army advanced against the enemy, and the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS
supported the columns of attack. The British infantry dislodged
their adversaries from the several eminences and strong posts at
the point of the bayonet, and being supported and sustained by
the cavalry, forced the enemy, after a dreadful slaughter had
taken place, to retreat with the loss of his guns, ammunition, and
baggage. The cavalry, having been prevented by the nature of the
ground from charging during the early part of the day, was enabled
to dash forward towards the close of the action, and to complete
the rout and discomfiture of the French army. The FIFTH DRAGOON
GUARDS had only one man wounded on this occasion. Their gallant
bearing throughout the day, procured them the honour of displaying
the word VITTORIA on their standards and appointments, and their
commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Prescott, was rewarded with
a gold medal. The brigade continued the pursuit of the enemy on the
following day, and on the 27th of June was detached, to endeavour
to intercept the retreat of a division of the French army, under
General Clausel; but this body of troops escaped to France by the
pass of Jaca. The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS had advanced to Tafalla,
where they remained fourteen days, when, forage becoming scarce,
they proceeded to Miranda. In the mean time, the infantry having
blockaded Pampeluna, penetrated the Pyrenean mountains. Marshal
Soult advanced to relieve Pampeluna, when these celebrated
mountains became the scene of several fierce and deadly contests
between the English and French infantry, and the cavalry were
ordered forward in support. The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS left Mirando
on the 26th of July, and were formed up at the foot of the Pyrenees
during the actions in the mountains towards the end of the month,
when the French were defeated and forced to retire with great loss.
The heavy cavalry not being required in the mountain operations of
the army, the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS marched to Estella, a city of
Navarre, where they arrived on the 11th of August, and remained
until the 27th of December, when, forage becoming scarce, they
proceeded to the plains of Vittoria, and occupied Guérena and
adjacent villages.
[Sidenote: 1814]
Towards the end of February, 1814, the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS
again advanced. After passing through the Pyrenean mountains,
they entered France, and followed the route of the French troops
retreating on Bayonne. On the 19th of March, the army, under
Marshal Soult, was discovered in position near _Tarbes_, when
a division of infantry and Major-General Ponsonby's brigade of
cavalry were ordered to turn the enemy's right flank at Rabastens,
but the French, being thus threatened, retired. Following the rear
of the French army, the brigade crossed the Garonne, on a pontoon
bridge, at St. Roques, on the 31st of March, and seized the bridge
on the Arriege, at Cintagabelle; but the roads were found so bad
in this direction, that the troops were recalled, and the pontoon
bridge being removed to Grenade, the brigade passed the river on
the 4th of April, took post at Grissolles, and placed a strong
picquet on the road to Montauban.
In the mean time, the French army had taken up a strong position to
cover _Toulouse_, where they were attacked by the allied army on
the 10th of April. The infantry attacked the enemy's entrenchments
with their usual intrepidity. The cavalry brigade, consisting
of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and Third and Fourth Dragoons, was
commanded on this occasion by Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles
Manners; it was employed in supporting the Spanish forces, and, by
its firm countenance, it enabled them, after having been thrown
into some confusion, to rally and re-form their broken ranks. It
also saved the Portuguese guns from being captured by the French,
and subsequently supported Lieutenant-General Clinton's division:
at length, the enemy was driven from his works, and forced to take
shelter in the town. The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS had one corporal
killed and Cornet Lucas wounded; and their services on this
occasion were rewarded with the honour of bearing the word TOULOUSE
on their standards and appointments.
Shortly after this victory hostilities were terminated, by
the removal of Buonaparte from the throne of France, and the
restoration of the Bourbon dynasty. Thus ended the toils and
conflicts of this destructive war, and the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS,
after traversing kingdoms, enduring privations, and gaining
victories, had the gratification of witnessing the restoration
of peace. The French forces, after fighting to add province to
province, and kingdom to kingdom, to found new empires upon the
ruins of conquered states, to subject mankind to the tyranny of a
lawless despot, saw their hopes blasted, their conquests wrested
from them, their country invaded and subject to the power of
foreigners; but the British army, which fought under the immortal
Wellington for the good of Europe,--for the welfare of other
nations, preserved its own country from the horrors of war, and had
the glory of conquering to establish the peace of Christendom.
The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS remained in cantonments until the 1st of
June, when, having sent their dismounted men and heavy baggage
to Bourdeaux, they commenced their march for Boulogne.[12] This
long march, from one extremity of France to another, was performed
in the short period of six weeks; and, previous to embarking,
Major-General Ponsonby expressed to the three regiments in
brigade orders, "the high sense he entertained of their uniformly
excellent conduct both in quarters and in the field:" adding, "It
is a gratifying circumstance that, during the whole period of
service, they have, in no instance, individually or collectively,
incurred animadversion in general orders; that no individual of the
brigade has been brought before a general court martial; and that
not one instance has occurred (to the major-general's knowledge)
of interior disagreement in the brigade. With equal truth the
major-general can assert, that upon every occasion which has
presented itself of acting against the enemy, whether regimentally
or in brigade, they have nobly sustained the superiority of the
British cavalry, and fully justified the high opinion so repeatedly
expressed with regard to them by his Grace the Duke of Wellington.
The three regiments will ever have to congratulate themselves on
its having fallen to their lot to be the brigade employed in that
glorious and effectual charge, which contributed in so eminent a
degree to decide the fate of the day at SALAMANCA, and to secure
the signal and complete defeat of the French army. It only remains
for the major-general to declare his satisfaction at the exemplary
conduct of the brigade during the march through France; and he
concludes by requesting that Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles
Manners, Lieutenant-Colonel Prescott, and Major Hugonin, will
themselves accept, and have the goodness to communicate to the
regiments under their respective commands, his best and warmest
thanks for their zealous and steady services during the time he has
had the honour of commanding the brigade, together with his earnest
and sincere good wishes for their future welfare. He also requests
Brigade-Major Hill will accept his best thanks for the zeal and
assiduous attention with which he has discharged the duties of his
situation."
The FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS embarked at Boulogne on the 17th and 18th
of July, landed at Dover on the 19th and 20th, and marched from
thence to Woodbridge barracks, where the depôt and heavy baggage
joined from Canterbury, and a reduction of two troops was made in
the establishment. In October the regiment marched to Ipswich and
adjacents.
[Sidenote: 1815]
In April, 1815, "His Royal Highness the Prince Regent was pleased,
in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to approve of the
FIFTH, OR PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT OF DRAGOON
GUARDS, being permitted to bear on its standards and appointments
(in addition to any other badges or devices which may have been
heretofore granted to the regiment), the word 'PENINSULA,' in
commemoration of its services during the late war in Portugal,
Spain, and France, under the command of Field-Marshal the Duke of
Wellington."
On the 8th of April, the regiment marched to Nottingham, Coventry,
Northampton, and Leicester; and the return of Napoleon Buonaparte
to France, in breach of the treaty of 1814, having occasioned
a declaration of war, six troops were ordered to be held in
readiness for foreign service; but, to the great regret of the
officers and men, who panted for another opportunity of signalizing
themselves under the Duke of Wellington, the order was subsequently
countermanded in consequence of the number of young and untrained
horses in the regiment.
In June, the officers and men of the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS received
the painful intelligence of the fall of Major-General Sir William
Ponsonby, G.C.B., at the battle of Waterloo.[13]
In July, the regiment marched to York, Sheffield, Leeds,
Huddersfield, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne: in September, the several
troops proceeded to Newcastle, in consequence of the riotous
conduct of the seamen in the ports of that neighbourhood.
[Sidenote: 1816]
In January, 1816, the regiment occupied Newcastle, York, Carlisle,
Penrith, and Whitehaven; during the summer, it proceeded to
Ireland, and, arriving at Dublin towards the end of August,
remained on duty in that garrison six months.
General Bland died at Isleworth on the 14th of October, 1816;
and on the 18th of that month, His Royal Highness Prince Leopold
of Saxe-Coburg of Saalfield, K.G., G.C.B., G.C.H., was appointed
Colonel of the FIFTH, OR PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S REGIMENT OF
DRAGOON GUARDS.
[Sidenote: 1817]
The regiment left Ireland in February, 1817, and proceeded to
Scotland, where it remained until the autumn; and, on its arrival
in England, it occupied Ipswich, Norwich, &c.
THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES died on the 6th of November of this
year, but the title of the regiment is continued, in honour of the
memory of that amiable Princess.
[Sidenote: 1818]
[Sidenote: 1819]
[Sidenote: 1820]
In July, 1818, the regiment proceeded to York, where the
establishment was reduced to fifty men and thirty-four horses per
troop; in the summer of 1819, it marched to Birmingham, Coventry,
and Wolverhampton; in April, 1820, to Manchester,[14] Oldham,
and Ashton; and in August of the same year, to York, Leeds, and
Huddersfield.
On the 3rd of September a communication was received from
Major-General Sir John Byng commanding the northern district,
enclosing a letter from the Military Secretary, wherein it was
stated that "His Royal Highness the commander-in-chief approved
highly of the general good conduct, loyalty, and steadiness of the
regiment, of which favourable report was made to His Royal Highness
from all quarters."
[Sidenote: 1821]
In April, 1821, the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS marched to Scotland, and
occupied Hamilton, Glasgow, and Paisley: in August the regiment
proceeded to Ireland, and was quartered at Belfast, Belturbet,
Sligo, Enniskillen, and Dundalk; at the same time a reduction
of two troops was made in the establishment, leaving the numbers
six troops, of three officers, fifty-five men, and forty-two
troop-horses each.
[Sidenote: 1822]
[Sidenote: 1823]
[Sidenote: 1824]
The regiment marched to Porto Bello barracks, Dublin, in July,
1822; from thence to Ballinrobe, Gort, Loughrea, Athlone,
Roscommon, and Dunmore, in May, 1823: and in July, 1824, to Dundalk
and Belturbet.
[Sidenote: 1825]
The regiment left Ireland in April, 1825, and proceeding to
Scotland, was stationed at Glasgow and Hamilton.
[Sidenote: 1826]
Leaving Scotland in the spring of 1826, the regiment proceeded to
York and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with a detachment on revenue duty at
Beverley. In April the regiment was ordered into the manufacturing
districts of Yorkshire, in consequence of some disturbance amongst
the operatives, but returned to York in June.
[Sidenote: 1827]
In February, 1827, the regiment proceeded to Leeds, Rochdale, and
Sheffield.
[Sidenote: 1828]
[Sidenote: 1829]
In May, 1828, the regiment marched to Dorchester, Weymouth,
Troubridge, and Christ Church, with detached parties on coast duty,
and in the following summer it proceeded to Canterbury.
[Sidenote: 1830]
Leaving Canterbury in April, 1830, the regiment marched to Coventry
and Birmingham. In July of the same year His Majesty, King William
IV., was pleased to command that the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS should
proceed to Windsor, to undertake the duties usually performed by
the household cavalry; and, shortly after their arrival there, they
were inspected by Field Marshal Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg,
when his Royal Highness expressed himself much gratified with the
excellent appearance and discipline of his corps.
On the 14th of August the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, commanded by
Prince Leopold in person, were reviewed in the barrack square at
Windsor, by his Majesty King William IV., accompanied by the Queen
and other members of the royal family. His Majesty having made
a minute inspection of the regiment, was pleased to express his
high approbation of its martial appearance and efficiency: and
the officers were then severally presented to the King, by Prince
Leopold. After the review their Majesties, with the other members
of the royal family and distinguished personages present, partook
of a _déjeuné_ prepared by order of Prince Leopold, under tents on
the green, and in the officers' mess-room.
His Majesty, accompanied by Lord Hill (the general
commanding-in-chief) inspected the FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS in the
great quadrangle at Windsor Castle, on the 29th of August, and
again expressed his royal approbation of their appearance and
discipline.
In October of the same year the regiment marched to Maidstone and
adjacent places. In the following month the head quarters proceeded
to Tunbridge Wells, and, in consequence of the riotous conduct of
the agricultural labourers in Sussex, the remainder of the corps
was dispersed in various parts of that county. In December the head
quarters proceeded to Brighton, and occupied the cavalry barrack at
that town during His Majesty's residence at the Royal Pavilion.
[Sidenote: 1831]
Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg having been elected king of the
Belgians, resigned the commission of Colonel of the FIFTH DRAGOON
GUARDS, and King William IV. was graciously pleased to confer that
appointment on Lieutenant-General Sir John Slade, Bart. G.C.H., by
commission, dated 20th July, 1831.
[Sidenote: 1834]
The regiment embarked at Bristol on the 17th April, 1831, and
landed at Dublin on the following day. It continued on duty at
various stations in Ireland until April, 1834, when it again
returned to England, disembarked at Liverpool on the 22d of that
month, and was stationed for one year at Manchester.
[Sidenote: 1835]
[Sidenote: 1836]
[Sidenote: 1837]
[Sidenote: 1838]
In May, 1835, the regiment proceeded to Scotland, from whence it
returned in the following year, and was stationed at Leeds; in
April, 1837, its head-quarters were established at Birmingham; and
in May, 1838, at York.
The foregoing pages contain an account of the services of the FIFTH
DRAGOON GUARDS to the termination of the year 1838, and its record
bears ample testimony to the zeal and bravery which have been
evinced by this distinguished corps on occasions when it has had an
opportunity to attest its valour in presence of a foreign enemy.
Its noble and gallant conduct, as a regiment of HORSE,
at the battle of the _Boyne_ in 1690;--at the heights of
_Schellenberg_;--also at the memorable battle of _Blenheim_, where
the French and Bavarian armies were nearly destroyed, and their
commander, standards, and colours were captured, in 1704;--its
heroic achievements in 1705 at the forcing of the French lines
at _Helixem_ and _Neer-Hespen_, where it captured the standards
of the Bavarian horse-guards;--the glorious part it took in
annihilating one of the finest and best appointed armies France
ever brought into the field, at _Ramilies_ in 1706;--its intrepid
bearing, as a corps of CUIRASSIERS, in 1708 in the field at
_Oudenarde_, and in the action at _Wynendale_;--the valour it
displayed in close combat with the French household troops at the
sanguinary battle of _Malplaquet_ in 1709;--the ardour it evinced
in the movements and skirmishes which led to the capture of the
fortress of _Bouchain_ in 1711;--its gallantry as a corps of
DRAGOON GUARDS in 1794 at the battle of _Cateau_, where the French
commander, many officers and men, and thirty-five pieces of cannon
were captured;--its brilliant charge at _Llerena_;--its victorious
career on the plains of _Salamanca_ in 1812;--its spirited conduct
at Vittoria in 1813;--and at Toulouse in 1814;--the eminent
qualities it displayed on these and other occasions, as set
forth in the public despatches and national records, afford most
honourable proof that the FIFTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS has
never lost sight of the ancient motto on its standards _Vestigia
nulla retrorsum_.
The conduct of the regiment on home, as well as on foreign service,
has, on all occasions, been such as to evince its usefulness,
efficiency, and constant readiness to support the honour and
dignity of the crown, and the prosperity of the country; thus
holding forth a bright example to stimulate to good conduct
the soldiers of the present and future ages, under all the
circumstances of service in which the calls of their sovereign and
country may occasion them to be placed.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] Charles Butler, second son of Thomas Earl of Ossory, and
grandson of James first Duke of Ormond, was created Earl of the
islands of Arran, in the county of Galway, in January, 1694. The
Earl of Arran, mentioned at page 7, was the eldest son of William
Duke of Hamilton, and obtained his father's title in 1698.
[8] This officer's name is spelt Napper, instead of Napier, in the
lists of killed and wounded published at the time; but he is the
same officer who was appointed Colonel of the regiment by King
George I., on the 27th of May, 1717.
[9] "The Sunday following was appointed for a day of thanks-giving,
and after divine service the army drew out to fire a _feu-de-joie_
for the victory. Marshal Tallard and the officers with him were
invited to ride out to see the army fire, which they did with much
persuasion. Our generals paid Tallard the compliment of riding
next the army, and ordered all the officers to salute him. When
the firing was over, the Duke of Marlborough asked Tallard how he
liked the army; he answered with a shrug, _Very well; but they
have had the honour of beating the best troops in the world_. The
Duke replied, _What will the world think of the troops that beat
them?_"--_Parker's Memoirs._
[10] The following very spirited description of the charge of the
Fifth Dragoon Guards, and Third and Fourth Dragoons, is copied from
Colonel Napier's admirable History of the Peninsular War:--
"While Pakenham, bearing onward with a conquering violence,
was closing on their flank, and the fifth division advancing
with a storm of fire on their front, the interval between
the two attacks was suddenly filled with a whirling cloud of
dust, which moving swiftly forward carried within its womb the
trampling sound of a charging multitude. As it passed the left
of the third division Le Marchant's heavy horsemen, flanked by
Anson's light cavalry, broke forth from it at full speed, and
the next instant twelve hundred French infantry though formed
in several lines were trampled down with a terrible clamour and
disturbance. Bewildered and blinded, they cast away their arms
and ran through the openings of the British squadrons stooping
and demanding quarter, while the dragoons, big men and on big
horses, rode onward smiting with their long glittering swords in
uncontrollable power, and the third division followed at speed,
shouting as the French masses fell in succession before this
dreadful charge."
"Nor were these valiant swordsmen yet exhausted. Their own
general, Le Marchant, and many officers had fallen, but Cotton
and all his staff were at their head, and with ranks confused,
and blended together in one mass, still galloping forward they
sustained from a fresh column an irregular stream of fire which
emptied a hundred saddles; yet with fine courage, and downright
force, the survivors broke through this the third and strongest
body of men that had encountered them, and Lord Edward Somerset,
continuing his course at the head of one squadron, with a happy
perseverance, captured five guns. The French left was entirely
broken, more than two thousand prisoners were taken, the French
light horsemen abandoned that part of the field, and Thomiere's
division no longer existed as a military body. Anson's cavalry,
which had passed quite over the hill, and had suffered little in
the charge, was now joined by D'Urban's troopers, and took the
place of Le Marchant's exhausted men; the heavy German dragoons
followed in reserve, and with the third and fifth divisions and
the guns formed one formidable line two miles in advance of
where Pakenham first attacked, and that impetuous officer with
unmitigated strength still pressed forward spreading terror and
disorder on the enemy's left."
[11] The sixty-sixth French regiment of infantry of the line, was
one of the corps which was nearly annihilated, and the staff of the
drum-major of that regiment is preserved as a trophy by the FIFTH
DRAGOON GUARDS, and carried on parades, &c., by the trumpet-major.
[12] While at Boulogne the regiment was inspected by Major-General
Sir Henry Fane, who expressed much gratification at its condition
after so long a march, and selected a number of horses to be given
up to the French government, for the purpose of mounting the royal
guard of Louis XVIII.