difficulty in preserving the Catholic
soldiers from being torn to pieces by the country people, who were
stimulated to revenge by the remembrance of past injuries.
The regiment afterwards advanced with the army towards Newry, where
a party of the enemy was assembled, who, on the approach of the
English, set fire to the town, and retreated over the mountains to
Dundalk. The English passed the mountains on the following day,
when the enemy quitted Dundalk and retired to Atherdee, where the
main body of King James's army was assembled.
Marshal Duke Schomberg, finding Dundalk to be a strong situation,
with a convenient harbour for obtaining supplies from England,
and knowing that the enemy's army was more than double his own in
numbers, formed an intrenched camp, where he resolved to continue
during the remainder of the campaign; but the ground where the
troops were encamped being low, and the weather proving wet, this
injudicious choice of situation proved so fatal to his army, that
the infantry corps lost half their men from disease. COY'S HORSE
remained at Dundalk upwards of a month, and afterwards proceeded
to Carlingford for the convenience of forage. During the winter,
detached parties had frequent encounters with the bands of armed
Papists who prowled the country, committing every description of
outrage; and an out-guard of the regiment, posted in the pass of
Newry, was sharply engaged with a party of the enemy, who attempted
to force the pass, but were repulsed with loss, the gallant English
Cuirassiers proving more than a match for their antagonists.
[Sidenote: 1690]
In June, 1690, King William arrived in Ireland to command the army
in person, and the regiment was now called upon to serve under the
eye of its sovereign. This circumstance is said to have given rise
to a laudable feeling of emulation in all ranks of the army, and
the troopers longed for an opportunity to distinguish themselves in
presence of their King. The desired opportunity soon occurred; the
King, advancing up to the banks of the _Boyne_, found the enemy in
position on the opposite side of the river, and the troops prepared
for battle. This regiment was with His Majesty on the evening
preceding the battle, while reconnoitring the enemy's position, and
was exposed to a cannonade, on which occasion the King was wounded
in the shoulder, and the regiment had three men and nine horses
killed.
Early on the 1st of July, as the rays of morning-light shed their
lustre on the camp, the English and Dutch troops appeared in
motion, every man displaying a green branch in his hat; and soon
the columns were seen advancing towards the Boyne, their glittering
arms, waving plumes, and floating banners, exhibiting all the pomp
of war: the French and Irish stood to their arms and prepared to
defend their post. COY'S HORSE, forming part of the cavalry of the
right wing, were in the column which forded the river near Slane
Bridge; some opposition was made by a regiment of Irish dragoons,
which was attacked, and its commanding officer and about 70 men
killed. After passing the river, the troops advanced through large
corn-fields, crossed several deep ditches, and overcoming every
obstacle with an ardour which bespoke the valour and confidence
which glowed in every breast, the enemy's left wing was dismayed
and retreated towards Duleck. COY'S HORSE were amongst the
squadrons which galloped forward in pursuit, and charging the Irish
foot, cut them down with a great slaughter. While these events were
transpiring on the right, King William passed the river with the
main body of his forces: the enemy was overpowered at every point,
and His Majesty stood triumphant on the field of battle. King James
fled to Dublin, and afterwards to France, and was followed by the
French troops; but the Irish Papists resolved to maintain his cause
to the last extremity.
COY'S HORSE advanced with King William to Dublin, and were
afterwards with the army before _Limerick_, during the unsuccessful
siege of that place, when His Majesty returned to England, the
regiment went into quarters near Cork.
[Sidenote: 1691]
In the depth of the winter an incursion into the enemy's
cantonments was resolved upon; and the regiment having joined
the forces selected for that service, advanced, on the 31st of
December, into the county of Kerry. On arriving near Brewsterfield,
the van-guard, consisting of a troop of this regiment and one of
Eppinger's Dragoons, encountered a party of 160 of the enemy's
cavalry. COY'S HORSE and the dragoons instantly drew their swords,
and advanced to charge their opponents, who fled in a panic.
Continuing its route, the detachment took a number of prisoners,
also drove seven troops of Irish horse and twenty-one of dragoons
from Tralee, and afterwards returned to its quarters.
When the army took the field in the summer of 1691, COY'S HORSE
were left in dispersed quarters in the county of Cork to overawe
the disaffected, and to check the depredations of the bands of
Papists, whose proceedings were very injurious to the Protestants;
the regiment was, consequently, not at the battle of Aghrim, but it
afterwards joined the army near _Limerick_, and was employed in the
siege of that place.
On the 16th of September, a squadron of the regiment, with a strong
party of dragoons and infantry, crossed the Shannon by a pontoon
bridge before break of day, surprised and defeated a body of the
enemy, and captured a standard; also surprised the troops in the
camp near the town, and forced them to make a precipitate flight
to the mountains. On the 24th of the same month, a cessation of
hostilities took place, which ended in a treaty, and the authority
of King James was extinguished in Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1692]
[Sidenote: 1693]
The regiment, having thus performed its part in reducing Ireland to
submission to the authority of King William, embarked at Belfast
in the beginning of 1692, and after its arrival in England it
was quartered at Huntingdon, Chester, and St. Ives; from whence
it proceeded to the vicinity of London, and, for a short time,
assisted the Life Guards in performing the escort duty for the
royal family. It was, however, allowed but a short period of home
service before it was called upon to take the field against a
foreign enemy.
King William was engaged in a war to restrain the ambitious designs
of Louis XIV. of France, who sought to become the dictator of
Europe and the destroyer of the reformed religion. After the severe
loss sustained by the confederates at the battle of Landen, in
1693, the British monarch gave orders for Colonel Coy to proceed
with his regiment of horse to the Netherlands, and to join the army
in that country.
[Sidenote: 1694]
On its arrival in Flanders, the regiment was placed in quarters at
Ghent; from whence it marched to Tirlemont, and, joining the army
commanded by King William in person, took part in the operations of
the long and toilsome campaign of 1694, but was not engaged in any
action of importance.
[Sidenote: 1695]
In the following year the regiment formed part of the covering army
during the siege of the strong and important fortress of _Namur_,
which was superintended by King William in person. Two magnificent
armies confronted each other, and manœuvred, the one to prevent,
and the other to ensure, the capture of this strong fortress; and
it was eventually taken by the forces commanded by His Britannic
Majesty. About a month after the surrender of the castle of Namur,
the regiment marched into quarters at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1696]
King William reviewed the regiment near Ghent, in May, 1696, and
expressed his approbation of its appearance. During this summer
it formed part of the army of Flanders, under the orders of the
veteran Prince of Vaudemont, and was encamped for several months on
the canal between Ghent and Bruges, and its services were limited
to defensive measures for the preservation of these two places, and
the maritime towns of Flanders from the attacks of the enemy. On
the 4th of October, the regiment returned to its former station at
Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1697]
From Ghent the regiment marched in May, 1697, to join the army of
Brabant, and was encamped a short time at St. Quintin Linneck.
The French besieged the town of Aeth; and a body of troops was
sent out, under Brigadier-General Lumley, to make a reconnoissance
towards _Enghien_, with the view of attacking the French army
and raising the siege. A detachment of COY'S HORSE, commanded by
Sir William Russel, formed the advance-guard on this occasion;
and when on the march, he encountered a party of French hussars,
carabiniers, and dragoons. Upon notice of the approach of the
enemy, the main body of the British force concealed itself in the
wood, and formed an ambush; and the advance-guard retiring, the
French advanced boldly forward, and were nearly every man killed or
taken prisoner.
The design of relieving Aeth was afterwards laid aside; King
William retired, and subsequently took up a position before
Brussels.
Colonel John Coy having obtained His Majesty's permission to
dispose of the Colonelcy of the regiment to CHARLES EARL OF
ARRAN,[7] brother of the Duke of Ormond, his lordship was appointed
to the regiment on the 1st of July, 1697; and during the succeeding
five years it was styled ARRAN'S HORSE.
King William, after waging war for the good of Europe a period of
nine years, had the satisfaction of seeing his endeavours succeeded
by a treaty of peace, which was signed at Ryswick in September of
this year.
[Sidenote: 1698]
Shortly after this event, ARRAN'S HORSE were ordered to return to
England, where they arrived in January, 1698, and were quartered at
Coventry, Daventry, and Towcester.
[Sidenote: 1699]
[Sidenote: 1700]
The army in England having been reduced by the House of Commons to
the low establishment of seven thousand men, King William was under
the necessity of disbanding several corps, and of sending others to
Ireland. This regiment was one of the corps selected to proceed to
Ireland, where it arrived in the summer of 1700, and its numbers
were reduced to thirty-six private men per troop.
[Sidenote: 1701]
The repose granted to Europe by the treaty of Ryswick was, however,
of short duration. Louis XIV. of France, procured the accession
of his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, to the throne of Spain; this
virtual union of two powerful states, rekindled the flame of war;
and the EARL OF ARRAN'S regiment was one of the cavalry corps
ordered to be augmented to fifty-seven private men per troop, and
held in readiness to proceed on foreign service; but so great was
the difficulty experienced in raising an army of sufficient numbers
to meet the exigence of the nation on this sudden emergency, that
only three troops of the regiment could, in the first instance, be
spared from Ireland.
[Sidenote: 1702]
These three troops landed at Highlake, in Cheshire, in the
beginning of March, 1702, and marching to London, embarked in
transports on the river Thames in the beginning of April, and
sailed for Holland.