the regiment the distinguished title of THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE
OF WALES'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, in honour of Her Royal
Highness the Princess Charlotte Carolina Augusta, daughter of
George William Frederick Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.),
by Carolina Amelia Elizabeth, second daughter of the Duke of
Brunswick Wolfenbuttel. The Princess Charlotte of Wales exhibited
in her early life a most amiable disposition with excellent traits
of character, and, being considered as the future sovereign of
Great Britain, the nation saw in her qualities calculated to adorn
the throne, and to make a great and civilized people happy; hence,
the conferring of Her Royal Highness's title on the regiment, was
considered a special mark of His Majesty's favour and approbation.
[Sidenote: 1805]
[Sidenote: 1808]
The regiment proceeded to Ireland in 1805, and remained in that
country until the summer of 1808, when it returned to England.
[Sidenote: 1811]
On the 8th of July, 1811, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
who was Regent of the United Kingdom during the indisposition
of King George III., reviewed the regiment on Wimbledon common,
on which occasion it was commanded by its Colonel, the veteran
General Thomas Bland, and the Prince Regent was graciously pleased
to express his approbation of its appearance, and of the rapidity
and brilliant execution of its movements; and as the regiment was
about to proceed on foreign service, the most lively anticipations
of its achievements at the theatre of war were produced. It was
not, at this period, mounted on horses of so heavy a description as
formerly; but, while it bore the title of a heavy cavalry regiment,
and retained sufficient weight for a powerful charge in line, it
had acquired a lightness which rendered it available for every
description of service. The heavy cavalry corps which formerly
constituted so important a portion of the armies of England, had
been improved in efficiency and usefulness by mounting them on
horses of a lighter description.
The occasion of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS proceeding abroad at this
period, was the attempt made by that tyrannical power which had
risen out of the French revolution, of which Napoleon Bonaparte had
become the head, to subjugate the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal:
the inhabitants of those countries were in arms against the
usurper; a British force commanded by Lord Wellington had been sent
to their aid; and this regiment was one of the corps selected to
reinforce the army under his lordship's command.
Six troops of this regiment, amounting to five hundred and
forty-four officers and men, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel the
Honourable William Ponsonby, embarked at Portsmouth on the 12th
of August, and having landed at Lisbon on the 4th of September,
occupied quarters at Belem about six weeks, and afterwards advanced
up the country. When the army went into quarters for the winter,
the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS were stationed at Thomar.
[Sidenote: 1812]
The army resumed operations in the beginning of January, 1812,
with the siege and capture of Ciudad Rodrigo: and in March the
FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS proceeded into the south of Spain to watch the
movements of Marshal Soult, and to cover the siege of _Badajoz_.
The regiment arrived, with the remainder of its brigade (the Third
and Fourth Dragoons), at Borba, in the Alentejo, on the 5th of
March, crossed the Guadiana on the 15th, and formed the van of the
covering army until it arrived at the foot of an extensive chain
of mountains called the Sierra Morena. On the advance of Marshal
Soult, the covering army retired upon Albuhera. The fortress of
_Badajoz_ was captured by storm on the 6th of April; and in a few
days afterwards the regiment had an opportunity of distinguishing
itself in action with the enemy. A large body of cavalry advanced
upon _Llerena_; the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS marched on the 10th of
April to Los Santos, and continued their route during the night
to Bienvenida,--proceeding a distance of sixty miles without
halting, and the last four miles at a brisk pace, through a country
abounding with obstructions; then forming with celerity, advanced
through a grove of olive-trees, beyond which a body of French
cavalry, of more than thrice the numbers of the regiment, was
formed up. The sight of so numerous an enemy did not intimidate
the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS; but acted as a spur to their energies,
and excited them to exertions which evinced their native valour
and intrepidity, and occasioned them to rival the deeds of their
predecessors in the field of glory. The fatigues of the previous
march were forgotten, and the gallant troopers charged with such
spirit and resolution, that the French squadrons were broken, and
being also attacked by the light brigade, they retired in disorder
under cover of their infantry and artillery, leaving behind about
one hundred killed and wounded, and one lieutenant-colonel, two
captains, one lieutenant, and one hundred and forty men prisoners,
also nearly one hundred horses. Actions in which the numbers
engaged are not very great, do not produce, in their bearing on the
affairs of nations, very important results, hence they are often
overlooked, or but slightly noticed, by general historians; yet on
these occasions individual corps often distinguish themselves in an
eminent degree; and the excellent conduct of the British cavalry at
_Llerena_, elicited the following orders:--
"_Lafra, 12th April, 1812._
"CAVALRY ORDERS.
"Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton begs Major-General Le
Marchant and the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Ponsonby will
accept his best thanks, for the gallant and judicious manner in
which they commanded their brigades yesterday, and he requests
they will make known to the officers commanding regiments, the
lieutenant-general's high approbation of their conduct, as well
as of the zeal and attention displayed by all ranks. The order
which was preserved by the troops in pursuing the enemy, and
the quickness with which they formed after every attack, does
infinite credit to the commanding officers, and is a convincing
proof of the good discipline of the several regiments.
"The Lieutenant-General was very much satisfied with the conduct
of the Third and Fourth Dragoons, in supporting the Fifth Dragoon
Guards and Major-General Anson's brigade.
"To Lieutenant-Colonel Elley, Sir Stapleton's warmest thanks
are due, for the great assistance he derived from the zeal and
activity displayed by that officer; and the Lieutenant-General
begs that Captain White and Captain Baron Deckan will accept his
acknowledgments for the assistance they afforded him yesterday.
Sir Stapleton Cotton has only to assure the cavalry that their
gallant and regular conduct yesterday has made him, if possible,
more proud than ever of the high command entrusted to him.
"STAPLETON COTTON,
"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL."
"_Olivenza, 15th April, 1812._
"BRIGADE ORDERS.
"Major-General Le Marchant has great satisfaction in conveying
to his brigade the approbation and thanks of Lieutenant-General
Sir Stapleton Cotton commanding the cavalry, for their gallant
conduct near Llerena on the 11th instant.
"Whilst the Major-General is perfectly satisfied with the zeal
shown by every individual of the brigade in the execution of his
duty on that occasion, he considers that _the charge made by
the_ FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS _deserves his particular admiration and
approval, and he requests that_ MAJOR PRESCOTT _and the officers
of that corps will accept his best thanks, as well for their
services as for the credit which their gallant conduct reflects
on the command which he has the honour to hold_.
"T. HUTCHINS,
"BRIGADE-MAJOR."
These orders were forwarded to the depôt of the regiment in
England, to be inserted in the records, accompanied by a letter, of
which the following is an extract:--
"_Crato, Portugal, 7th May, 1812._
"SIR,--I have great pleasure in communicating to you, by
direction of Colonel Ponsonby, the cavalry and brigade orders
issued on a late occasion, when the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS
attacked a very superior enemy, and forced him to retire with
the loss of about one hundred killed and wounded, besides one
lieutenant-colonel, two captains, one lieutenant, and one hundred
and forty men taken prisoners, with near one hundred horses.
This affair presents a pledge of the future good conduct of
the regiment whenever an opportunity again appears of meeting
the enemy, and must be peculiarly gratifying to you and to the
remainder of the corps at the depôt in England, to hear from such
undoubted authority, that the regiment still continues to support
that high character which it gained on many former glorious
occasions, and in our estimation this last is not the least:--the
regiment having, previous to the attack on three times its
numbers of the enemy's best cavalry, made a forced march of
upwards of sixty miles without halting,--four of the last of
which was at a very brisk pace, through a difficult country, over
rocks, ravines, and stone walls; then forming with unexampled
celerity, and charging with equal and regular rapidity through
a grove of olive-trees until it came in contact with the enemy,
who retired in great disorder under the cover of his infantry
and guns. Our loss in this brilliant affair was comparatively
trifling, as will be seen by the subjoined statement of the names
of the brave men who fell.
"W. JACKSON,
"ADJUTANT."
Thus the DRAGOON GUARDS of the nineteenth century are found
rivalling the celebrated heavy HORSE of the preceding ages. The
regiment lost, on this occasion, one corporal and fourteen private
men killed; Major Prescot, Lieutenant Walker, three serjeants, one
corporal, and twenty-one private men wounded.
A detachment of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS escorted the prisoners
captured on this occasion to the fortress of Elvas in Portugal. The
regiment afterwards marched to Crato.
Advancing from Crato into Spain, the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS took part
in the movements by which the French were driven from Salamanca,
and the forts at that city were besieged and captured.
After the capture of the forts, the regiment advanced upon Toro,
but was subsequently ordered to retire to Alaejos to support a body
of troops, under Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton, posted
on the Trabancos; and several retrograde movements followed, which
were succeeded by the battle of _Salamanca_. During the night
before this eventful day, while the regiment was dismounted, a
violent storm occurred. The thunder rolled with tremendous violence
over the heads of the men and horses; the lightning played in
sheets of fire and shed its blazing gleams upon the polished arms;
and the rain fell in torrents. One flash fell among the FIFTH
DRAGOON GUARDS; the terrified horses breaking loose galloped wildly
about in the dark, and every additional clap of thunder and blaze
of lightning augmented the confusion. Twenty men of the regiment
were trampled down and disabled, and several horses escaped into
the French lines.
On the morning of the memorable 22d of July, the FIFTH DRAGOON
GUARDS, commanded by Colonel the Honourable William Ponsonby, moved
from their bivouac and formed in the rear of the centre of the
position occupied by the allied army.
While the French commander was manœuvring, Lord Wellington took
advantage of an injudicious movement, and ordered his divisions
forward to attack their adversaries, when the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS
took ground to their right, passed the village of Arapiles, and
advancing in support of the third and fifth divisions, were
exposed to a heavy cannonade. The French army, being attacked
at the moment it was making a complicated evolution, was unable
to withstand the British forces; in a short time, a favourable
opportunity for a charge of the heavy cavalry occurred, and the
FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons, were ordered
to attack.[10] The bugles sounded; the brigade moved forward,
increasing its pace, with Major-General Le Marchant at its head,
and a most animated scene presented itself. The din of battle was
heard on every side; clouds of dust and rising columns of smoke
darkened the air, and enveloped the foaming squadrons as they
dashed forward and shook the ground with their trampling hoofs.
In front, the glittering bayonets and waving colours of French
infantry were dimly seen through the thickened atmosphere; these
formidable ranks of war were, in an instant, broken and overthrown
by the terrific charge of this brigade; the resolute troopers,
mingling with their discomfited antagonists, cut them down with
a dreadful carnage, while the British infantry raised shouts of
triumph and applause at the success of the cavalry, and numbers
of the enemy laid down their arms, and surrendered prisoners of
war. Major-General Le Marchant was shot through the body, which
terminated the career of that gallant and talented officer; the
command of the brigade devolved on the brave Colonel the Honourable
William Ponsonby of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and the officers
and men of the regiment, emulating the heroic fire and energy of
their favourite leader, performed deeds of valour worthy the high
character of their corps. Having subdued one body of infantry,
they continued their career through a wood in their front without
waiting to re-form their ranks; another formidable mass of fresh
adversaries presented itself; the undaunted heavy horsemen,
conscious of their power, flushed with success, stimulated to new
energies by seeing Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton and his
staff at their head, rushed forward with reckless fury; though
assailed by a volley of musketry, which proved fatal to many, the
survivors passed through the curling smoke, scarcely seeming to
touch the ground, and the next moment the French column was broken
with a dreadful crash. That mass of infantry, a moment before so
menacing and conspicuous, was become a confused rabble, while the
victorious troopers, exulting in uncontrollable might, trampled
down and plunged their horses through the enemy's ranks, sabring
their dismayed adversaries, and producing havoc and confusion on
every hand.[11] Five guns and more than two thousand prisoners
were captured, and a division of French infantry was destroyed;
two guns were seized by the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and sent to the
rear immediately after they broke through the enemy's ranks. Such
were the splendid results of this gallant and dreadful charge, in
which the weight, prowess, and daring impetuosity of the FIFTH
DRAGOON GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons, seconded by the
light brigade, proved irresistible, and contributed materially in
deciding the fortune of a battle in which the French army sustained
a decisive overthrow, and eleven guns and two _eagles_ remained in
possession of the conquerors. The British commander stated in his
public despatch,--"The cavalry, under Sir Stapleton Cotton, made a
most gallant and successful charge upon a body of French infantry,
which they overthrew and cut to pieces:" Colonel the Honourable
William Ponsonby was presented with a gold medal for his conduct
as commanding officer; and the regiment was afterwards rewarded
with the honour of bearing the word SALAMANCA on its standards and
appointments. Its loss was Captain Osborne, two serjeants, one
corporal, and twelve private men killed; Lieutenant Christie, one
serjeant, one corporal, and fourteen private men wounded.
[Illustration: FIFTH (THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S) REGIMENT
OF DRAGOON GUARDS,
At the Battle of Salamanca, 22nd July, 1812. [_To face page 60._]
The left squadron of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS was attached to
Major-General Bock's brigade of heavy German cavalry, and sent in
pursuit of the wreck of the French army, which retreated by Alba
upon Valladolid; the French rear-guard was overtaken about three
leagues beyond _Alba de Tormes_, a sharp engagement ensued, and
about nine hundred prisoners were captured.
Colonel the Honourable William Ponsonby, of the Fifth Dragoon
Guards, having been appointed to the staff of the army, and to the
command of the heavy cavalry brigade, issued the following order on
the subject:--
"_Camp near Flores de Avila,_
_25th July, 1812._
"REGIMENTAL ORDERS,
"His Excellency, the commander of the forces, having been pleased
to appoint Colonel Ponsonby to the staff of this army, and to the
distinguished honour of commanding this brigade, Major Prescott
will be pleased to take upon himself the command of the regiment.
"The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS well know how highly Colonel Ponsonby
has always prized the honour of commanding them; and if the pride
he has long felt in the command of a regiment deservedly of such
high character admitted of augmentation, its most gallant and
glorious achievements in the field, as well as its soldier-like
conduct in quarters, since its arrival in this country, could
not fail to enhance it. He assures the officers and men of the
regiment, that it is now with considerable regret he takes his
leave of them as their regimental commanding officer, although
in the course of professional promotion; and he requests Major
Prescott, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and the whole
of the regiment, will accept his warm and sincere thanks for the
past, as well as his heartfelt and anxious good wishes for the
future. May the Fifth Dragoon Guards long continue to be ranked
as second to none in His Majesty's service."
The regiment accompanied the army in the subsequent movements, and
in the advance upon the capital of Spain; and it formed part of the
personal escort of the Marquis of Wellington when he entered Madrid
on the 12th of August; it was formed up at the Segovia-gate, when
his lordship received the keys from the municipality. The FIFTH
DRAGOON GUARDS entered the city amidst the acclamations of the
inhabitants, and occupied quarters there until the 18th of August.
Leaving the metropolis of Spain to engage in operations against
the French army, the regiment proceeded to St. Ildefonso, remained
there a few days, and afterwards proceeded to the vicinity of
_Burgos_, where the enemy was found in position on the 17th of
September. The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons,
were ordered to the front, and dispositions were made for the
attack; but the French commander withdrew his forces, leaving
a strong garrison in the castle of Burgos. This fortress was
besieged, and the regiment, forming part of the covering army, was
stationed at Villamar, the head quarters of the cavalry. On the
19th of October, the enemy attempted to relieve the besieged, and
attacked and carried the village of Quintanapalla; the left wing of
infantry and FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons,
advanced to retake the village, but on the approach of this force
the French retreated.
At length, the movements of the superior numbers of the enemy,
rendered it necessary for the main army to unite with the forces
under Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill, and a retreat was
resolved upon. Withdrawing from Burgos with great secrecy on the
night of the 21st of October, the army commenced its celebrated
retreat to the frontiers of Portugal, which was performed under
peculiar difficulties, and in presence of an immense superiority of
numbers, with the same signal ability which distinguished all the
operations of the British commander, who evinced, on many occasions
during this war, the sublimity of military talent.
On the 23rd of October, the army continued its retreat in two
columns; the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons,
covering the retreat of the column from Hormillos; the enemy
menaced the rear with an immense force of cavalry, but was unable
to make a serious impression, and the British troops bivouacked
that night on the hills above Cordovilla. Resuming the march an
hour before daylight on the following morning, the column passed
the bridge of Cordovilla and crossed the Carrion, covered by
Colonel Ponsonby's brigade, and the head quarters were established
at Duenas, from whence two squadrons of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS
and Third Dragoons were detached, to cover the working parties
employed in mining the bridges of Palencia for destruction; but
the French advancing in great force gained possession of the
bridges in an unbroken state. On the 26th the army resumed its
retrograde movement, crossed the Pisuerga at Cabeçon, and occupied
that town and its vicinity until the 29th, when it again retired,
and, having crossed the Douro, occupied a position beyond that
river several days. On the 6th of November the army retreated on
Salamanca; on the 15th it resumed its march, and having crossed
the Agueda, proceeded into quarters in Portugal. The FIFTH DRAGOON
GUARDS halted eight days at Gallegos, in the province of Biera, and
afterwards proceeded to Ervidal, where they remained until the 28th
of December, and subsequently marched to Goes.
Thus ended this eventful campaign, in which the allied army, after
capturing the two important fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and
Badajoz, gaining the glorious victory of Salamanca, and penetrating
to the metropolis of Spain, was forced, by the superior number of
the enemy's concentrated forces, to return to its former posts.
The gigantic power to which the French revolution had given birth
was, however, on the eve of being broken; Bonaparte, the tyrant
of Europe, had resolved on the fatal expedition to Russia, where
he lost a powerful army in the snow, and the victory at Salamanca
was the precursor of greater triumphs over the disturbers of
christendom. The immense distance marched by the FIFTH DRAGOON
GUARDS during the year 1812, with the scarcity of forage and
constant exposure to every description of weather, occasioned
the loss of many horses; it has been computed that the regiment
marched about two thousand miles within twelve months.
[Sidenote: 1813]
The regiment was again in motion in February, 1813, and having
taken post at Viride, in the valley of the Mondego, occupied that
station until the middle of April, when it proceeded to Guimarers,
and halted there seventeen days.
In May the army commenced operations with a prospect of more
splendid results than on any former occasion; and Colonel
Ponsonby's brigade, which still consisted of the FIFTH DRAGOON
GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons, traversed the wild and
mountainous country of Trasos-Montes, and crossed the Esla on the
26th of May. The enemy, no longer possessing that superiority
of numbers by which he had formerly gained so many advantages,
abandoned the line of the Douro; Ponsonby's brigade directed its
march on Valencia, passed that town, and advanced on Burgos. On the
12th of June, the brigade overtook the enemy's rear-guard on the
heights of Estepar, when the Third Dragoons were detached to cut
off part of the enemy's force, in which they succeeded, and Captain
Miles, of the Fourteenth Dragoons, charging, took some prisoners
and one gun. During the succeeding night, the French blew up the
castle of Burgos, and retired behind the Ebro. Colonel Ponsonby's
brigade moved to the left, and after traversing a romantic tract
of country, over mountains and rugged precipices, crossed the Ebro
on the 15th of June, and advanced on _Vittoria_, where the enemy
concentrated his forces and took up a defensive position.