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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 >^. / \ ■ ! -, I lis 1 i ? .: * ? i I h J : V ^ ,%ys^m ^ ^ 'fh "i':i % o^ , for skirmishing and other services of a imiiar character. The Emperor of Germany f-ir^'l Regiments of Hungarian HussarSy who v^^'re light men on small horses. The Carabinei rs were of an intermediate class, being much heavier than the Hussars, and lighter than the English Lan- cers and Cuirassiers, who rode powerful horses, and wore armour on the head, body, and limbs. The French monarchs adopted the practice of having a few Carabineers in each troop of Horse ; and, ill 1690, Louis XIV. added a troop of Cara- bineers to each Regiment of Cavaby. During the campaign of 1691, these troops formed a Cara- bineer brigade ; but their motley appearance, and the defects of the plan, occasioned them to be constituted a Regiment of Carabineers, and clothed in blue. In 1093 the French king added a regi- ment of Hussars to the Cavalry of his army*. In England the s me principle was partially carried out; the h'nw ^.i LIGHT CAVALRY. W wore supplied with carbines by King Charles 11. In 1086, King 3&mm IT. raised several indepen- dent troops of fjffht Hoi'se, and one of them, (Sir Thomas iJurton's) wa« retained in his service until the revolution in 1688, when it was disbanded. In 1091-2, King William TIL constituted the Seventh Regiment of Horse, now Sixth Dragoon Guards, a corps of Carabineers, as m honorary distinction, and for the performance of services for which the other regiments of Horse, being Cuiras- siers, were not well adapted. The object was to combine with strength and power a greater degree of activity and speed, than was to be found in the Cavalry at that period; and His Majesty appears to have contemplated having severa corps of this description in his service, as he designated this (he First Regiment of Carabineers ; bi t no second regiment was formed*. In 1694 a troop of foreign Hussars formed part of the Army com- manded by King William in Flanders t. During the wars of Queen Anne the Regi- ment of Carabineers was again supplied with cui- rasses, and was mounted on the same description of horses as the other regiments ; retaining, how- ever, the title of Carabineers. The activity, size, weight, and strength of the horses rode by the British Cuirassiers and Heavy Dragoons, with the bravery and muscular powers of the men, esta- blished their superiority in continental varfare, * National Records. t The equipment of Huasars at this period, is described by D'AvvERONE, in his Hittoty of the Ctmpaign o/1694, pp. 2:>,23. b2 ■■r- !|! 4 ON THE INSTITUTION OF over the Cavalry of other nations; they acquired great celebrity in the valley of the Danube and on the plains of the Netherlands, in the early part of the eighteenth century, under the renowned John Duke of Marlborough, and after the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the reputation of the British Horse and Dragoons was so high, that no alte- ration was thought necessary, and many years elapsed without any attempt being made to revive the practice of having either Carabineers, or Light Horse, in the British Army. The great utility of the Light Cavalry of the continental armies had, in the mean time, become apparent; improvements in military tactics, and in the arming and equipment of corps, were taking place in various countries, and a spirit of emulation extending itself to Great Britain, on the breaking out of the rebellion in 1745, his Grace the Duke of Montague evinced his loyalty and })ublic spirit, by raising a Regiment of Cara- bineers for the service of King George II. ; at the same time, his Grace the Duke of Kingston, with equal zeal and generosity, raised, at his own ex- pense, a Regiment of Light Horse. The latter regiment approximated, in the lightness of the men, horses, and equipment, to the Hussars of the continental armies ; the Duke of Montague's Carabineers were of a heavier description of Cavalry. At this period the old Cavalry Regiments rode black horses (excepting the Scots' Greys,) with docked tails ; but the Duke of Kingston's Regi- ment was mounted on light horses of various >£-•!* I , LIGHT CAVALRY. acquired ube and arly part enowiied le peace B British no alte- ,ny years to revive or Light Ty of the J, become itics, and rps, were L spirit of I'itain, on I745, his lis loyalty of Cara- . ; at the ston, with own ex- he latter 5s of the [ussars of [ontague's •iption of lents rode eys,) with an's Regi- )f various ;' ;f colours, with swish, or nag-tails; the accoutre- ments were as light as possible ; the men carried short carbines slung to tlieir sides by a movable swivel, pistols, and light swords inclined to a curve. The usefulness of the Duke of Kingston's Regiment of Light Horse was proved in Scotland, where it served under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and was found qualified for every description of service; the light horses traversing hilly grounds with facility. It distin- guished itself on several occasions, particularly at the battle of Culloden, on the 16th of April, 1746, when it charged the clans with signal gal- lantry, and evinced great spirit and activity in the pursuit of the rebel army upwards of three miles from the field of battle. - The Duke of Cumber- land was highly pleased with its behaviour during the period it was under his command ; and the conduct of the Light Horse throughout the contest reflected credit on the noble peer who had raised them. The rebelUon being suppressed, the Regiment was, in consequence of the conditions on which the men had enlisted, directed to be disbanded ; but the Duke of Cumberland so highly approved of its conduct, that he obtained permission to embody as many of the men as would re-enlist, as his own Regiment of Light Dragoons. His Majesty's thanks and particular satisfac- tion were communicated to His Grace the Duke of Kingston, for his zeal and affection for His Majesty's person and Government ; and His 6 ON THE INSTITUTION OF Grace was desired to convey to the officers and soldiers, His Majesty's high sense of their loyalty, activity, and gallant behaviour, at a period of national danger. The Regiment was afterwards disbanded at Nottingham, and nearly every man engaged in the Regiment of Light Dragoons, of which, as a signal mark of honour and distinc- tion. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumber- land was appointed Colonel. The Duke of Cumberland's Light Dragoons were mounted on active nag-tailed horses, from fourteen and a half to fifteen hands high ; the men were from five feet eight to five feet nine inches in height ; and their equipment was upon a new and light plan, but retaining the cocked hat of the Heavy Dragoon pattern. This Regi- ment served in the Netherlands, with the Army commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland ; its general usefulness was fully esta- blished, and it distinguished itself at the battle of Val, in 1747. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle having put an end to the war, it returned to England, and was disbanded in 1749. From this period the value of light horsemen was more appreciated in England than formerly ; the general utility of this arm, on home and foreign service, had been fully proved ; and at the commencement of hostilities with France, in 1755, King George II. resolved to possess the advantage of a body of Light Cavalry in the approaching contest. His Majesty accordingly commanded a troop of Light Dragoons to be added to the First, Second, and Third Regiments of LIGHT CAVALRY. ers and loyalty, Briod of ;erwards ery man opns, of distinc- Cumber- )ragoons }es, from igli; the feet nine v'as upon e cocked his Regi- he Army Duke of ully esta- le battle -Chapelle urned to lorsemen formerly ; ome and and at ranee, in ssess the •y in the cordingly be added ments of Dragoon Guards, and First, Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Tenth, and Eleventh Regiments of Dragoons. The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Irish Horse, (now Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Dragoon Guards,) and the Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Four- teenth Dragoons, being on the Irish establishment, did not receive the same addition. Tliese troops of Light Dragoons were mounted, armed, equipped, and trained, according to specific instructions, calculated to render them available for the services for which they were designed Several of them were reviewed in Hyde Park by His Majesty, and their neat appearance, celerity of movement, and the spirited and exact manner in which they performed their evolutions, were much admired. Nine of these troops were formed into a bri- gade in 1758, under the command of one of the King's aides-de-camp. Colonel George Augustus Eliott, of the Horse Grenadier Guards; and they were employed in the expeditions to the coast of France under Charles Duke of Marlborough and Lieut.-General Bligh. They landed in France twice ; skirmished with the French Cavalry, and throughout these enterprises they evinced activity, spirit, and general usefulness. After their return to England, they were augmented to 125 men per troop. At this period, the war on the Continent had involved most of the European states, and the extended and active o])erations which were taking- place in Germany, rendered it necessary for a r 8 ON THE INSTITUTION OF British force to join the Allied Army under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. This gave rise to a further augmentation of the Army; and the increased estimation in which Light Cavalry was held, induced the King to give directions for the raising of entire Regiments of Light Dragoonii in addition to the five Regiments of Horse, three of Dragoon Guards, and fourteen of Dragoons, already on the British and Irish establishments; the following corps were accordingly erftbodied : — Light Dragoons. Incorporated in 1769. Fifteenth, in England, by Colonel George A. Eliott ; — now the Fifteenth, or the King's Hussars. Sixteenth, in England, by Lieut.-Colonel John Burgoyne; — now the Sixteenth, or the Queen's Lancers. Seventeenth, in Scotland, by Captain Lord Aberdour; — disbanded in 1763. Eighteenth, in England, by Lieut.-Colonel John Hale ; — now the Seventeenth Lancers. Nineteenth, in Ireland, by Lieut.-Colonel Lord Drogheda; — numbered the Eighteenth in 1763; constituted Hussars in 1807; and after performing much valuable service at home and abroad, it was disbanded at Newbridge, in Ireland, in 1821. Incorpwated in 17o0. Twentieth, in Ireland, by Captain Sir James Caldwell ;— disbanded in 1763. LIGHT CAVALRY. 9 Twenty-First, or Royal Foresters, in England, by Lieut.-General the Marquis of Granby, and Colonel Lord Robert Sutton ; — disbanded in 17G3. After the peace of Fontainbleau, three of these corps were disbanded, and the other four con- tinued in the Service. The light troops attached to the heavy regiments were also disbanded, but a few men of each troop were afterwards equipped as Light Dragoons. A more perfect knowledge of the efficiency and capabilities of Light Cavalry, acquired during the campaigns in Germany and Portugal, had advanced the estimation in which that arm was held; and, in 1768, the Twelfth Dragoons (one of the heavy regiments raised by King George I. in 1715,) underwent a change of equipment and clothing, and was constituted a corps of Light Dragoons^ by General Carpenter, in Ireland. This alteration served as a precedent for sub- sequent changes, and further experience, during the American war, from 1775 to 1783, confirming the value of Light Cavalry, the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Regiments oi Dragoons were changed from heavij to light. The Light Dragoons attached to the heavy regiments were incorporated into newly-raised corps, and the following regiments of Light Dragoons Were embodied in 1779. Nineteenth, — by Major- General Russell Manners; — disbanded in 1783. 1 10 ON THE INSTITUTION OF ! ! Twentieth, — by Major-General Richard Bur- ton Phillipaon ; — disbanded in 1783. Twenty - first, — by Major-General John Douglas; — disbanded in 1783. Twenty -SECOND, — by Lieut.-Colonel John Lord Sheffield; — disbanded in 1783. Embodiedin 1781. Twenty-third, — by Lieut.-General Sir John Burgoyne, Baronet, for service in India, and was numbered the Nineteenth after the peace in 1783. This regiment signalized itself on numerous occa- sions in India, and was rewarded with the honour of bearing on its guidons and appointments the Elephanti with the vfoxA^ Assaye and Seringapatam ; the word Niagara was also added in commemora- tion of the gallantry of two troops, in the year 1813, in North America. In 1817 it was consti- tuted a corps of Lancers. It was disbanded in Ireland in 1821. Thus a few years had produced a great change in the British Army; twenty-five years previously to the termination of the American war there was not a single Light Dragoon Regiment in the Ser- vice, and in 1 783 there were seventeen ; four of them were disbanded at that period, and thirteen retained in the Service. Soon after the termination of the American war, the French monarch, having, by aiding the rebellious British provincials, taught his own sub- jects a lesson of insubordination, was deprived of the reins of government ; and the violent conduct of the French revolutionists in the West Indies LIGHT CAVALRY. 11 occasioned the Twentieth, or Jamaica Regiment OF Light Dragoons, to be raised in 1791, by Colonel Henry F. Gardner, for service in that island. Besides its services in Jamaica, detach- ments of this regiment served at Malta ; Sicily ; at the taking of the Cape of Good Hope, in 1806 ; at the capture of Alexandria, in 1807; at the attack on JSIonte Video ; in Portugal ; at Genoa ; and on the eastern coast of Spain ; and acquired the honour of bearing the word Peninsula on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in Ireland in 1818. War with France commenced in 1793, and was followed by augmentations to the Army ; it was not found necessary to add a single Heavy Cavalry Regiment ; but the following Regiments of Light Dragoons Were incotforated in 1794. Twenty-first, — ^by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas R. Beaumont. This regiment served at the Cape of Good Hope and in India thirteen years ; a detach- ment was sent to do duty at St. Helena, when Napoleon Buonaparte was removed thither. This regiment was disbanded at Chatham in 1820. Twenty-second, — ^by Major-General William Viscount Fielding ; — served in Great Britain and Ireland; disbanded in 1802. Twenty-third, — ^by Colonel William Fuller- ton ; — served in Great Britain and Ireland ; — dis- banded in 1802. Twenty-fourth, — by Colonel William Lof- rr 12 ON THE INSTITUTION OF tus; — served in Great Britain and Ireland; dis- banded in 1802. Twenty-fifth, — by Major General Francis -Edward Gwyn. This regiment was numbered the Twenty-second after the Treaty of Amiens, in 1802; it served with reputation in India; was employed at the reduction of Java; signalized itself on several occasions ; and was rewarded with tlie royal authority to bear the word Seringapatam on its guidons and appointments. It was dis- banded in England in 1820. Raised in 1795. Twenty-sixth, — by Lieut.-General R. Man- ners;— numbered the Twenty-third in 1803. Iliis regiment served in Egypt, Portugal, Spain, Flanders, and France ; and its distinguished con- duct was rewarded with the lionour of bearing on its guidons and appointments, the Sphina,\ with the words Egypt, Peninsula, and Waterloo. In 1816, it was constituted a corps of Lancers. It was disbanded in England in 1817. Twenty-Seventh, — by Major-General Wynter Blathwayte; numbered the Twenty-fourth in 1804. This regiment served in India, distin- guished itself at the battles of Ghur and Delhi, and was permitted to bear the Elephant, with the word Hindoostan, on its guidons and appointments. It was disbanded in England, on its arrival from Bengal, in 1819. Twenty-eighth, — by Major-General Robert Lawrie ; — served in Great Britain, Ireland, and at the Cape of Good Hope ; — disbanded in Ireland in 1802. LIGHT CAVALRY. 18 Twenty-ninth, — by Major-Gen ^1 Francis Augustus Lord Iloathfield; — iiuinuered tho Twenty-fifth in 1804. This regiment served in Fndia, and was at the reduction of the Isle of France. It was disbanded at Chatham, on its arrival from India, in 1819. Raised in 1 794. Thirtieth, — by Lieut.-Colonel J. C. Garden ; — disbanded in 179G. Thirty-First, — by Lieut.-Colonel William St. Ledger; — disbanded in 1796. Thirty-second, — by Lieut.-Colonel II. J. Blake; — disbanded in 1796. Thirty-third, — by Lieut.-Colonel J. Black- wood; — disbanded in 1796. Soon after the recommencement of hostilities with France in 1803, the Seventh, Tenth, Fif- teenth, and Eighteenth Light Dragoons were equipped as Hussars. Since the termination of the war in 1815, the Third and Fourth Dragoons have been changed from heavy to light ; the Ninth, Twelfth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Light Dragoons have been constituted Lancers ; and the Eighth and Eleventh Light Dragoons have also been equipped as Hussars. At this period (1841), the Cavalry of the Bri- tish Army consists of twenty-six Regiments ; thir- teen Heavy and thirteen Light ; and is composed of three Regiments of Cuirassiers, ten of Heavy Dragoons, four of Light Dragoons, five of Hussars, and four of Lancers. IITSTORICAL RECORD THE FIFTEENTH, OR, THE KINGS, REGIMENT OF LIGHT DRAGOONS, HUSSARS. The wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth cen- 1759 turies gave rise to new combinations of military power, and the capabilities of men trained and equipped in different ways, and of horses of various sizes and weight, were ascertained. Among the improvements which took place, that of the gene- ral introduction of Light Cavalry into the British Army, stands conspicuous for its utility, and the subsequently universal and advantageous applica- tion of that arm to all the purposes of continental and colonial warfare, has proved the soundness of the principle upon which it was instituted. The Fifteenth, or the King's Regiment of Hussars, has the honour of being the first British Regiment of Light Dragoons raised for permanent service ; and it soon acquired a reputation which gave it rank in the public estimation with the first Cavalry corps in Europe. The Regiment was raised by Colonel George rff 16 niSTORTCATi REOOnD OP 1 i. 1 7 i'f) Augustus Eliott; nn officer who possessed very correct itloaH of the nature of Cavalry service, and of the size and qualities of the men and horses suitable for every description of corps, and who was celebrated for the high condition into which he had brought the second troop of Horse Gre- nadier Guards. Being employed near the Court, his abilities were well known to King George II., who placed him at the head of the Light Cavalry in the expeditions against the French coast in 1758, and in March, 1759, selected him to raise, form, and discipline, the first of the Light Cavalry Regiments which His Majesty had resolved to raise; in which he was assisted by Lieut.-Colonel the Earl of Pembroke from the Foot Guards, and Major William Erskine from the Seventh Dragoons. The formation of this Regiment was looked upon as an era in the mili- tary annals of the kingdom ; and it was an event which created great public interest. Acton, Knightsbridge, and other places in the vicinity of London, were chosen as the rendezvous of the several troops ; many respectable young men evinced great readiness to enrol themselves under its standards; and a remarkable circumstance favoured its formation, as a number of journeymen tailors, and of clothiers, who had come to London to petition Parliament for relief from certain grievances, under which they considered them- selves to labour, became ambitious of appearing in the uniform of this popular corps, and flocking to its quarters, completed its numbers to six troops of sixty private men each. THE FIFTEENTH IIUS8AR8. ir The following officers wore appointed to com- 1759 missions in the regiment. Comttt. Edwd. llamiltun Cnptaina. Lieutenanti. O. A. Eliott, (Col.) Cha. Mawhood, (Cap.-Lt.) lly. Earl of Pom- Fras. Price broke, (Lt.-Col.) Win. Erakine, Jno. Tonyn (Major) Geo. Ainulie Martin Basil David Dundas Win. Brooke Fredk. Evelyn Cha. W. Lyon Win. Gordon, CAaplain.—Wm. Child, Adjutant Gilbert Eliott, Surgeon. Geo. Nanj;lo Jno. Griffith Ily. Baillie Lord Hinchinbroku Geo. ParkynB. SIX A great amount of talent was thus combined in the regiment at its formation, and four of its officers afterwards acquired celebrity ; — viz., Colonel Eliott, who was created Lord IIeath- FiELD for his gallant defence of Gibraltar in 1788 ; his name, even at the present period, after a lapse of eighty years, is identified with the Fifteenth Hussars, which is frequently designated by its original popular title of Eliott's Light Horse. The Earl of Pembroke, Sir William Erskine, and Sir David Dundas, are names which are also cele- brated in the military history of the kingdom. The activity and zeal of the officers soon brought the regiment into an advanced state of discipline and efficiency; and in July several troops marched into Kent, with directions to "assist the civil authorities in suppressing dis- " turbances, and in apprehending rioters ; but not " to repel force with force, unless in case of abso- c 18 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 175 "lute necessity, or being thereunto required by " the magistrates." The head-quarters were at St. Albans, from whence they were removed, in October, to the vicinity of Hounslow, and the regiment was re- viewed by His Majesty on Hounslow Heath. It returned to its former quarters after the review, and was subsequently stationed at Dorchester, Blandford, &c. Before the end of the year its numbers were completed to the establishment; and on the 25th of December an augmentation of one comet, one serjeant, one corporal, and forty- three private men per troop was ordered. 1760 The feeling in favour of Eliott's Light Horse continuing to exist, no difficulty was experienced in procuring men ; by the assiduous attention of the officers, the regiment was soon completed to six hundred and eighty-four non- commissioned officers and soldiers > and a year had scarcely elapsed from the date of the order for its formation, when it was directed to hold itself in readiness to embark for foreign service, where it soon gave proof that a right spirit had been infused into the corps. The Fifteenth Light Dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel the Earl of Pembroke, embarked at Gravesend on the 10th of June, 1760 ; arriving in the river Weser, they landed near Bremen on the 21st of the same month, and, after a short halt, they marched up the country to co-operate with the Allied army commanded by Prince Fer- dinand of Brunswick. At the same time the THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. Id Earl of Pembroke received directions to proceed 1760 to the head-quarters of the army to take the duties of Adjutant-General, and the regiment was halted in Hesse Cassel, under the command of Major William Erskine. After remaining a short period in quarters, the regiment was suddenly ordered to march with all speed to Zewesten, to join a body of troops from the camp at Saxenhausen, under the com- mand of the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, designed to attempt the surprise of a detachment of the French army, consisting of six battalions of Infantry, a train of Artillery, and a regiment of Hussars, under the command of Major-General de Glaubitz, advancing towards Zeigenhayn. The Fifteenth Light Dragoons joined the Prince's detachment on the loth of July, arrived at Freysa that evening, and on the following morning marched to Speckwinkel. In a valley near this place, the Fifteenth, with Luckner's Hussars, and a battalion of Hanoverians, halted, while the Hereditary Prince made a detour through the woods and mountains, with five battalions of Infantry and the horse and foot Chasseurs, to turn the left flank of the French, who were encamped in an opening in the mountains near Emsdorf. While the regiment was halted in the valley, two miles from the French camp. Major Erskine requested the men to place oak-branches in their helmets, and to evince a firmness in the engage- ment about to take place, corresponding with the inflexible character of the trees from which tlie branches were taken, when a general expression c 2 20 HISTORICAL RECORD OF ' 1 1760 of assent passed along the ranks, and indicated that the soldiers were ready to prove their innate bravery in close combat with the enemies of their king and country. A few shots on the right gave indication that the Prince had succeeded in turning the enemy's flank, and the Fifteenth mounted and are a' their swords. The French, unconscious of danger, were reposing in their camp between the hills, and issuing bread to the men, when they were sud- denly alarmed by the fire of musketry in the wood on their left, and throwing clown their bread, they ran to their arms. Two battalions covering the enemy's left were routed by the Chasseurs and Htssian Foot Guards ; the Allied Artillery opened a heavy fire upon the camp ; the five battalions under the Prince pressed forward ; the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, Luckner's Hussars, and the Hanoverian battalion, mounted the heights, and attacked the enemy's right, when the French fell back upon Sangenstein, leaving all their tents, artillery, and baggage behind. The Fifteenth and Luckner's Hussars galloped forward, and cut off the enemy from the road to Amoneburg; the French then threw themselves into a wood beyond the river Ohm, and continued their retreat. The Allied Infantry being unable to come up with the enemy, the Hereditary Prince placed himself at the head of the Fifteenth and a few Hussars, and dashing through the wood, overtook the French in a plain leading to Neider-klein. The Fifteenth, proud of being led by the Prince, and inflamed with his generous ardour, rushed upon THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 21 the French column, and used their broad swords 1760 with powerful effect. Having broken one body of opponents, they charged a second, — then a third, and afterwards a fourth, with equal intrepidity and determination. The regiment had arrived at the scat of war, anticipating opportunities to sig- nalize itself; the officers and soldiers panted for fame ; they had now full scope for the display of their prowess, and every man appeared an hero, performing astonishing feats of valour, and conti- nuing to press upon the enemy with a spirit and resolution, as if the whole success of the enter- prise depended upon his individual bravery. The French resisted manfully; many British Dragoons fell in the conflict ; but the survivors continued the fight, and cut down their opponents with a terrible carnage ; five hundred of the enemy hav- ing been separated from their main body, laid down their arms, and surrendered at discretion. These captives having been secured, the Prince led the Fifteenth and some Chasseurs forward in pursuit of the remainder, and overtaking them in a wood near Neider-klein, the French beat a parley, and surrendered prisoners of war*. Among the prisoners were Major-General de Glaubitz, * List of French prisoners taken near Emsdorf, on the 16th of July, 1760. Berchini's Hussars „ Infantry Prince of Anhalt's, 3 battalions Royal Baviere, 2 battalions Total Officera. Soldiers. 9 - 68 - 16 - 332 - 86 - 1069 - 67 - 1013 - 177 - 2482 — London Oazette. 22 HISTORICAL RECORD OP lii * ;■ : ! '! 1760 and Brigadier-General the Prince of Anhalt Coetlien; — Count Heffenberg and Count Mus- chinski were among the slain. The trophies were five guns and a howitzer; nine pair of colours (nearly all taken by the intrepidity of the Fif- teenth) ; and all the enemy's arms and baggage. Such were the results of the first enterprise in which the Fifteenth Light Dragoons were engaged; their gallant behaviour was a general theme of conversation, and was lauded by every individual, from the Commander-m-Chief to the youngest private soldier in the army*. Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick issued the following general order. ^^ Saoeenhamen Camp, 20th July, 1760. "His Serene Highness orders it to be pub- licly testified to the whole Army, how much he is charmed and satisfied with the good conduct and valour of the corps that fought on the 16th instant, under the orders of the Hereditary Prince. The praises His Serene Highness the Prince gave of them to the Duke, were such that nothing can be said in addition to them. His Serene Highness, therefore, gives his best thanks to these brave troops, and particularly to « « « « ;■.! * " Eijott's regiment, under the command of Major Erskine, did wonders." — London Gaxette. "The gallant behaviour of one particular regiment (Eliott's) was an honour to the British people." — History of the Seven Years' War. " Eliott's pierced five times the French Infantry (five battalions) : "—General De Glaubitz ; — the Prince of Anhalt-Coethen ; — " cannon, ■^c, all is ours ; — Eliott's performed wonders." — TAYiiOR's Correspondence of the Earl of Chatham, vol. ii. p. 64. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSAHS. 23 " Eliott's Regiment, which was allowed, by every 1760 " body present, to have done wonders. His Serene " Highness the Prince could not enough commend " to the Duke, the bravery, good conduct, and "good countenance, with which this Regiment " fought. His Serene Highness desires much to " be able to find means to acknowledge to Major "Erskine, principally, who was at the head of " that regiment, and led it on so gallantly, as well "as to the officers and private men, his real satis- " faction, and to have it in his power to do them " service. He desires these gentlemen to furnish *' him with an opportunity of so doing, and he will " seize it with pleasure." The loss of the regiment on this occasion, was Captain-Lieutenant Basil, Cornet Burt, two Serjeants, seventy-one rank and file, and one hundred and sixteen horses killed ; Cornets Par- kyns and Fulford, one serjeant, forty-seven rank and file, and fifty-two horses wounded; and its gallant conduct was subsequently rewarded with the royal authority to bear the word " Emsdorf" on its guidons and appointments. In a few days after the action at Emsdorf» the Allied army retreated from Saxenhausen towards Cassel, and at the end of the month crossed the Dymel, and routed the French troops at Warbourg on the same day. The Fifteenth, having delivered up their prisoners, and halted a few days in quarters of refreshment, joined the main army and were em- ployed on the Dymel during the subsequent part of this campaign. 24 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1761 On the 11th of February, 1761, the army crossed the Dymel and advanced in four columns, through a heavy snow, into the enemy's canton- ments. The Fifteenth Light Dragoons joined the leading column near Zierenberg, and subse- quently advanced to Gudersberg^ where a quantity of provision was captured. The French troops at Gudersberg threw themselves into an old castle, and they surrendered on the 16th of February. On the 17th> the army resumed its march, driving the enemy before it, and capturing extensive magazines. The Fifteenth advanced to Freysa ; they were subsequently employed in the blockade of Zeigenhayn; having been relieved from this duty, they proceeded to Kirchain, and the castle Amoneburgy within cannon-shot of Kirchain, sur- rendered ; the garrison, consisting of two officers and fifty soldiers of the Irish Brigade in the French service, becoming prisoners of war. From Kirchain the regiment advanced to Kleinselkeim, and was afterwards quartered be- tween the rivers Lahn and Ohm; in March it passed the Lahn. In the mean time, the Duke of Broglio had assembled the French forces, and when he advanced, the regiment was occupying a small village in front of the Allied army, not far from Marpurg. The morning of the 17th of March was particularly foggy; the patrols, re- turning at break of day, reported all well ; but soon afterwards a report arrived from the videttes of the approach of a large body of French Cavalry. Major Erskine ordered the regiment to turn out with as little noise as possible; then galloping THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 25 the forward at the head of the piquet of fifty men, he 1761 attacked the enemy with a line of skirmishers, keeping a few men in reserve at extended files. His skirmishers checked the enemy; the mist con- cealed the weakness of his force ; and while the French M'ere deploying and making dispositions for a general attack with their numerous squadrons, the Fifteenth had formed at their alarm post; the surgeon had led the baggage to the rear, and the regiment withdrew with a trifling loss, re- passing the Lahn at Neumahle on the same day; the Marquis of Granby also withdrew the four battalions from Marpurg, which place was immediately taken possession of by the French. The Allied army being unable to hold the position on the Ohm, in consequence of a scarcity of pro- vision and forage, it withdrew to its former quarters behind the Dymel. After reposing a short period in cantonments among the peasantry in the bishopric of Pader- born, and receiving a remount from England, the regiment once more took the field, and was actively employed in the various operations of the army; it was formed in brigade with two German regiments, and was attached to the body of troops commanded by Lieut.-General the JVIarquis of Granby. After several manoeuvres it was encamped on the bank of the Asse river, near Hans Hohen- over; the French attacked the post at Kirch Denkerny on the 15th of July, when Eliott's Light Dragoons took ground to the left, and forming behind the village of Fellinghausen, sup- ported the Infantry at that point. The enemy ■iK" ir 'i 1 ^ ' '^Afl ■I'iiii I 1 1(1 liiiji I!:: 26 HISTORICAL RECORD OP 1761 was repulsed ; he renewed the attack on the fol- lowing day, and was again defeated. The Fif- teenth moved forward, but the nature of the ground did not admit of their charging. The opposing armies manoeuvred, the Fif- teenth were frequently hovering near the flanks and rear of the French troops, and had occasional encounters with detachments of the enemy. On the 18th of August, the French forces, under the Duke of Broglio, marched towards Hoxter; the Allies struck their tents at noon, and followed their opponents ; during the march a number of British Grenadiers and Highlanders attempted to cut off some French baggage, but were charged by a body of Cavalry. Lieut. George IN^angle, of the Fifteenth, being in advance with twenty men, saw from some rising ground the perilous situa- tion of the Infantry, and galloped forward to their rescue. The French squadrons, startled at this spirited and unexpected attack, fell back and re-formed their ranks, and the Grenadiers and Highlanders thus escaped from the sabres of their enemies. The French horsemen maintained their ground until the regiment came up, when they were driven back with some loss. Halting in the evening, the regiment passed the night in the fields near Holtzhausen; the enemy crossing the Weser on the following day, the Fifteenth moved forward in pursuit, and their spirited conduct throughout the day was conspicuous, and proved particularly harassing to the enemy's rear-guard. The Fifteenth and the Black Hussars (Germans,) fell in with a large THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 27 train of waggons, laden with baggage and military J7GI stores, and attacking tlio escort with signal gal- lantry, thc-.j,ii far superior to themselves in num- bers, they brought oft' thirty waggons in sight of the French army. In August the regiment was employed on the Dymel, and on the 25th of that month it was engaged in the surprise and capture of three hun- dred French troops at Dringenhmj. On the 17th of September the regiment passed the Dymel, and advancing on the following day to Immcnhamen^ was engaged in forcing a body of French troops, com- manded by Lieut.-General Stainville, from the heights near that place. The Infantry and Artil- lery having driven the enemy from his post, Eliott's Light Dragoons dashed forward in pur- suit, broke the enemy's rear, cut down a number of men, and made some prisoners. The French penetrated into the Electorate of Hanover, and their divisions being much extended, Prince Ferdinand resolved to attack them. The Fifteenth were attached to the Marquis of Granby's division ; they took part in forcing the post at CapelnJiagen on the 4th of November ; on the 5th they were employed in preventing the march of a body of French troops through the defile between Escherhausen and Eimbec ; on the Cth and 7th the regiment was at Eimbec^ where some sharp skirmishing occurred ; and during the following night it marched through a heavy snow to Foorwohle. At this place the regiment was engaged in driving back a body of the enemy, and its conduct was commended by Prince Ferdinand, 28 I ' if IITSTOUICAL RECORD OF 1761 who was an eye-witness of its gallantry; on the 9th another skirmish took place. The regiment marched, in the early part of December, into cantonments in East Friesland. 1762 In March, 1762, Major William Erskine, who had repeatedly distinguished himself at the head of the regiment, was promoted to the Lieutenant- Colonelcy, in succession to Major-General the Earl of Pembroke. In May, 1762, the Fifteenth were again in the field, and eager for an opportunity to acquire fresh honours. They were encamped at Brakel, from whence they marched on the 20th of May to Warbourg, and on the 2lst they advanced to reconnoitre the enemy, but returned on the fol- lowing day. On the 24th of June the regiment was engaged in the surprise of the French army at Groeben- stien; the Fifteenth formed part of the force under the Marquis of Granby, and, leaving War- bourg before daylight, made a detour to turn the enemy's left, and succeeded in cutting oif the retreat of part of the French army. 'J'he Blues made a brilliant charge upon a body of the enemy; the Fifteenth evinced equal gallantry; and the other divisions of the army having forced the camp at Groebenstien, several French corps were made prisoners in the woods of Wilhelmsthal, The Fifteenth had two men and two horses killed ; three men and eleven horses wounded. General de Rochambeau having assembled a few brigades at Homhurg^ to cover the communica- tions of the French army with Frankfort, Eliott's THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 29 Light Horse were selected to take part in driving 1762 the French from thence. Tlie regiment marched from Iloff to Fritzlar, drove in the French out- posts on the Ist of July, and formed on some heights near Ilomburg ; the other regiments, under the Marquis of Granby, forming in its rear. At the same time Lord Frederic Ca-vendish's Hussars began to skirmish with the French, who struck their tents, and formed at the foot of the moun- tain, and behind the hedges near the town, and afterwards began retiring. The Marquis of Gran- by's corps moved to the right, and the Fifteenth and four Hanoverian squadrons charged the French rear twice, with great bravery. A large body of French Cavalry faced about, and dashed sword in hand upon the Fifteenth; but the Blues came galloping forward, and overthrew the French horse- men. The two British regiments were exposed to very superior numbers; but the Fifteenth skirmished with great spirit, and the Blues ma- noeuvring in squadron, the gallant bearing of the two regiments kept the enemy in check until the arrival of the brigade of British Grenadiers and Highlanders, when the French made a pre- cipitate retreat. The Blues and Eliott's Light Dragoons pursued with great bravery, and charged the enemy's rear, taking some prisoners. Lieut.- Colonel Erskine and Major Ainslie of the regi- ment, highly distinguished themselves on this occasion, and were commended in the public despatches. On the 30th of July the regiment was de- tached from the Marquis of Granby 's corps, and 80 HISTORICAL RECORD OF \» M ' I. ir 'ii';' 1762 was cirploycd in an enterprise under General Luckncr; it took part in several skinniwhes, and was eventually attached to the troo|)8 under tlio command of the Hereditary I'rince of IJrunswick. After several manoeuvres the Prince of Conde, who cimimanded a separate body of French troops, marched to join the main Frencl army. Tlio Hereditary Prince endeavoured to prevent this junction, and gained some advantage over the Prince of Conde's advance-guard, on tlio 22nd of August. The French army retired on Fricdbcrfj, and the Prince of Conde moved towards the same point, to form a junction witli the two Marshals, Soubise and d'Estrees. The Hereditary Prince of Brunswick advanced to occupy an advantageous post near Friedberg on the 30th of August ; and, encountering a body of French troops, a sharp action ensued, in which the Fifteenth had another opportunity of signalizing themselves. The He- reditary Prince was not aware that the whole French army was near; but imagining he had only the Prince of Conde's division before him, he attacked with great spirit, and drove the enemy from the mountains of Johannesberg into the plain. Superior numbers of fresh troops coming forward, the Hereditary Prince was forced to retreat. The French Cavalry pressing onward, His Serene Highness was nearly surrounded by a regiment of Hussars, when the Fifteenth Light Dragoons galloped forward, drove back the Hus- sars, and enabled the Prince to withdraw. The regiment was fiercely engaged for some time, and THE FIFTEENTH T1US8AR9. 81 hnd several men killed and wounded; and Major 17^2 Ainnlie vvaH attacked by throe Hussars, and re- ceived a dangerous wound in the heaion of all his facuiti' ,it th*. age of eighty-six years. + I 111! following anecdotes have been ])rcserved by the regi- ITJ« nt ; but tl\e date and place when and where the circumstances oct'urrvd, have not been ascertained. Pouring the campaigns in Germany, on one occasion, after a repulse, and a march of seventy miles in twenty-four hours, when scarcely a liorse was able to walk. Major Erskinc saw a regiment of French Infantry formed with a morass in its rear ; and advanc- ing, he called upon the commanding officer to surrender, to pnn'cnt his men from being cut to pieces bv a large body of Cavalry that was approaching. This l)eing refused, tlie Major Siiid, " Your blood must be upon your own heads." ud turned round to go back to his regiment ; the French called upon him to sta^, and laying down their arms, sun-endered tliemselves prisoners of war. On another occasion, Eliott's Li ;,'ht liorse saw a regiment of Dragoons of the Allied army hUiTounded, and in danger of lieing cut to jiieces, when the regiment instantly galloped forward, and cutting a passage through the ranks of the enemy, gave the Dra- goons an opportunity of extricating themselves from their perilous situation. 32 HISTORICAL RECORD OF J :»:|:M! ■ 4 i>- I m '! m' 1763 January, 1763, commenced its march through Holland to Williamstadt, where the troops em- barked for Great Britain ; the strength of Eliott's regiment was, according to the embarkation re- turn, six hundred and eleven rank and file, and five hundred and seventy-seven horses. The regiment landed at Yarmouth and Graves- end, from whence it marched to Hounslow, Kings- ton, and neighbouring villages ; and King George III. took an early opportunity of reviewing this distinguished corps in Hyde Park. This took place on the 25th of July; when the sixteen stand of colours captured by the regiment in Germany, were presented to His Majesty, and the King was graciously pleased to reward its com- manding officer, Lieut.-Colonel William Erskine, with the dignity of a Knight Banneret. At the same time His Majesty was pleased to express, in very gracious terms, his royal approbation of the gallantry of the officers and soldiers during the period they had served in Germany, where their behaviour had procured for them an exalted cha- racter, and reflected honour on the British nation. Soon after the review, the regiment was reduced to a peace establishment of two hundred and thirty-one officers and soldiers. 1764 In 1764 the drummers were exchanged for trumpeters, who, with the hautboys, were to form a small band ; the size of the men was also fixed at from five feet five, to five feet seven inches, and of the horses, from fourteen hands three inches, to fifteen hands. 1765 On the 3rd of June, 1765, Eliott's Light THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 89 Light Dragoons were reviewed by His Majesty in Hyde 1765 Park, and were afterwards stationed at Hounslow, and employed on the escort duty. They were again reviewed by the King on the 26th of May, 1 766 1766, in brigade, with Burgoyne's (Sixteenth) Light Dragoons, and His Majesty was so highly pleased with the appearance of these two distin- guished regiments, and with their continued good conduct, that, before quitting the field, he com- manded Eliott's to be in future designated " The King's," and Burgoyne's "The Queen's" regi- ments of Light Dragoons, as a special mark of his royal favour, and approbation of their conduct in Germany and Portugal, and also of their attention to duty, and their correct discipline since their return to England. In November the facings of the Fifteenth were ordered to be changed from green to blue. The Fifteenth were for several years styled " The King's Royal Regiment of Light Dragoons," but the word "Royal" was subsequently discontinued. The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Light Dragoons 1767 were reviewed in brigade by His Majesty, on the 25th of May, 1767, and again on the 9th of May, 1768. 1768 The follov;ing description of the clothing and guidons is taken from the King's warrant of the 19th of December, 1768. Fifteenth, or King's Light Dragoons: — Coats, — scarlet, with half lappels, faced and lined with blue, white metal buttons, with the cipher lJ^d, set on two and two. Waistcoats and Breeches, — white. D 'Mh i I ■]' i 11 .!.'!: I hi II i; !^i ■':| i ! w- 34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1768 Helmets, — black, ornamented with white metal devices, and scarlet horse hair on the crest. Boots, — reaching to the knee. Cloaks, — scarlet, with blue capes. Horse Furniture, — of blue cloth, having a border of royal lace ; the King's crest within the garter embroidered upon the housings ; and upon the holster caps, His Majesty's -cipher, with the crown over it, and the number of the regiment underneath. Guidons, — the first, or King's guidon, to be of crimson silk ; in the centre, the rose and thistle conjoined, and crown over them, and His Ma- jesty's motto, Dieu et mon Droit, underneath ; the white horse in a compartment in the first and fourth corners, and the rank of the regiment, on a blue ground, in the second and third corners : the second and tliird guidons to be of blue silk ; in the centre, the King's crest within the garter, and the word '■'^ Emsdoi'f'^ underneath; the white horse, on a red ground, in a compartment in the first and fourth corners ; and the rank of the regiment, on a red ground, within a small wreath of roses and thistles, in the second and third corners : the tliird guidon to be distinguished by a figure 3, on a small circular red ground, under the M'ord Emsdm^f. 1769 King George HI. took great interest in the condition of his army; during his reign improve- ments were, from time to time, introduced, which became the ground- work of a very superior system of equitation and evolutions. His Majesty re- viewed a number of corps every summer, and the THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 35 I 1 fine appearance and efficiency of any particular 1769 regiment was certain to procure for it the royal favour. The condition of the Light Cavalry was a subject of lively interest with the King on all occasions, and the Fifteenth had the honour to enjoy the special regard and countenance of their Sovereign : they were generally stationed in the southern and midland counties of England ; they frequently occupied quarters near the royal resi- dence, and a detachment was constantly stationed, for many years, in the vicinity of the metropolis, to furnish escorts for the royal family. The regi- ment was reviewed by the King nearly every summer, on which occasions the Queen, and mem- bers of the royal family, were usually present. His Majesty reviewed the regiment on the 8th of May, 1769; 16th of April, 1770; 25th of May, 1771; 18th of May, 1773; 9th of May, 1774; 7th of October, 1776; and again on the 9th of June, 1777. The American war had, in the mean time, commenced; in 1778, the regiment was aug- mented to fifty-four men, and fifty-four horses per troop; and in 1779, it was encamped on Caven- ham-heath, near Bury St. Edmonds, and after- wards on Lexdon-heath, near Colchester. A detachment marched into Lancashire to aid the civil power in preserving the public peace at Manchester; it was followed by the regiment; but the whole returned to the south in 1780, and i780 on the 11th of June, 1781, the regiment was 1 781 reviewed by His Majesty on Hounslow-heath. In 1782, the Fifteenth were stationed in 1782 D 2 1770 1771 1774 1776 1777 1778 1779 if \ li'l * 7 I Hi II I I . 36 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1782 Yorkshire ; the American war having terminated, J 783 the establishment was reduced, in 178S, to thirty- one men, and thirty-one horses, per troop ; and in 1784 1784, the colour of the clothing was changed from scarlet to blue, and the facings from blue to scarlet. 1785 At this period, the regiment frequently fur- nished a number of detached parties along the coast, to aid the officers of the revenue in the prevention of smuggling, which proved a particu- 1787 larly harassing service. In 1787, it was employed on the escort duty ; and in the middle of May, 1790 1790, it was reviewed by His Majesty on Black- heath. This year the regiment lost its distinguished commander, the gallant General Lord Heathfield, who died at his Chateau at Aix-la-Chapelle, on the 6th of July, 1790; he was succeeded by Lieut.-General Lord Dorchester, K.B., by commis- sion dated the 16th of July. 1791 A revolution had, in the mean time, taken place in France, where men, inflamed with repub- lican principles, had filled their country with anarchy and confusion. Sentiments favourable to the doctrines of the French revolutionists, were entertained by many persons in England, while others evinced a warm attachment to the institu- tions of their co^ itry. In the middle of July, 1791, a house at Birmingham, where a number of advocates of the French revolution were assem- bled, was attacked and demolished ; the populace, believing the church and state were in danger, attacked and burnt the houses of persons sus- THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 87 prcted of republican principles, destroyed several 1791 meeting-houses belonging to the Dissenters, and continued their destructive proceedings in Bir- mingham, and the neighbourhood of that town, for three days. Three troops of the Fifteenth, commanded by Captain John Polhill, marched from Nottingham to Birmingham (fifty-nine miles) in one day, and arriving soon after ten o'clock on the night of Sunday, the 17th of July, were hailed with acclamations, the town was immediately illuminated, and order was restored before the following morning. Additional forces arrived; the country for ten miles round Birmingham was scoured by parties of the military, and the destruc- tion of much valuable property was prevented. A detachment of the regiment was afterwards employed in suppressing disturbances at Sheffield, and the destruction of much property by fire was also prevented on that occasion. On the 14th of May, 1792, the regiment was 1792 reviewed by His Majesty ; and, the violent pro- ceedings of the French republicans rendering a war inevitable, its establishment was augmented, from time to time ; and in March, 1793, its num- 1793 bers were fixed at nine troops of fifty-four men and horses each. Hostilities having commenced on the Conti- nent, four troops, under the command of Brevet Lieut.-Colonel George Churchill, were ordered from the monotony of country quarters for the animating services of the field, where the spirit of enterprise, talents, and personal bravery of the officers and soldiers would be called forth. They embarked at • 38 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1793 Black wfill, on the 24th of April*, landed at Ostend on the Ist of May, and, advancing up the country, joined the army commanded by His Royal High- ness the Duke of York; the Light Cavalry, con- sisting of two squadrons of the Seventh, Eleventh, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth regiments, formed one brigade under Major-General Ralph Dundas. Before day-light on the 23rd of May, the regiment advanced, and as the rays of the sun began to gild the horizon, it arrived on the banks of the Ronelle, near the village of Artie; the river was passed; the enemy's batteries were taken in flank, and his numerous forces were driven from the strong camp of Famars. " It was "a glorious sight," observes an eye-witness, "to "see the line of battle formed for an extent of " several miles ; in one place squadrons of Cavalry " were charging each other ; in another the enemy "was fleeing and ours pursuing, with the swift "movements of the field artillery, displaying all " the skill and dexterity peculiar to themselvesf ." During the siege of Valenciennes^ the regiment formed part of the investing force, and was encamped in a fine open country, delightfully variegated with lawns, fruitful fields, and gentle undulations ; it was there employed in the out- post duty : this fortress surrendered to the British arms before the end of July. The regiment left the vicinity of Valenciennes * List of the detachment of the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, which embarked 24tli April, 1793: — Lieut.-Colonel Chiircliill ; Captains Whellock, Erskine, Pock- liiigton, Ogle ; Lieutenants Ryan, Seymour, Calcraft, Keir ; four quarter-masters, twelve Serjeants, four trumpeters, two hundred and twelve rank and file, and two hundred and twenty horses. t Brown's Journal. THE FIFTEKNTU HUSSARS. on the Cth of August ; on the 7th, it was in 1793 advance during a march of eleven hours on an extremely hot day, and luilted in the evening on the heights of Maniei'es. Being in front of the army, one squadron was kej)t in constant readiness for immediate action. Soon after the army had halted, Lieut.-Colonel Churchill took the Fif- teenth to a brook, to water their horses; on returning, he observed two hundred French Dra- goons at a short distance, and he instantly led the equipped squadron against them ; leaving orders for the men of the other squadron to put on their accoutrements and follow, whilst Sir Robert Law- rie ordered the Sixteenth Light Dragoons to mount and advance in support. The first squadron of the Fifteenth proved, however, more than a match for its opponents ; these gallant dragoons, eager for distinction, were not dismayed when they discovered that the enemy was twice as nu- merous as themselves ; but darting forward, sword in hand, they overthrew the adverse ranks, sabred a number on the spot, and made prisoners two offi- cers, forty-four French Dragoons, and sixty horses. This exploit was achieved with the loss of only two men wounded, and one horse missing. The army advanced on the following day to drive the French troops from their strong post on the Scheldt, called the Camp-de-Cesar ; but they had retired in the night. The Light Cavalry were sent forward in pursuit; the enemy's rear was overtaken, and some guns and prisoners were taken. The Fifteenth had one man wounded on this occasion. From the Scheldt, the British arniv directed 40 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1793 its march across the country to the strong fortress of Dunkirk, and the Fifteenth formed part of the covering army during the siege of this place ; but the delay which occurred in the arrival of the heavy artillery, and of the naval force which was to have co-operated, together with the overpower- ing efforts of the enemy, obliged the Duke of York to raise the siege. On retiring from before Dunkirk, the Fifteenth were with the rear-guard, and by their activity and address, in skirmishing with, and keeping in check, a large body of French Cavalry, they prevented the loss of a quantity of baggage, belonging to the Foot Guards and other regiments. The army proceeded to the vicinity of Menin, and the Fifteenth took the out-post duty at Wervvick on the Lys; a station of importance, and, from its proximity to the enemy's garrisons* requiring vigilance and address. Menin was taken by the French, and when the Duke of York put his troops in motion for its re-capture, a squadron of the Seventh, and another of the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, formed part of the force detached under Major-General Aber- croniby, against Lannoy. On the 28th of October, the French were driven from Lannoy by the fire of the Artillery, and commenced their retreat; Lieut.-Colonel Churchill led the two squadrons over abattis and other obstructions ; the Seventh passed on the right of the town ; the Fifteenth on the left, and overtaking the enemy's rear, some desperate fighting took place: oflficers and men passing hedges, ditches, and other obstructions, intercepted parties of the French in the fields, 1 1 ,; : n THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 41 and numerous single combats took place; one 1793 hundred Frenchmen were left on the ground, and fifty-nine were taken prisoners, when night put an end to the pursuit. The loss of the.rcgi- ment was limited to one man killed and three wounded. The regiment was subsequently employed on the out-post duty in front of Engelfontaine, from whence a squadron, under Captain Robert Pock- lington, advanced towards Cateau and Landrecies, to support a reconnoissance made in that direction by the Prince of Schwarzenburg, at the head of a regiment of Hulans. The enemy's posts fell back : but the Prince, and a party of his Hulans, advanced so far that they were nearly surrounded by a large body of French Cavalry. Captain Pocklington, seeing the danger the Prince was in, instantly led one half squadron forward, and inter- posed between the French and the Hulans ; Lieu- tenant William Keir galloped out to the right with the other half squadron, and forming a little in front of Captain Pocklington, a sharp skirmish ensued, during which the Prince made good his retreat. Captain Pocklington and Lieu- tenant Keir were most cordially thanked by Prince Schwarzenburg, who said he attributed his escape to the gallant and audacious bearing of the Fif- teenth, which led the enemy to believe there was a larger force in reserve, and he promised to mention the excellent conduct of the officers and soldiers to the Duke of York *. * It is believed thut Prince Schwarzenlniig fullilled this promise, as, some years afterward?, when the King was reviewing I i '. \". i t ;■ ■ 11, Ii in "i:ii !i-l! i:4 42 HISTORICAL KRCOUD OF 1794 In the spring of 1794, the four troops in Flanders were joined by a detacliment froin Eng- land. They had performed the out-post duty in front of Courtray during the winter, and a few rencounters had taken place. The army assem- bled near Courtray, and advanced to the vicinity of Cateau, where the British, Auntrians, Dutch, Hanoverians, and Hessians, were reviewed by the Emperor of Germany on the IGth of April. On the foHowing day the Allied army advanced, and drove the enemy from a line of fortified posts. The Fifteenth Light Dragoons formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Sir William Ers- kine, which stormed, and drove the enemy from his post at Prernont. Their commanding-officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Churchill, had his collar-bone broken in this affair f . The regiment formed part of the covering army during the siege of Landrecies, and occupied for several days an out-post beyond the river Selle. On the 23rd of April it advanced from the vicinity of St. Hilaire with two squadrons of the Austrian Hussars .of Leopold, under General Otto, to recon- noitre the enemy, who was reported to be in force at the Cam p-de-C tsar, near Cambray, — to have driven the Hessian videttes from the Selle, — and to have intercepted the Emperor of Germany between Valenciennes and Catillon, on his way from Brussels to join the army. The French the regiment at Weymouth, he asked Major Pocklington if lie was the officer who commanded tlie squadron on tlie above occasion, and His Majesty was pleased to compliment him on his conduct. t In the attack of Pn'mont, Ca})tain the llonouralde Thomas Carleton, of the First, or Royal Dragoons, son of Lord Dorchester, was killed hv a cannon-ball. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 48 ])eing found in force at Villiers-en-CoucM, ten 1704 additional squaclrons were sent from tlie Duke of York's army to reinforce General Otto. Early on the following morning, the two squadrons of the Fifteenth, under Major William Aylett, mustering about one hundred and eighty- six ofiicers and soldiers, and one hundred and twenty of Leopold's Hussars, led by Major-General the Baron Senthoresky, went sweeping along the valley of the Selle, followed at some distance by two squadrons of the Zetchwitz Cuirassiers, the Blues, First Dragoon Guards, Royal Dragoons, and Eleventh Light Dragoons ; the whole under the orders of General Otto. About seven o'clock, while traversing the low grounds towards Montre- cour, they arrived at an extensive dwarf-wood which lay in front of their right ; a few skirmishers penetrated among the trees, and drove from thence a i)arty of French Chasseurs a Cheval and Hussars, who made a precipitate retreat towards their main body of about ten thousand men (as was afterwards verified); but the Artillery and Infantry of this corps d'arnu'e was masked by a line of Cavalry which thrcAV its right on the village of Villiers-en-Co iche, and covered itself by a cloud of skirmishers. The allied detachment felt itself committed to a desperate conflict with the force in view, for no sign of the supporting column was perceptible; — by some mistake of orders it had pursued a wrong direction. General Otto halted the little handful only now at his disposal, and calling out the commanding officer?, told them " that they had advanced too far to retreat ; that 'I 1. l\<> ' [r;;r. tv 1' :■ ■ V. I: \ \ t' 1!^! il ii f 1; i ) 44 IlIhTUUICAL RBCUUD uF 1794 ** tliG attempt would bo death with dishonour; tho " attack perhaps death, but with gh)ry ; that tlic " Emperor's safety depended upon their courage " and success to rescue liim ; that they must not " embarrass themselves with prisoners after the " charge, their numbers being too few*:" and con- cluded a few animating sentences with the words, — " Yesterday was the feast of St. George ;" — '* St. George and victory!" The enthusiasm of the old warrior communicated itself to all. Those of the Austrians and English, who, during this address, had collected round him, crossed their swords in token of a devoted jiledge to sustain each other; and the squadrons shouted concurrent acclamations ; " Wo will save the Emperor !" ran through the ranks, and opposing numbers and all sense of danger vanished from the thought; — it was a moment of intense interest, and a scene of glorious emotions. The order was given to advance ; the Fifteenth being directed to charge in front, and the Leopold Hussars to gain and turn the enemy's left flank. In vain the swarm of skirmishers attempted to check with a sharp galling fire ; the proper distance gained at a swift trot, the charge was sounded ; the French Cavalry wheeled outward and broke, exposing a line of In- fantry with cannon, which immediately opened their fire, and which proved fatal to many of the fugi- tives, who were unable to clear away from the front; but nothing could arrest the impetuous progress * The French National Convention had decreed tlmt no quarter should be given to the English. THE FIFTEKNTII IIUSSAUS. 45 of the assailants. The Infantry in lino, of which 1791 the front ranic l^neoled, was ridden over; an ob- long square, composed of six battalions, was broken and dispersed ; and a long line of cannon (fifty l)ieces) and ammunition waggons*, which had been moving and retiring along the Chausseo leading to Villiers-en-Couche, presented but a momentary check to the pursuit and massacre. The Leopold Hussars, inspired by the samo emu- lous feelings, had nobly dor-v> their duty,- -over- thrown every impediment, and continued their career with all the energy and speed tl-nr weaker horses permitted ; never had tiiare be- a displ yed a more brilliant and generous rivalry. The French Cavalry had attempted ouce to form behind their Infantry, but th -Mied 8(iua- drons darted at them, and they ag.iin lied in the wildest panic and confusion, whilst the glittering sabres of the victors gleamed among the dense mass, like flashes of lightning. The guns of Bou- chain, and a sallying force from ttiat city, first ^ afforded some respite to the fugitives. The bugles of the Fifteenth sounded a halt, and on the re-formation of the squadrons, they commenced their retreat in a quick trot, but in perfect order. The enemy, which had 1. -r sembled on the flanks in various bodies, could not imagine that the small corps thus coming from Bouchain was the return- ing force that had discomfitted their whole corps d'annee, but believed it to be part of their own * All tills would have been retained, had the siiitporthipr column arrived in time. w i ' 1 ' 1 ,;, ■ "'i i ■' J ■'' , i if ■ , It ^:■ ■; i i ■ ;Mi 46 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1794 Cavalry; *and an officer, under that mistake, approaching to give it orders, was ridden at and shot. On nearing Villiers-en-Couche, it was seen that the enemy's battalions had again col- lected, and taken up a position to intercept the passage across the Chausste, which lay in a ravine. The long-wished-for column of Heavy Cavalry, and other allied troops, were, however, seen mov- ing forwards on the other side; and, therefore, after some manoeuvring to mislead the enemy and check the troops following from Bouchain, a change of front was suddenly made, a charge ordered, and a passage effected through the Infan- try, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, but fortunately the sudden and unexpected attack had again occasioned a favouring confusion. The results of this remarkable combat were twelve hundred men killed and wounded, several hundred of whom were of the Black Hussar regi- ment, — three pieces of cannon retained in posses- sion ; — the dislodgment of all the French posts from the Selle ; — and the consequent safety of His Imperial Majesty. The loss of the King's regiment of Light Dragoons was, one Serjeant, sixteen rank and file, and nineteen horses killed ; Major Aylett bayo- netted through the body, one serjeant, eleven rank and file, and eighteen horses wounded: Captain Ryan*, Lieutenant Calcraft, Cornets Blount, Ml * Captain Ryan's horse had his tongue shot out with grape- shot, but the noble animal went through the day's fatigue, and lived, being long fed on milk, gruel, Sic. I, :t.'. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 47 Butler, and Wilson, had their horses wounded 179.], under them *. Lieut.-General Otto, who commanded the detachment from the Allied army, and witnessed this display of valour, signed an attestation of the foregoing memorable facts, of which the following is a copy. " When His Imperial Majesty's army besieged " Landrecies, a French city, and His Royal High- " ness the Duke of York's army formed the right " wing near Cateau, where I was placed, the " enemy endeavoured, by different attacks, to pre- " vent the siege, and, to effect this purpose, they " assembled about twenty-four thousand men at " Cesar's Camp, and advanced, on the 23rd of *' April, 1794, in three columns, attacked the Im- " perial troops near Douchy, Avernes le Second, " Villiers-en-Couche, Harpres, and the Hessian " advanced-posts near the river Selle, who were " forced to retire. Major-General Sentheresky, " who was on my right flank near St. Hilaire, with " two Hussar and two English Light Dragoon "squadrons, informed me of the circumstance. " I reconnoitred the enemy, who were ten tliou- " sand strong, composed of Cavalry and Infantry, " and advanced as far as Villiers-en-Couche. Seeing " how serious it was, as the enemy's patrols had " pushed on to the other side of the river Selle, I " sent for a reinforcement, which arrived on the " same day. I marched on the 24th April, 1794, " in front of the enemy, and ordered them to be * Major Aj/lett hamnkm ii^l I i,j„ ! r S: '. ■ ;'^ 52 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1794 that menaced his person, who, being on the road from Valenciennes to Catillon, was cut off by the patrols of the enem}, as His Majesty, ora that day, was returning from Brussels to tlie army, and the enemy's ['atrols had already passed the river Selle. " The coura^^eoutf conduct of this ri!giaient. animated by its brave officers, is so much the more meritorious, as the main column of the Allied army did not arrive to its support; but this gallant regiment, abandoned to itaelf, relied on its own valour, attacked the exit my so much stronger, and whose bravery alone prevented the melancholy consequences above stated ; and, not content with that, they took from the enemy, who were so much more numerous, three pieces of cannon. (Signed,) " Maxam, Comte de Merfeld, " Major-General." «i;i < I i *1 \. 1 1 !ii Names of the officers of the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, engaged near Cambray, on the 24 th of April, 1794:— Major .... . William Aylett. Captains. . . . . Robert Pocklington. Edward Michael Ryan. Lieutenants . . Thomas Ghanby Calcraft. William Keiu. Thomas Duurkll Blount. Coi-neta . Edward G. Bu'^ler. Robert Wilson. This signal display of heroism on the part of the officers and soldiers >'C i,\ie Fifteenth Light Dragoons, made a lastir •. -pression on the mind % •Tr'a TilE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 53 of the Emperor of Germany, and in 1800 the 1794 following letter was received by Lieut.-Colonel Aylett from Lord Minto, the British Envoy and Plenipotentiary at the Court of Vienna. « « « « « « « n « « < « Sib, " Vienna, November 7th, 1800. " I have received from his Excellency Baron Thugut, eight Crosses of the Order of Maria Theresa, which the Emperor has been pleased to confer on yourself and seven other officers of the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, who distin- guished themselves in a most gallant action near Villiers-en-Couche, on the 24th April, 1794. " His Imperial Majesty had already testified the high sense he entertained of the brilliant and important service which the regiment per- formed on that occasion, by presenting the officers engaged with a medal, struck for the purpose of commemorating that brilliant action, and affording to those who achieved it a lasting testimony of his approbation and gratitude. It was deemed worthy at the time of the Cross of Maria Theresa, but, at that period, a doubt was entertained, whether this order could be con- ferred on foreigners ; that difficulty being now removed, His Imperial IMajesty avails himself with pleasure of the occasion to evince his high esteem for the regiment, as well as his regard foi- the individuals, by investing with this order of merit gentlemen who have proved themseb es so V orthy to wear it. " In transii itting to you these crosses, to be M HISTORICAL RECORD OF I If ' If .. «< « U 1794 " distributed to the officers for whom they are destined, I cannot omit the opportunity of ex- pressing the satisfaction I have experienced from the share wliich my situation here has afforded me in a transaction which, while it does honour to the liberality of His Imperial Majesty, and throws so much lustre on the corps, and on those who are immediately con- cerned, reflects, at the same time, credit on the " country to which they belong. " I have, &c. " MlNTO." King George III. was graciously pleased to give to the eight officers of the Fifteenth his royal license and permission to accept the rank of Knight of the Imperial Order of Maria Theresa, and to wear the insignia of the order* ; and the royal authority was afterwards given for the regiment to bear the words " Villi ers-en- Couchf, " on its guidons and appointments Two days after the action at Villiers-en-Couche, the position occupied by the troops under His Royal Highness the Duke ol York at Cateau was attacked by a numerous French army, which was repulsed with considerable loss. The Fifteenth Light Drjigoons were in reserve on this occasion, and did not have an opportunity of charging the enemy. * By the statutea of the Order all knights are created barons of the empire ; and the Emperor granted the British knights, as supporters, an Austrian hussar of Leopold, and a soldier of the Fifteenth Light Dragoons. ^ THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. i)0 Landrecies having surrendered, the regiment 1794 left the vicinity of that fortress at eleven o'clock on the night of the 30th of April, and formed the advance-guard of the army, which proceeded by forced marches to Tournay, where it arrived on the 3rd of May. For six days the army occupied a position in front of Tournay without interruption; but at day-break on the morning of the 10th of May, a few pistol-shots fired by the advance-posts, gave indication of an approaching enemy, and, soon afterwards, thirty-thousand republican troops, com- manded by General Pichegru, m ere seen advancing in broad dense columns to attack the British line. The battle commenced; the French rushed forward with ferocious shouts ; but failed in their attempts to turn the left and force the centre of the British army. The Duke of York seized the favourable moment, and sent eighteen squadrons ^f^ainst the enemy's right flank. The left squadroi. o^ the Fifteenth was at the head of the column ; tue enemy's flank was gained ; a few guns opened a sharp fire, and before the smoke had cleared away, the British squadrons had broken the enemy's lines, and were trampling and cutting down their routed adversaries. The French army commenced retreating ; but its order was soon broken, and it was driven from the field with the Ic ?» of three thousand men and thirteen pieces of cannon. The Fifteenth had three opportunities of charging the French Infantry, and in which they sustained the reputation they had already acquired ; their loss was four V-^rses killed; fourteen rank and file and rJlfc^^^SS n. i J i ¥ : i'i 1 !•■ i !■ h Ii 4 ' r 1!; 1, ■;■ 50 inSTOKlCAL UKCDRD OF J 7JJ4 sixteen horses woimded. In this action the British Cavalry suffered by attempting to charge a French square of several thousand men, covered h n -ape fiold, M'hich was not discovered un'.il the sqiui'irons had plunged into it. A general attack on the posts occupied oy the French army, vas appointed to take place on the 17th of May, on which occasion the Fifteenth were altMcl'C'^ > the column under His Royal Highness tlie Duke of York, which forced the enemy to evacuate Lnnnoy, and afterwards a(^ an- cing to Roubait; also captured that j>lace. The troops halted until the evening, when, at the request of the Emperor, Lieut.-General Aber- cromby advanced against the fortified j)ost of Mouveau^, a village two miles distant, situated upon some high ground, surrounded \\\i\\ }>alisades and entrenchments, protected bv redoubts. The Artillery having made some impression on the works, the flank battalion of the Foot Guavv ? stormed the post, supported by the first battalion, and by the Seventh and Fifteenth Light Dra- goons, under Lieut.-Colonel Churchill, and forced the enemy to retire. When the French began to give way, tbc Foot Guards opened out, and the Seventh and Fifteenth, passing through the inter- val, dashed ui)on the enemy, who was instantly routed, and who fled in confusion, having first set fire to some houses on the Chaussee to cover his retreat. The Light Dragoons galloped forward in pursui', und-'d the village, and, intercepting the flying e)»emy, ut down about three hundred men : Lieut.-Colonel Churchill, Lieutenant Blount, and Til FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 67 a fow men of tljc Fifteenth, pursued even as far 179 !• as Bouderes, and riding into a Fremdi camp, found the huts standing and the French soldiers flying from it in every direction, many of whom were overtaken and cut down. The regiment returned to thehillof Mouveaux, where it passed the night. Tiic other colunnis of the Allied army had, in the mean time, been unable to accomplish their part of the combined movement, and the British were left, unsupported, to bear the weight of the enemy's immense numbers. The town of Mouveaux had unfortunately been fired, and the flames of the church-tower served as a beacon to the French advancing columns. The morning of the 18th of May was ushered in by a heavy can- nonade and tirailleur fire; nmltitudes of French Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery appeared advan- cing in every direction, and by nine o'clock Lieut.- General Abercromby found the feeble force he had with him, nearly surrounded by crowds of oppo- nents, without prospect of aid ; at the same time he received orders from the Duke of York, who had been cut off from the column, to retire on Roubaix. He fell back fighting the whole way, and as he passed through the town, he was pur- sued and environed by crowds of enemies, who kept shouting and assailing the c()!imin with grape and musketrv. The town of Ilonbaix. consisted of a very long street, at the extremity of which was a road that ran straight forward into the country, while the chaussee turned to the right immediately on leaving the gate. The chaussee was flanked with a deep ditch on one side, and a deep running stream on the other, and there was a thick wood V ' > iJi r>8 HISTORICAL RKCOKi- OV nDirouiul tlio town. The Baro Hussars, and the Fifteenth Light Dragoons, followed the British Foot Guards, who wore preceded by the Artillery, — above fifty pieces of cannon, ammunition wag- gons, &c. The movement was necessarily very slow, as there was firing in front, flanks, and rear; however, all the Cavalry had entered the town ; the Sixteenth Light Dragoons were formed in the market-place; the rear-guard of the Fifteenth, under Cornet Wilson, still keeping in check out- side of it the French Cavalry that was advancing by the chaussee from Lisle. On a sudden there was a complete halt, and in a few seconds a cannon-ball from a gun which the French had planted in the road enfilading the street, struck among the Barco Hussars, taking off the heads of several ; a second and a third quickly followed. The confusion, the impatience under this fire in such a helpless position, were indescribable; some of the Hussars attempted to lead their horses through the houses and gar- dens at the back ; but it was found impossible to escape in any way from this cid de sac. In the interim, the French pressed upon every side and opened their fire from all quarters. The cry of "forward," "charge," "forward," became universal* At length motion was given to the mass, which soon increased to a gallop in fullest speed. At the end of the town some French Infantry was posted, not only with the gun in the road, which kept playing up the street, but also on a bank which enfiladed the chaussee, and so near to the exit, and turn, as to wound oflScers and men with the bayonet on passing. However the gauntlet THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 60 liad been niii, and the rear-guard of all had 1704 advanced on the chausst'o abovo two hundred yards, still at the top of speed, when a dead stop was made by the whole body. This smlden check to a career of such velocity was terrific ; men and horses were thrown back and down, struggling and trampling on each other in the wildest agony: the whistling balls, the cries of the sufferers, the shouts of the exulting foe, with the report of the cannon and musketry, aggravated the scene of confusion. How any of the horsemen kept, or recovered, their seats, and escaped, is still inexplicable; but at length, with the aid of some of the gallant Foot Guards, jiassages, up and down the banks of the stream, were made, and the survivors were enabled to clear the chaussee, gallop through the wood, — form in open ground beyond, — and rally the whole broken rear-guard into order; but it was with deep regret they saw themselves obliged to aban- don all their artillery (fifty pieces, &c.) from which the drivers had taken the horses when the fire first opened on the chaussee, and fled with them, and which panic act had been the cause of the stop and all the dreadful disaster that ensued*. The British continued their retreat; their numerous enemies pouring down upon them in all directions!, and at every avenue, or pass, guns were planted ready to flank them. On approach- ing Lannoy, it was found occupied by the enemy, and the column, after one of the most brilliant * At that period the drivers were not enlisted soldiers; but refuse-scamps collected in London ; under no discipline or controul whatever. They were not even militarily clothecf. t Pichegru manoeuvred on them with 00,000 men. yjH... i * I m !• 60 HISTORICAL RECORD OF ] 794 exploits of the war by the British little brigade, composed of the Fourteenth, Thirty-seventh, and Fifty-third Foot, was obliged to leave the high- road and fight its way through the fields, over hedges and ditches, to Templeuve. Under these difficulties and dangers, the spirited and zealous behaviour of the Fifteenth excited admiration. They covered the flanks, protected the rear, and boldly confronted the very superior numbers of the French Cavalry and Infantry, whom they charged and drove back, from time to time, with their habitual firmness and intrepidity, still fight- ing and retreating until the enemy gave up the pursuit : the courage, activity, and judicious con- duct of Lieut.-Colonel Churchill was very conspi- cuous. An eye-witness states: — " Our British " Light Cavalry which were with us, (Seventh, " Fifteenth, and Sixteenth,) performed wonders " of valour, charging the enemy with unexampled " courage whenever they approached ; it was no " uncommon thing to see one of them attack three " of the French Dragoons, in order to rescue the " prisoners they were carrying off. It was owing " to their bravery that so few prisoners were " taken ; as well as the great number they re-took ^' from the enemy*." The conduct of the British troops on this dis- astrous occasion was commended by the Duke of York, and also by the Emperor of Germany ; the want of success being wholly attributable to the failure of other divisions of the Allied army. The brave General Otto, however, nobly and gal- * Brown's Journal. ill. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 61 gal- lantly attacked the enemy, to make a divei*sion, 1791 with a vigour which contributed greatly to the safety of the British: his cannonade was main- tained for several hours with an active vehemence that was never surpassed. The regiment had Surgeon Bradley, five rank and file, and nine horses killed ; one surgeon's mate, fourteen rank and file, and nine horses wounded ; two rank and file and eighteen horses missing. The British troops resumed their post in front of Tournay, and the Allied army was attacked on the 22nd of May by the enemy, who was signally defeated. It was the greatest musketry battle of the whole war of the revolution, according to the returns of expended cartridges on both sides, and remarkable for being terminated by the intrepid charge of the little brigade, so reduced by its noble conduct at Lannoy on the 17th, and by several hundred bodies being found in an orchard, shorn of heads by the fire of eighteen pieces of Austrian artillery which had played on the column M'hile entangled within it3 precincts; — thus levying severe reprisals for the Roubaix misfortune. The French loss altogether in the battle was not less than twenty thousand men ; but the nature of the ground where it was fought was imfavourable for Cavalry, and the Fifteenth were not actively engaged. In June tbo regiment was joined by a detach- ment from England. After occupying the position in front of Tournay seven weeks, the Fifteenth being sta- tioned at Lamain, the Duke of York Avas obliged, in consequence of the defeat and retrograde move- w ■'i*^.'-': 1 j B" ! H': i l¥' Slip ) ; 1 1 62 HISTORICAL RECORD Of 1791 ments of the Imperialists, to fall back, and a series of retreats and skirmishes followed. At day-break on the 6th of July, the enemy attacked the left of INIalines; they afterwards advanced against Malines by the Chaussoe of Loiivain, and obliged two battalions of Hessians to withdraw, — at the same time another column moved along the road from Malines to Duffel. Lieut.-General the Earl of Moira sent forward a battalion of Infantry, with the Eighth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Light Dragoons, to drive back the enemy. The ad- vance-guard of the Fifteenth was directed to make a false attack, and then retire, to draw the French Cavalry under the fire of the Infantry; the Fifteenth encountered the enemy, and fought for some time ; but when they attempted to fall back, they found a French column behind them. This being the anniversary of the first action in which the regiment was engaged, the word £Jms- c?o*y resounded through the ranks, and the soldiers being animated with the enthusiasm of the cry, soon cut their way through the enemy. The French horsemen pressed forward, and gallantly engaged the Eighth and Fifteenth, sword-arm to sword- arm, but a thick cloud of black dust rising from the sandy soil, so enveloped the combatants in darkness, that none could distinguish friends from foes, or even see their own horses' heuds. When the atmosphere became clearer, the conflict was ienewed, and the enemy eventually driven back with great loss : Lieut.-Coionel Churchill slay- ing the Colonel of the Eighth French Dragoons with his own hand, after a hard-fought ren- counter. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 63 On the 22ik1 of July, the army was again in I79i retreat; a succession of retrograde movements brought it to the vicinity of Bois-le-duc, and while at this station, a squadron of the Fifteenth, and some Dragoons of Hesse D'Armstadt, wore directed to patrol towards Boxtel on the Dom- mel. The French army under General Pichegru was advancing in three columns ; but the patrol, nevertheless, penetrated by bye-routes to the head quarters; found the General's cooks preparing dinner against his arrival ; made prisoner an Aide- de-camp of General Vandamme's and two gens d'armes, mounted them on the General's horses, and, notwithstanding a regiment of Red Hussars and a regiment of Dragoons pursued for six miles, on separate roads, to cut off the detachment, it effected its retreat with the three captives; and, on the same evening, falling in with a party of French Infantry, cut it to pieces*. From Bois-le-duc the army retired, and even- tually took post beyond the Waal, leaving a body of troops at Nimcgurn. In the beginning of November, the enemy opened the trenches and commenced erecting bfitteries against this fortress, and on the 4tl} of that month, the Fifteenth Light Dragoons fof ned part of the garrison selected to make a sortie against them. The British Infantry, under the orders of Major- General De Burgh, storapd the works with their * A miller's daughter p^/inted out l»«issage through the Dommel at the moTiient the uursuern consiaercd the detachment to be their prize. Captain C'alcraft. and Lieutenant Wilson, were the officers engaged in thi» service. Tlie Hessian ofti/ cr's name is noi remeoiherod, but he y/M entitlcn {/< the greatest jiraisc for hi« conduct. M in m G4 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1794 usual intrepidity; whilst the Fifteenth and Hanoverian horse turned them upon their left, which was established at a. wind-mill. The suc- cess M-as complete ; the flying enemy was inter- cepted, and a great carnage ensued. The Fif- teenth afterwards charged a cor])S of Cavalry; penetrated bet'veen the enemy's retreating Infan- try and a wood lined with troops, and cut down many of the fugitives*. Ninieguen was afterwards evacuated : the withdrawal of the Fifteenth from this city was an oi)oration of much difficulty, danger, and loss ; several boats of the bridge across the AYaal having been sun]< by the enemy's fire ^be horses had to be led blindfolded over long u lating planks, partly under water ; and the .,»e of the flying bridge having been cut by a shot, the Dutch infantry AAcre made prisoners. 1795 I^^G British troops defended the j«(i*ago of the Waal until January, 1795, when a severe frost enabled the French army to pass the river on tho ice. Several slight actions occurred ; the Fif- teenth were engaged at Guelder Malsen, on the 5th of January ; they supported the Eighty-Se- cond Regiment and Seventh Light Dragoons, and afterwards charged a bo( ,y of French Hussars with great spirit, pursuing them on the ice-bed of the river ; they were, also, very instrumental in the recovery of the guns attached to the Light Brigade. ''■ When General Walmoden, who commanded the whole sortie, addressed the FiFTEiiNTii, standina; moviuted behind a horn- work and awaiting the signal to sally, the regiment cheered the old veteran. The General, taking off liia liat, said to them, "Gentlemen, 1 irm glad to sec you are going to yonr work with as nuK'li pleasure as if it wore an English tox-cliase." THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. G5 11 The severity of the season, the superior niim- 1795 bers of the enemy, and the apathy of the Dutch, rendering it impossible to preserve Holland, the British troops marched for Germany. During this retrograde movement, the soldiers suffered much from the extreme severity of this memorable winter and from the want of provisions. The Fifteenth were attached to the troops under Major-General Lord Cathcart; they furnished out-posts, covered the rear, had occasional ren- counters with the enemy, and performed much harassing duty. On arriving in Germany, the troops went into quarters. During these cam- paigns, Serjeant-Major John Elliott, Serjeant John Simpson, Corporal John Eggleton, and Privates George Rnbery and Leander Shaw, are stated in th*- books of the regiment to have eminently dis- tingiuished themselves on several occasions. The Infantry returned to England in the spring ; the Cavalry remained in Germany a few months longer, and was encamped in the summer near Bremen. The Fifteenth embarked in the winter, iiand^d at North Shields soon after Christ- mm, and joined th«e depot troops at Croydon in 1796 February, 1796. In the summer of 1796, and 1797, the regi- 17.97 ment yfim enca«iped, with other corps, near Wey- mouth, frhere the new Cavalry movements, sug- gested If^ Lieut .-General David Dundas, were ^^actised, «»d the troops were reviewed by His Majesty. DuriBi" t]yh aummer of the following year the 1798 FiFTiEfmi were ei^amped on Ashford-common, am •■i:. iii i m mmmmd-iu \u-t^ fill 11' • I ! I i ' GG HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1798 and afterwards at Swinley, near Windsor, where a number of regiments were assembled, and reviewed by the King, who was graciously pleased to express his approbation of their appearance and discipline. 1799 On the 10th of June, 17S9, the icghnent was reviewed by His Majesty near Readuig; its ap- pearance and discipline were commended, and on the following day, authority was given for the officers and soldiers to wear scarlet feathers in their helmets as a distinction. This year the courts of London and St. Peters- burg agreed to make an united effort to deliver Holland from the power of France, into which it had fallen in the early part of 1795, and the Fifteenth were selected to take part in this enterprise. Preparations were made early in the summer, and in August, the first division, under Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, landed in Holland. Additional troops followed ; the Duke of York took the command, and on the 25tli of September, three troops of the Fifteenth, com- manded by Lieut.-Colonel James Erskine, arrived on the Dutch coast, and immediately landed and joined the army. In the general attack made on the 2nd of October, on the positions occupied by the enemy at Bergen and Egmont-op~Zee, the Fifteenth formed part of the Cavalry under Colonel Lord Paget (now Marquis of Anglesey,) attached to the force commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby. Moving along the sea-shore towards Egmont-op- Zee, this column encountered a strong force of Infantry among the sand-hills, with a numerous ' ih >-«Jir THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 67 body of Cavalry and Artillery to their left upon the 1799 beach ; when a severe contest ensued, in which the steady bravery of British Infantry triumphed. After forcing the enemy to fall back for seve- ral miles, the Cavalry advancing along the beach as the Infantry gained ground among the sand hills, the Column halted in front of I*]gmont ; the British Artillery moved forward to check the fire of the enemy's guns, and two troops of the Fif- teenth Light Dragoons advanced to support the Artillery. Lord Paget posted the two troops in ambush behind the sand-hills ; and the French General, thinking the British guns were unpro- tected, ordered five hundred horsemen forward to capture them. The guns sent a storm of balls against the advancing Cavalry, a few men and horses fell, but the remainder pressed forward and surrounded the Artillery. At this moment the two troops of the Fifteenth sallied from their concealment ; and, dashing amongst the assailants, drove them back upon their reserves, and then returned to the liberated guns. The opposing squadrons having rallied, and, ashamed of a flight before so small a force, returned to the attack ; they had arrived within forty yards of the Fif- teenth, when the third troop of the regiment came up, and a determined charge of the whole drove the enemy again back with loss ; the Fif- teenth pursued above half a mile. Soon after- wards the remainder of the British Cavalry on this flank arrived at the scene of action, but it was too late in the evening to make any further attempt. The loss of the Fifteenth was three men and f 2 H :t^l »*1 iP:V SiffiJllS 08 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1799 four horses killed ; Lieut.-Colonel James Fa'skine, (who greatly distinguished himself,) nine rank and file, and three horses, wounded; two horses miss- ing ; and the gallant behaviour of the officers and soldiers on this occasion, when opposed to such very superior numbers, was rewarded with the commendations of His Royal Highness the Duke of YoriL ; and, eventually, with His Majesty's authority to bear the word " Egmont-op-Zee," on their guidons and appointments. The men and horses remained equipped during the night, and experienced much inconvenience from the want of fresh water; the enemy eva- cuated Egmont-op-Zee, and the Fifteenth were stationed at that place on the 4th and 5th of October. Some sharp fighing took place on the 6th of October, in which a detachment of the Fifteenth took part, and had two men and one horse wounded; and Lieutenant Grant, with a small picquet, had subsequently a severe rencounter with a party of the enemy of more than double his numbers, and he repulsed his opponents with slaughter. On the 10th of October three additional troops of the Fifteenth, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel George Anson, arrived in Holland ; two other troops also embarked at Hamsgate, but did not leave the harbour. Tbe efforts of the British and Russians not being seconded by the Dutch people, and the Duke of York not possessing that superiority of force which was necessary for the continuance of ofFen- 'i;,^ '■'«■ *« / THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 69 sive warfare, His Royal Highness withdrew the 1799 army from Holland ; the Fifteenth Light Dra- goons landed at Ramsgate, Deal, and Yarmouth, and b T re the end of November, the regiment was asHt ibled at Canterbury barracks. The establishment was fixed, in 1800, at ten 1800 troops of eighty men and eighty horses each, and the numbers were completed ; the men and horses were well trained ; nxi'^ when the regiment was in the field in review order, it made a splendid appearance. At the head of this favourite corps His Mvjesiy placed, in 1801, his fifth son, 1801 Lieut.-General Erne t Augustus, Duke of Cum- berland, now King of Hanover, in succession to Lord Dorchester, who was subsequently appointed to the colonelcy of the Fourth Dragoons. His Royal Highness took great interest in every thing connected with the regiment; the King's authority was procured for the Serjeants and corporals to wear a crown above the chevron ; and for the mess-waiters to appear in royal livery. An hundred men arr* horses were added to the establishment; but av the peace of Amiens in 1802, it was reduced tv eight troops of sixty-four 1802 men each. The regiment was reviewed on Guildford race- course, on the 10th of May, 1802, by their Royal Highnesses the Princ ^ of Wales and the Duke of York; and the reduction in its numbers took place immediately afterwards. The hostile attitude of France, with the ma- nifest perfidy of Buo aparte. First Consul of France, occasioned an adcHion to be made to the i 1 l\U^ 70 HISTORICAL RECORD OF V' lf^/>3 numbers of the army; in 1803 hostilities recom- menced, and the regiment vm again augmented. When Buonaparte ma^ic his ostentatious pre- parations to invade England, the Fifteenth Light Dragoons were stationed along the Kentish coast. 18()l In June, 1804, the regiment proceeded to the vicinity of the metropolis, and was reviewed on the 12th of that month, by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, on Wimbledon Common. It was afterwards stationed in the county of Hants; where it was augmented to ten troops of eighty- five men and horses each; and detachments es- corted, from Plymouth to London, the treasure found in four Spanish frigates, which were cap- tured at the commencement of the war. 1805 A further augmentation was ordered in the spring of 1805, when the establishment was fixed at eleven hundred and twenty-three officers and soldiers, and a thousand and sixty-two troop- horses. In July the regiment was encamped at Radipole, near Weymouth, where eleven thou- sand Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery, were assem- bled under His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. They were repeatedly exercised in the presence of the King and Queen, and mem- bers of the royal family. 1806 The regiment was afterwards stationed at Radipole Barracks, where it remained during the year 1806 ; and while at these barracks it under- went a change of clothing and equipment, and was constituted a regiment of " Hussars." The men were furnished with pelisses, sashes, fur caps, leather pantaloons, and Hessian boots; carbines THE PirrEENTH HUSSARS. 71 of a lighter (loscri|)ti()n than formerly were issued, isOG and the officers and soldiers were directed to wear moustaehios on the upper lip*. This chang(? of clothing and equipment having 1807 been completed, the regiment lodged its guidons, in the spring of 1807, at the residence of Ilis Royal Highness the D e of Cumberland, at St. James's; and 80< • r» wards the officers and soldiers were grat '' Mie prospect of active service in the field, uence of an order for the regiment to hold ; ui readiness to embark for foreign service. Its embarkation was however delayed ; and on the 20th of July it was reviewed on Hounslow Heath by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of York. The Fifteenth Hussars were afterwards sta- tioned at Woodbridge barracks, and were brigaded with the Seventh and Tenth Hussars, and two troops of Horse Artillery, under the command of Major-General Lord Paget. This brigade of fifteen squadrons, with twelve guns, formed a splendid body of light cavalry, and being the first Hussar brigade which had been seen in England, its appearance in the field j^resented an interesting as well as an imposing spectacle ; the manoeuvres displayed a celerity and precision that excited general admiration, and the officers and soldiers newly entered, had the advantage of becoming acquainted with the movements of large bodies. The brigade was reviewed on the 5th of October, • Tlie fur cap was afterwards superseded hy a scarlet shako, as a special mark of distinction, in the place of the scarlet plume formerly worn by the regiment. ^, ^^^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I U£|2j8 |Z5 ISO ■^" ■■■ Ui lii 12.2 U liii Ui I 2.0 11-25 i 1.4 1.6 % 7 Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRIET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (716)S72-4S03 72 HISTORICAL RECORD OF V^^ x-^y 1807 by the Commander-in-Chief, and His Royal High- ness was pleased to express his warm approbation of its appearance. 1808 In the summer of 1808 the regiment was removed into quarters in Essex, and was reviewed on the 19th of August by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of York, on which occasion the Duke of Cumberland commanded (as he always did when present), and their Royal Highnesses were pleased to commend highly the appearance, steadiness, and discipline of the corps. Events had, in the mean time, taken place in the Peninsula, which occasioned the regiment to be called into active service, where the officers and soldiers gave proof that they possessed the military virtues of the field to an equal extent with those qualities for ""/hich they had been com- mended in quarters and at reviews. The attempts of Buonaparte to reduce, by treachery and violence, the Spanish and Portuguese nations to submission under his yoke, were followed by open resistance ; British troops were sent to aid the patriots ; and, in the summer of 1808, Portugal was delivered from the tyrannical rule of the invader. A British force was directed to advance from Portugal under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, to co-operate with the Spaniards, and towards the end of Oc- tober eight troops of the Fifteenth Hussars, mustering seven hundred and fifty-three officers and soldiers*, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Col- * List of the officera and number of soldiers of the Fifteenth Hussars, which proceeded to Spain in 1809 : — THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 73 quhoun Grant, embarked at Portsmouth to join 1808 the army in Spain. During the voyage tempes- tuous weather occasioned the loss of twenty-two horses ; and one transport, in which Cornet Jen- kins, and twenty men and horses, were embarked, was captured by a French privateer. After plun- dering the vessel the privateer permitted it to proceed on the voyage, on condition that the soldiers should not serve until exchanged. The regiment landed at Corunna in the middle of November, and, advancing up the country, joined the division under Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, whose advanced-posts were in front of Astorga. On entering Spain, Sir John Moore expected the co-operation of a numerous patriot force, but the feTnall bodies of Spanish troops, which had been magnified on paper into powerful armies, had been broken, destroyed, or dispersed, and the small force he had with him was unable to cope with the three hundred thousand French soldiers in Spain. Notwithstanding this disparity of num- bers, the British were ready to confront any danger, and to execute any enterprise which held Lieut.-Golonel, Colquhoun Grant ; Majors, Fras. Forester, Walter Nathaniel Leitch ; Ga^ains, John Broadhurst, E. J. McGregor Murray, Leighton C. Dalrymple, Edwin Griffith, John Joseph Seelinger, Hon. W. E. Cochrane, Joseph Thackwell, Alex- ander Gordon ; Lieutenants, J. Buckley, John Whiteford, Skinner Ilancox, Lewis During, Edward Knight, John Penrice, Charles Jones, Charles Carpenter; Comets, Samuel Jenkins, James T^aroche, Frederick Chas. Philips ; Lieut, and Adjutant, Charles Jones ; Paymaster, E. P. Henslow ; Surgeon, W. Lidderdale ; Assistant Surgeon, James Forbes; Veterinary Surgeon, James Castley ; 7 quarter-masters, 86 Serjeants, 8 trumpeters, 674 rank and file, 682 horses. Lieut.-Colonel Robert Ballard Long, and Captain Augustus Heyliger, on the Staff. 74 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1808 out a chance of utility, and with the view of relieving the Spaniards at a critical moment, and of giving them time to organize their scattered means of defence, Sir John Moore ventured to advance against the enemy's communications, and to draw the whole disposable power of Napoleon upon himself. The army set out on this enter- prise early in December; the Seventh, Tenth, and Fifteenth Hussars forming a brigade under Brigadier-General Slade, with a brigade of Artil- lery ; the whole under Major-General Lord Paget, proceeded towards the Esla, followed by the Infantry ; they afterwards gained the right bank of the Douro, and continued their route in the direction of Valladolid. This direction of the march was, however, changed, with the view of attacking Marshal Soult's divisions on the Car- rion ; at the same time the British general, know- ing he must eventually fall back, made prepara- tions for a retreat. The Hussar brigade moved from Tordesillas to its left, a junction of the three divisions of the a^ ■•vas effected, and on the 20th of December, ». i' a long and toilsome march, exposed to violent weather and snow- storms, the Hussars arrived at Monastero, Melgar, and Abaxo, in front of Mayorga, where the head- quarters of the army were established. Three leagues from the quarters of the Hussar brigade, between seven and eight hundred French Dragoons were in cantonments at Sahagun^ under Brigadier-General Debelle; and although the Fifteenth Hussars did not arrive in quarters until late in the evening, they received notice, '% :., % THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 75 with great enthusiasm, that they were to advance 1808 and engage the enemy on the same night. About two o'clock on the following morning (21st December) the Fifteenth, with Captain Thomhill and twelve soldiers of the Seventh Hussars, and Lord Paget at their head, moved along the left bank of the Cea, with the view of intercepting the retreat of the French Dragoons from Sahagun, while the Tenth Hussars, and four guns, advanced direct upon the town. The march was performed with difficulty; the weather was extremely cold, a deep snow lay on the ground, and the road was so covered with ice in many places that the men had to dismount and lead their horses. Between five and six o'clock the advance-guard of the Fifteenth fell in with a French patrole, and took five prisoners, but, owing to the extreme darkness, the remainder of the patrole escaped, and galloping back to Sahagun, gave the alarm to the officers and soldiers in their quarters ; the surprise of the enemy was thus pre- vented. The Fifteenth quickened their pace, and, approaching Sahagun a little before day-light, the French Dragoons were discovered, formed up, beyond a rugged hollow-way, which was unfavour- able for cavalry, and, as the Fifteenth drew near, the enemy retired towards a bridge on their left. In numbers the French were about two to one, but British courage disregarding the inequality, Lord Paget moved the regiment, in column of divisions, at a brisk trot, parallel to the enemy's line of march, but some distance behind them. They endeavoured to cross the head of his column; 'iW 70 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1808 when he changed direction. They then halted and formed for battle ; as soon as the Fifteenth had passed the enemy's left flank, they were also halted and wheeled into line. About seven hundred French horsemen stood opposed to between three and four hundred British sabres; the disparity of numbers was great, but Lord Paget had unbounded confidence in his men, and he led the regiment at speed against the opposing squadrons. Stimulated by his noble example, the Fifteenth dashed forward with resistless impetuosity. The French, who had beheld the beautiful order of the march in column, had still the firmness to stand the charge ; but they wore overthrown in an instant, and dispersed in every direction ; pursued, and overtaken, some sharp fighting took place; many of the enemy fell beneath the sabres of the Kino's Hussars; two Lieut.-Colonels, eleven other offi- cers, and one hundred and fifty-four private sol- diers, were made prisoners; one hundred and twenty-five horses, several mules, and a quantity of baggage, fell also into the hands of the victors: the remainder of the French Dragoons escaped to Santarbas. When this affair was over. Lord Paget ex- pressed to the officers and soldiers his thanks for the very gallant manner in which they had con- ducted themselves; their superiority over the French Dragoons had been decidedly established ; the loss of the Fifteenth was limited to two private soldiers and four horses killed; Lieut.- Colonel Grant, Adjutant Jones, eighteen rank THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 77 and file, and ten horses wounded. The distin- 1 808 gnished conduct of Lieut.-Colonel Grant was re- warded with a medal ; Lord Paget also received a medal ; the conduct of the Hussars was com- mended by Sir John Moore, and the regiment was subsequently honoured with the royal authority to bear on its appointments the word " Sahagun," to commemorate this spirited action. From Sahagun, the Hussars advanced towards the Carrion river, and Sir John Moore made pre- parations for attacking Marshal Soult's forces; but he learnt that Buonaparte had put a powerful army in motion to crush the little band which dared thus to menace his line of operations, and therefore no time was to be lost in effecting a retrograde movement. The Cavalry sent forward strong patrols, and preserved a bold front while the Infantry withdrew; and on the 26th of December the whole were in full retreat towards the coast. The French legions hurried forward in pursuit, but were unable to gain any advantage of importance. At Benevente^ on the 29th of December, a body of Imperial Guards sustained a severe repulse from the picquets and the Tenth Hussars. A few orderly men of the Fifteenth were engaged on this occasion, and one of them was killed ; — the regiment arrived at the scene of action ; but the French did not cross the Esla a second time on that day ; and the British resumed their retreat towards the coast. During this retrograde movement, the services 1809 of the regiment were of a toilsome and trying character; exposure to frost, snpw, and rain; m\\ m aii^.. 78 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1809 want of provision, loss of rest, and the continual harassing duties of rear-guards, piquets, patrols, and occasional skirmishes with the enemy, put the bodily strength, constancy, and patience of the officers and soldiers to the severest test ; yet, such was .heir conduct, that Sir John Moore stated in his public despatch : — " Our Cavalry is very supe- " rior in quality to any the French have, and the ** right spirit has been infused into them by the ''example and instruction of their two leaders, " Lord Paget and Brigadier-General Stewart." Ir overing the retreat from Bemfnbrei on the 2nd of January, 1809, the Fifteenth had three horses killed, and a few men and horses wounded, in a skirmish with the enemy ; the regiment was also engaged in front of CacabeUoSt on the morning of the 3rd of January, and again in the evening of the same day, when the British retired fighting through the town : the French Dragoons closed on the skirmishers of the Fifteenth twice, and had several men killed, but they did not succeed in taking a single man of the regiment prisoner. The French General, Colbert, was killed, and his squadrons were eventually repulsed. The regiment had four horses killed. A squadron of eighty rank and file, mounted on the freshest horses, continued in the rear with the Infantry, and was repeatedly engaged while tne regiment ascended the Monte del Cebrero, and traversed a country so broken and intersected as to prevent cavalry acting. The British army was concentrated at Lugo, and offered battle, but Marshal Soult declined ; and on the evening of . ,,'- -' ' - ■ '■■■: ; ^ 1 T 1 THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 79 the 8th of January the bivouac fires were kindled, 1 S09 and the army continued its retreat ; the picquets of the Fifteenth Hussars remaining behind until the following morning. Arriving at Corunna, the army took up a posi- tion to cover its embarkation, and on the 14th of January a picquet of the Fifteenth Hussars was on duty in front of the army. On the following day the enemy drove in the out-posts, and gained possession of the woody heights which overlooked the British position. Several horses of the piquet were wounded on this occasion, and a patrol under Captain Thackwell, who commanded the Cavalry in advance, was sent by Sir John Moore to ascertain if the French were extending to their left. This patrol proceeded about five miles on the right front of the British army without meet- ing the enemy, and part of the piquet of the Fif- teenth remained on duty until the following day, but did not take part in the battle of CorunnOy where the British were triumphant, but where victory was bought dearly by Sir John Moore being mortally wounded. The regiment had brought nea. ;/ four hundred horses from the interior to Corunna; the whole were destroyed for want of transport, excepting thirty-one, for which number conveyance was pro- vided, and a few others, which were delivered over to the Commissariat. The army embarked and returned to England, and the Fifteenth Hussars landed at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Falmouth towards the end of January. This year the troop quarter-masters were I I 80 HISTORICAL RECORD OF .].{.■ Mi 1809 directed to be replaced, as vacancies occurred, with Serjeants having the rank of troop serjeant- majors, and a regimental quarter-master was also appointed to the regiment. 1810 In 1810, the regiment was stationed at Houn- slow, &c., and was employed in the escort duty. On the 7th of April it was ordered to London to aid in suppressing the riotous assemblages of the populace which took place when the House of Commons ordered one of its Members (Sir Francis Burdett) to be taken into custody and lodged in the Tower. He was apprehended at his house, and conducted to the Tower by the Fifteenth, an d a detachment of Life Guards ; tranquillity having afterwards been restored, the regiment returned to its quarters. On the 11th of June the regiment was reviewed on Hounslow-heath by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who was pleased to express his approbation of its appearance. 1 81 1 Twenty thousand men were assembled on Wim- bledon-common on the 10th of June, 1811, under the orders of the Duke of York, with the Duke of Cambridge second in command, and were re- viewed by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent. The Fifteenth Hussars formed part of this force ; and they were again reviewed on the 17th of June on Hounslow-heath, by the Prince Regent, in brigade with the Tenth and Eighteenth Hussars, and two troops of Artillery, under Major-General Lord Paget, who issued the following order after the review : — viz., " Lord Paget has the honour ** to announce to the troops of the Royal Horse "Artillery, the Prince of Wales's Own, the • THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 81 "Kino's, and the Eighteenth, regiments of Hu8-1811 " sars, which ho had the honour to command this *' morning, that he has received the commands of " tlie Prince Regent to convey to Uiem His Royal "Highncss's entire approbation of thoir a|>pear- "ance and performance. His Royal Highness " was pleased to express himself, upon this occa- " sion, in terms that were singularly flattering to " every individual concerned, and to order that "these, His Royal Highness's sentiments, might " be made known." During the following winter, and the summer 1812 of 1812, the regiment was employed in suppress- ing the outrageous proceedings of a number of persons who were combined for the purpose of destroying machinery in the manufacturing dis- tricts of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Nottingham- shire, and who were called " Luddites." The contest in the Peninsula had, in the mean 1813 time, been carried on with varied success, and during the winter, six troops of the Fifteenth Hussars were withdrawn from the north of Eng- land to proceed on foreign service. They em- barked at Portsmouth in the middle of January, 1813, under the orders of Lieut.-Colonel Grant*, * Names of the officers of the Fifteenth Hussars, who em- barked for Portugal, in January, 1813: — Colonel Colqunoun Grant ; Major Edwin Griffith ; Captains Honourable W. E. Cochrane, Joseph Thackwell, Skinner Hancox, Philip Wodehouse, Thomas Dundas, William Booth ; Lieutenants J. Buckley, Lewis Durine, John Carr, Edward Barrett, Ralph Mansfield, Isaac Sherwood, Honourable John Finch, Honourable Richard P. Arden, William Bellairs; Adjtitant Charles Jones; Surgeon John Griffith; Assistant Surgeon Samuel Jeyes. Six troops of ninety men and horses each. Q \ , ■ t I ■ i- ' I) W ISsm- 82 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 181 3 and landed at Lisbon in the early part of Fe- bruary. After halting a short period at the capital of Portugal, tho regiment commenced its march up the country, and was reviewed on the 18th of May, with the Tenth and Eighteenth Hussars, near Almeida, by Lord Wellington, who expressed his approbation of its appearance. The Allied army took the field with increased numbers and a superior organization. The Fif- teenth Hussars formed part of the force under Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Graham, which tra- versed the mountain districts of the rugged Tras- os-Montes, to turn the enemy's position on the Douro, and arrived on the Esla soon after the divisions under Lord Wellington had driven the French from Salamanca. At day-break on the 31st of May, the Fifteenth Hussars approached the ford of Almendra, and entered the stream, with Light Infantry holding by the stirrups; at the same time the other troops approached the right bank. The stream was deep ; the current rapid ; several horses were pulled down by the Infantry ; others got into deep water, and many casualties occurred. Captain Thackwell's squadron was in advance, and ascending the heights on the other side of the river, it was confronted by a piquet of the Six- teenth French Heavy Dragoons, who made a precipitate retreat, but were overtaken and some prisoners captured in Villa Perdrices. The French piquet continued its retreat, and was joined by other parties as it fell back ; two divisions of \ . THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARA. 88 Captain Thackwell's squadron pursued, and the 1813 other two remained in reserve, at the same time patrols were sent out on the flanks to prevent a surprise. For two miles the country was open ; the French Dragoons occasionally fialtcd, formed, and fired their carbines, but without effect, and this enabled the Fifteenth to cowo up with them, from time to time, to kill and wound several, and to make some prisoners. Arriving at a fir- grove, the support halted; but two divisions of the squadron continued the pursuit until they approached an eminence beyond a rivulet, where nearly three hundred French horsemen were formed. The squadron of the Fifteent i being too weak in numbers to attack this force, it skir- mished a short time behind the rivulet, and after- wards withdrew. The regiment had one horse killed, five rank and file and three horses wounded. One French Lieutenant and thirty-five Dragoons remained prisoners ; a greater number were taken, but about twenty escaped, after having been left in the fir-grove. The pontoons had, in the mean time, been laid down, and Sir Thomas Graham's divisions passed the Esla. The Hussar brigade under Colonel Grant advanced, and, on the 2nd of June, the Fifteenth supported the Tenth and Eighteenth Hussars, in the Cavalry action at Morales, where Colonel Grant was wounded. The Allied divisions were all in motion, and Joseph Buonaparte, being unable to stem the tide of war which now flowed against him, ordered his columns to fall back behind the Pisuerga river, G 2 m Uli I 1^ 84 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1813 designing to give battle there. The Allied army continued to press forward, and the Tenth, Fif- teenth, and Eighteenth Hussars were generally in front. As the army advanced, on the 12th of June, the French divisions under General Reille were found strongly posted behind the Hormaza stream, their right near Hormillas, and their left on the Arlanzan, thus barring the way to Burgos. The Light Division, preceded by the Hussars and a brigade of Dragoons, turned the French right, while other troops attacked the range of heights from Hormillas to Estepar, and the enemy fell back in excellent order, passing the river by the bridge of Baniel. The Fifteenth were on the extreme left, and advanced against three squa- drons of French Hussars, who fell rapidly back for more than a mile, upon a body of Infantry and some guns. Captain Dundas's troop, having been sent out to patrol along the left front, skir- mished with one of the enemy's out-posts; but nothing of importance occurred. During the night Burgos-castle was blown up, and Joseph Buonaparte hurried his veteran army to the rear along the high road by Briviesca to Pancarbo, into which place he threw a garrison, and afterwards withdrew behind the Ebro. The British Commander instantly put his whole army in motion ; the Hussar brigade passed the Ebro by the Puentes Arenas, and the Allied columns, urging their way through deep narrow valleys, intricate passes among rocks, and over lofty moun- tains, finally confronted the legions of Buonaparte in the valley of Vittoria. As the army advanced, THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 85 some fighting occurred, and the Fifteenth IIus- 1813 sars supported the two British divisions which repulsed the attack of a superior force of the enemy at Osma, on the 18th of June. On the following day the regiment bivouacked in front of Sabijana Morillas; the French rear-guard was driven fvom the Bayas; but the ground did not admit of Cavalry taking an important part in these actions. The French formed in order of battle in front of Vittoria; on the morning of the 21st of June the Allied army advanced in three corps, and the French were overpowered and driven from their ground with severe loss. The Fifteenth formed part of the centre column, which was led by Lord Wellington from Sabijana Morillas, by Olabarre, to the Zadora river, beyond which the French were in position. The enemy having left the bridge of Tres Puentes unguarded, Major-General Kempt's brigade passed at a running pace, aiid the Fifteenth galloped over the narrow bridge by single files. Some severe fighting afterwards took place, and Lord Wellington see' .g the hill in front of Arinez nearly denuded of troops, moved a large body of men across the front of both armies towards that central point, and the Hussars followed in the same direction. The Fifteenth supported the Infantry, and sustained some loss from the enemy's artillery; and, at length, the Hussar brigade, commanded by Colonel Grant, was ordered to advance on the left of Vittoria, to endeavour to cut off some Infantry. The Fif- teenth led the advance over ravines and other 86 HISTORICAL RECORD OF !j ^ttl,^ • ■ rH 1813 obstructions, and took some prisoners. On gain- ing a gentle ascent the riglit squadron formed, and was followed by the centre squadron; the left remaining in reserve ; a regiment of French Dra- goons advanced against the Fifteenth, who charged their opponents with distinguished bravery, and drove them back upon a column of about eight hundred Infantry, which was also broken, and laid down its arms. These prisoners were left in charge of the reserve squadron. The French Dragoons rallied behind a body of Hussars and Lancers, and the two squadrons of the Fifteenth had scarcely time to recover their order, when they were charged by these troops ; at the same time the Infantry resumed their arms, wounded several men of the regiment, and many of them escaped. The attack of the French Lancers and Hussars was met at a gallop, and the Fifteenth again overthrew their opponents ; the enemy was driven in confusion towards the Parapeluna road, having many wounded, and others dispersed. The French Hussars and Lancers had just been driven back, when a body of Cavalry issued from the town and attacked the Fifteenth in the rear; it was charged by the reserve squadron, and by the right half squadron, which had changed front for that purpose, and this body of French also was driven upon the Pampeluna road. During the confusion created by these attacks, the re- mainder of the prisoners taken by the regiment escaped. A squadron of the Tenth, and another of the Eighteenth Hussars, arrived to support the Fifteenth, but the French had reached the 'Ifl THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 87 TEENTH Kulosures near the road, and darkness favoured 1813 their flight. They, however, left all their artillery, ammunition, and baggage, in possession of the Allied army. The behaviour of the officers and soldiers of the regiment under these trying circumstances was admirable ; a private Hussar took a French rallying colour, but thinking it of no consequence, he threw it away; another wounded and took prisoner, a Cavalry officer who afterwards died at Vittoria. Colonel Grant, and Major Griffith, (who commanded the regiment) were rewarded with gold medals, and the honour of bearing the word "Vittoria" on its appointments was after- wards conferred, by royal authority, on the regi- ment. Its loss was ten men and four horses killed; Captain Hancox, Lieutenant Finch, one Serjeant, forty-six rank and file, and sixteen horses, wounded. Captain Thackwell also received a contusion. On the night after the battle the regiment bivouacked a short distance in front of Vittoria, and on the following day it moved in pursuit of the enemy in the direction of Pampeluna. In a few days afterwards it was despatched, with four divisions of Infantry and two brigades of Cavalry, to endeavour to intercept General Clausel, with fifteen thousand French troops, who had not been present at the battle of Vittoria ; but by forced marches he effected his escape through the pass of Jaca. The regiment re-passed the river Arrogan on the 30th of June, and was afterwards stationed for three weeks at Olite, a town which 88 HISTORICAL RECORD OF n-^ i jt? 1813 was formerly the residence of the Kings of Navarre. While at this place the Tenth and Fifteenth Hussars were formed in brigade under Major-General Lord Edward Somerset; the Eigh- teenth were united in brigade with the first German Hussars, and Colonel Grant was placed at the head of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Light Dragoons. Marshal Soult having re-organized the French army and obtained reinforcements, attacked the posts of the Allied army in the Pyrenean moun- tains, in the hope of being able to relieve the blockade of Pampeluna ; the British Infantry fell back to a position in the mountains in front of the blockaded fortress, and the Cavalry was con- centrated in the rear of the line. The Fifteenth Hussars left their cantonments at day-break on the morning of the 27th of July ; they arrived at the foot of the Pyrenees^ near Pampeluna, about five o'clock in the afternoon, and took post on the right of the troops commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Picton, whose left was at the village of Huarte, and his right extended to the village of Goraitz, covering more than a mile of ground. On the following day the regiment was posted in the first line between two Infantry brigades of the Third Division, and on the 29th it covered the right of the position. The energetic efforts of the enemy on these days were repulsed by the firmness and valour of the British troops, and he was eventually driven back through the mountains to the confines of Spain. After this brilliant success, the regiment THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 89 remained for a short time in the villages near 1813 Pampeluna; it was subsequently removed to a greater distance for the convenience of forage, and in October, the right squadron under Captain Thackwell joined the blockading troops, where it remained until the surrender of the garrison at the end of that month. In October a remount joined from England. In the beginning of November the regiment advanced through the mountains to the banks of the Bidassoa, where it was stationed as a corps of reserve and support, during the attack of the enemy's fortified position on the river Nivelle, on the 10th of that month. Some difficulty being experienced in procuring forage, the regiment afterwards retired through the Pyrenees to the plains of Navarre; — it again advanced in the middle of December, and entering France, was cantoned at Cambo, and the villages on the right bank of the Nive, from whence detachments were sent forward to take the out-post duty in front of Urcuraye, to watch the valleys of Macaye and Mendionde, and the road to St. Jean Pied de Port. While on this duty, the regiment experienced much difficulty in procuring forage, and parties sent out for that purpose had frequent skirmishes with the enemy's detachments ; but the Fifteenth had not a single man captured by the French, although many narrow escapes occurred. On one occasion, private William Darnell evinced singular address; he was at a farmhouse in front of the out-posts at Macaye, with men of other regiments, 90 HISTORICAL RECORD OF £i ' 1 Z '^ni 1813 procuring forage, when a party of French Cavalry galloped down the road ; he instantly ran to the gate, and fastened it in the hest manner he could, which occasioned the French so much delay, that he had time to mount his horse, leap over some rails, and escape across the fields ; the men of the other regiments, not being equally alert, were nearly all taken. During the winter, when the forage in this part of the country was all consumed, the horses were fed on chopped furze pounded with a mallet, and, when it was practicable, they were led out to graze ; they were also kept on a small ration of com; but by the unremitted attention of the ofiicers, and the exertions of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, the horses kei)t their condition remarkably well. In July, 1813, the establishment of the regi- ment was augmented to twelve troops. 1814 Breaking up from their quarters in the middle of February, 1814, the British troops commenced operations against the enemy's left. The right squadron of the Fifteenth Hussars, under Captain Thackwell, pushed forward in advance, and had one man and two horses wounded in assisting to drive back the enemy's piquets. It was after- wards moved on in front of the Third Division ; and, on the 17th of February, it established a piquet beyond the heights of Came, on the right bank of the Bedouze river, to favour the observa- tions of the General commanding the Cavalry, to preserve the communications between distant columns, and to watch the roads in that direction. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 91 It was joined on the Bedouze by the other squa- 1814 drons of the regiment. When the British General put his troops in motion to pass the Gave d'Oleron, the Fifteenth formed part of the force which advanced against the bridge-head of Sauveten'e as a diversion, to favour the passage of the main body of the army at Ville Nave. A small body of Cavalry and Infantry passed the river, but afterwards returned ; the diveji'sion was, however, complete ; the French abandoned their works, and blew up the bridge, and the general operations were successful. On the following day the Hussars passed the river, and established posts towards the bridge of Bereux ; and, on the 26th of February, they crossed the Gave de Pau below the broken bridge of Bereux, followed by the Third Division, when the French Cavalry posts were driven back, in which service the Fifteenth had one horse killed, three men and two horses wounded. The battle of Orthes was fought on the 27th of February. At day-break, the Fifteenth Hus- sars, with the other regiments of their brigade and the Third Division, were formed in column of march on the Peyrehorade road, to cover the passage of the Gave by the Sixth and Light Divisions, and to protect them during their difficult advance up a narrow way between high rocks. During the engagement the regiment supported the Infantry, and when the enemy's position was forced, it moved forward in pursuit. The conduct of Major- General Lord Edward Somerset's brigade on this occasion was commended in Cavalry orders ; and • i\ 92 HISTORICAL RECORD OF p, I- f.. 'V ?' , f . 1 g j m 1 l^n R 1814 the Commanding Officer of the Fifteenth Hussars, Major Edwin Griffith, was rewarded with a gold medal. The regiment had one man and two horses killed ; six men and five horses wounded. Following the retreating enemy, the army passed the Adour river in the 1st of March. The Fifteenth Hussars formed the advance-guard of the centre column ; they forded the river below St. Sever, and moved in the direction of Caceres. Arriving within a league of Grenade, the leading squadron, under Captain Thackwell, commenced skirmishing with the enemy's rear-guard, which defended for a short time the passage of a broken bridge over a rivulet. The right half squadron afterwards drove the French skirmishers through the town upon their support, and then charging the whole, forced above two hundred men of the Thirteenth Chasseurs a Cheval to fall back three- quarters of a mile, upon two companies of Infantry posted in the inclosures of a farm-house near the road. The left half squadron had halted in the market-place of Grenade, and the troop in advance, having detached so many men, that it consisted of only forty-five rank and file, under Captain Wode- house, Lieutenant Mansfield, and Lieutenant Finch, withdrew from under the fire of the French Infantry; it was followed by the Chasseurs a Cheval ; but the rear division facing aboiit, and galloping to meet its opponents, they fell back for more than a hundred yards. As the division of the Fifteenth again moved to the rear from under the fire of the French Infantry, the Chas- seurs took courage and advanced to charge, and THE FIFTEPJNTH HUSSAUS. 93 were once more repulsed and driven back. Thus 1814 fifty British Hussars proved their superiority by boldly confronting, attacking, and forcing back more than two hundred French troopers ; but at this period the British soldiers possessed a com- plete ascendency over the French, who, owing to a succession of defeats, had lost their confidence in their own prowess, and in the abilities of their commanders. The troop of the Fifteenth, having got out of the range of the enemy's musketry, made no further retrograde movement, and the French withdrew towards Caceres, leaving a num- ber of killed and wounded, and about eighteen men prisoners. A greater number was captured, but during the affray several prisoners escaped across the hedges and ditches into the fields. On the arrival of the head of the Sixth Division, the squa- dron of the Fifteenth advanced upon Caceres, exposed to such a heavy storm of wind and rain, that the men were permitted to put on their cloaks. Approaching a woody eminence, the advance-guard was stopped by a body of Infantry and Artillery posted among the trees, where pri- vate Robert Dalton had his cloak carried away from his back by a shell, which burst without doing any damage. The British guns coming up, the French were driven from the heights, where the out-posts were established for the night. On this occasion the regiment had one horse killed, six men and six horses wounded. Lieut.-General Sir Stapleton Cotton expressed, in orders, his gratification at witnessing the gal- lant conduct of the officers and men of the Fif- 94 HISTORICAL RECORD OF "Si hm MM 1814TEENTH, and recommended Captain Thackwell for the brevet rank of Major. Major-General Lord Edward Somerset also expressed, in orders, his perfect approbation of the conduct of the regi- ment ; and added, " With troops thus disciplined, " the most complete success may be expected to ** attend the future operations against the enemy." After gaining some further advantages over the enemy, the Allied army remained stationary for a short time. On the 10th of March Lieut.- Colonel Leighton C. Dalrymple, accompanied by Captain Whiteford, joined and took the command of the regiment, and on the 15th Captains Philips and Carpenter, Lieutenants Douglas and Dixon, arrived with two troops from England. The regiment was employed on the out-post duty, and furnished piquets at St. Mont and Car- millac. A hussar was posted on the tower at St. Mont, to watch the woods in the direction of the enemy, but a French patrole entered the place unobserved, and when he discovered the enemy, the difficult descent from his station rendered his escape doubtful ; however, with great presence of mind and personal activity, he threw a bell-rope down the outside of the tower, descended by it, mounted his horse, and galloped away. Marshal Soult made some offensive evolu- tions, which terminated without any important result. The British General being prepared for a forward movement, on the afternoon of the 16th of March the centre squadron of the regiment, under Captain Hancox, advanced in column of divisions along the road to St. Germier^ supported THE FIFTEENTH HUSRARfl. 05 by the right squadron under Captain Thackwell. 18U The enemy's advance squadron was charged by the leading division of the Fifteenth with dis- tinguished gallantry, and driven back upon its support, consisting of about three hundred men of the Thirteenth Chasseurs a Cheval. The centre squadron of the Fifteenth advanced upon this numerous body of opponents, who were driven back for two miles, to the village of La Cassade, when the pursuit was discontinued. The right squadron then took the out-posts, and the French fell back upon Plaissance. Ten chasseurs were killed in this rencontre, an officer, thirty soldiers, and twenty-eight horses were taken; a greater number was, at one period, in the power of the Fifteenth, but many escaped, during the conflict, across the fields to the villages on the Adour river. The regiment had one horse killed; six men and four horses wounded ; one horse missing. Lieut.-General Sir Stapleton Cotton expressed in orders, "his best thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Dal- " rymple. Captain Hancox, and the officers and " men of that part of the Fifteenth Hussars " which was engaged with the enemy, for their " gallant and soldier-like conduct." On the evening of the 17th of March the English General pushed the Hussars up the valley of the Adour towards Plaissance, supporting them with the Light Division, followed by the Fourth Division ; and at day-light on the 18th the whole army was in movement. On the 20tli the French were driven from their position at Tarbes; the 9G HISTORICAL RECORD OF J I: hi 't, .':i Pi' "i 1814 Fifteenth Hussars supported the Infantry, and when die French fell back, the regiment jmshed rapidly forward in pursuit of tlieir riglit column ; they, however, avoided the only ground where Cavalry could act, which deprived the regiment of an opportunity of distinguishing itself. The French army continued its retreat upon Toulouse, followed by the British, and on the 25th of March the regiment was on the out-po^t duty in front of St. Lys, on the Touch River. 0)» the 26th the squadron at Tournefeuille jnd to resist the attack of a body of French Infbdtty in a situation where it was unable to rtach its assail- ants, and it had one serjeant, one private soldier, and eight horses killed ; one officer, five rank and file, and one horse wounded ; Captain Wodehouse had a horse killed under him, and another wounded. On the 27th of March the left squadron, after gaining po session of St Simon, found the place ' not tenuble against Infantry, and withdrew with the loss of one horse. The town of St. Simon was eventually taken possession of, and the Fifteenth were stationed in it ; they furnished the out-posts, but nothing of importance occurred ; yet, to the credit of private James Wright, it must be mentioned, that, being on piquet, he attacked a French Infantry soldier and mado him prisoner, wiu i^ ill 1814 in with a Fronch |>at»ol of tlje Hame nuniberH, who wero made prisoners, with their h«)r8<'«». The enemy's piquets in front of Fenuillet wt3re driven in on tlie 8th of April, when a corporal of the left squadron of the regiment was wounded. At the battle of Toulouse, on the 10th of April, the Fifteenth Hussars supported the In- fantry in their attacks upon the emmy's works, with the same intrepid bearing for which the regiment had been distinguished on former occa- sions ; but no opportunity occurred for its engag- ing in close combat with the enemy; it was ex- posed, however, to a cannonade, and had four horses killed, seven men and three hoi ses wounded. Its commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple, was rewarded with a medal. When the French evacuated Toi douse, the Fifteenth followed the retreating enemy; but soon afterwards the British saw their toils and conflicts terminated by the restoration )f peace, and Louis XVIII. ascended the throne or France. Thus ended a contest in which the mighty power of Buonaparte was overthrown, smd the British troops had maintained their national cha- racter, and established their claim to rank with the first soldiers in Europe. The King's H ssars had been conspicuous, on every occasion, foi their valour and conduct, and the regiment wus re- warded with the Royal Authority to bear the word " Peninsula" on its appointments, in com- memoration of its services in Portugal, Spain, and ' France. H % 98 HISTORICAL RECORD OF hi I? 1814 After reposing a few weeks in quarters, the regiment commenced its march on the 1st of June, for Boulogne, where it arrived in the middle of July, and embarked for England ; having pre- viously transferred thirteen horses to the French government for the guards of Louis XVIII. Tlie regiment was assembled at Hounslow on the 31st of July; on the 3rd of August it was reviewed on the heath by their Royal Highnesses the Prince Regent and the Commander-in-Chief, who expressed their high approbation of its ap- pearance and movements. In a few days after the reviews, the establishment was reduced to eight troops, and in September the regiment embarked at Liverpool for Ireland. 1815 While the Congress at Vienna was arranging the affairs of Europe, its proceedings were inter- rupted by the return of Buonaparte to France ; the French armies joined the invader, — Louis XVIII. fled, — and the resources of that powerful empire were once more at the disposal of this daring and ambitious chief. To dethrone Napo- leon, and to give tranquillity to Europe, numerous armies took the field. Two troops were added to the establishment of the Fifteenth Hussars, and three squadrons*, commanded by Lieut.- * Names of the officers and number of non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Fifteenth Hussars, which embarked for Flanders in May, 1816. lAeut.-Golonel Leighton C. Dalrymple ; Major Edwin Griffith ; Captains, Joseph Thackwell, Skinner Hancox, John Whiteford, Philip Wodehouse, Fred. Charles Pliilipps, William Booth, John Carr ; Lieutenants, Edward Barrett, Ralph Mansfield, Isaac Sher- wood, William Bellairs, Henry Lane, William Byam, Edward Byam, Geo. A. F. Dawkins, Henry Dixon, I. J. Douglas, William THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 99 Colonel Dalrymple, embarked from Cork for 1815 Ostend, where they landed on the 19 th of May ; and, advancing a few stages up the country, were formed in brigade with the Seventh British Hus- sars and the Second German Hussars, under Major-General Colquhoun Grant. The whole of the British Cavalry, under Lieut.-General the Earl of Uxbridge, was reviewed by the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blucher, on the 29th of May. As the regiment was reposing in quarters among the Flemish peasantry, it was suddenly ordered to advance, on the 16tli of June, in con- sequence of Buonaparte having attacked the posts of the British and Prussian armies. The regi- ment commenced its march soon after daybreak, arrived at Quatre Bras in the evening, and the allied Infantry having repulsed the French under Marshal Ney, it bivouacked in the fields, with a piquet on the right of the Nivelles road. The defeat and retrograde movements of the Prussians occasioned the British to fall back towards Brussels. The Fifteenth Hussars were attached to the right column of British Cavalry, and their left squadron formed the rear guard in the retreat upon Waterloo. After passing the Nivelles road, some French squadrons intercepted a few waggons with wounded soldiers; and in protecting these, Captain Wodehouse's troop. Stewart, John A. Pennington, Henry Buckley ; Adjutant J. Griffith ; Paymaster J. S. Cocksedge ; Surgeon T. Cartan ; Assist- ant-Surgeons, Samuel Jeyes and Wm. Gibney ; Veterinary Surgeon C. Dal wig ; 30 Serjeants, 6 trumpeters, 390 rank and file. II 2 100 HISTORICAL RECOiy) OF iri :p '« i:;.:t, ;■ ■•; ' 1816 with about an equal number of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons and German Hussars, charged the enemy, and took a few prisoners. Arriving at the range of gentle heights in front of Waterloo, which was destined to be the theatre of one of the most important contests recorded in the history of the world, the regiment bivouacked in a rye-field exposed to torrents of rain. On the morning of the memorable 18th of June, the regiment took its station in the first line, at the angle in the rear of Hugomont, from which the right squadron, and part of another troop, were detached to the right of the Nivelles road, and the Thirteenth Light Dragoons were added to the brigade. While the battle raged along the line with incredible fury, the regiment suffered some loss from the fire of the enemy's artillery ; and in the afternoon the brigade advanced to charge ten squadrons of Lancers posted beyond the Nivelles road ; but as the Fifteenth were moving to their right to cross a ravine, a large body of Cuirassiers and other Cavalry were seen carrying all before them on the open ground between Hugomont and La Haye Sainte, and their Lancers were shout- ing in triumph. The brigade instantly moved towards its former post, and the Thirteenth and Fifteenth charged and drove back the Cuiras- siers, with the most distinguished gallantry, for some distance. While pursuing its steel-clad adversaries, the regiment became exposed to supe- rior numbers on both flanks, and was obliged to THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 101 rally behind the line of Infantry. From this 1815 period, until the French army was overpowered and driven from the field, the regiment made various charges upon the enemy's Iniantry and Cavalry of every description. At one moment it was cutting down musketeers ; at the next it was engaged with Lancers ; and, when these were driven back, it encountered Cuirassiers. Major Griffith was killed ; Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple and Captain Thackwell were wounded, and the com- mand devolved on Captain Hancox. The officers and soldiers of the Fifteenth, like all their com- rades in this memorable battle, evinced the most heroic bravery, and continued the fight until the French army was driven from the field; about seven o'clock they halted ; and the Prussians urged the further pursuit. The regiment had Major Griffith, Lieutenant Sherwood, two Serjeants, eighteen rank and file, and forty-two horses killed ; Lieutenant Henry Buckley, and five rank and file, died of their wounds ; Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple, — Brevet-Ma- jor Thackwell and Captain Whiteford, — Lieute- nants William Byam, Edward Byam, Mansfield, Dawkins, three Serjeants, forty rank and file, and fifty-two horses wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Dal- rymple, Major Griffith, Captain Thackwell, Cap- tain Booth, and Lieutenant Bellairs, had their horses killed under them. In this battle the power of Buonaparte was destroyed, and the fate of Europe decided. The British troops received the thanks of Parliament ; the expressions of the approbation of the Prince 102 HISTORICAL RECORD OP M'» w m 1816 Regent; and the commendations of the Duke of AVellington. Their conduct was admired and applauded by the nations of Europe, and grate- fully acknowledged by theii own country. Every officer and man received a silver medal, and the privilege of reckoning two years service for that day; and the word "Waterloo'' was added to the honorary distinctions borne by the regiment. Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple was further honoured with the dignity of Companion of the Bath; Captain Thackwell was promoted Major of the regiment, in succession to Major Griffith; and Captain Hancox was rewarded with the rank of Major in the army. On the following day the regiment advanced in pursuit of the wreck of the French army; and it was, soon afterwards, detached with other forces under Lieut.-General Sir Charles Colville, to invest Cambrat/, which place was taken on the 24th of June, and the citadel surrendered on the following day. While at Cambray, Captain Phi- lipps of the Fifteenth was riding through some gardens, when suddenly the ground gave way under his horse's feet ; as the horse was struggling, Captain Philipps threw himself from his back, and the next moment the horse fell to the bottom of a well eighty or a hundred feet deep, and was killed. The regiment advanced to Paris, and when the capital of France had surrendered to the Allies, it went into quarters at Lion le Foret, and other villages between Rouen and Gizors : in October it marched into quarters at Fauville, in THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 103 Normandy, and afterwards proceeded to Dieppe, 1815 where it was joined by a reinforcement from England. The regfment formed part of the army of 181 6 occupation in France; but a reduction in the -^ strength of the British contingent taking place, the Fifteenth Hussars were selected to return to England. After transferring two Serjeants and twenty-five rank and file to the Cavalry staff corps, and two hundred and fifty horses to other regiments, the Fifteenth embarked at Calais in May, 1816. The regiment was assembled at Canterbury, from whence it marched to Hounslow, and was reviewed on Hounslow-heath on the 1st of June, by His Royal Highness the Commander- in-Chief, who was pleased to express his approba- tion " of its appearance and discipline." From Hounslow the regiment marched to Nottingham, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, and in October it was employed in suppressing disturbances at Birmingham, on which occasion several rioters were wounded and others lodged in prison; Major Thackwcll received a severe injury on the head from a stone. This year the establishment was reduced to eight troops of sixty-two men and eight horses each; and, in 1817, an additional quantity of gold jg^y lace and embroidery was ordered to be worn on the officers' clothing and appointments. In June, Major Thackwell was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, in consequence of a former recommendation for special services in the field. 104 HISTORICAL RECORD OF i ■ II 1817 A troop of the regiment stationed at Notting- ham was employed in suppressing the insurrection of Jeremiah Brand and his deluded companions, many of whom were sentenced to death for high 1819 treason; and in August, 181^, the regiment was employed in suppressing the illegal assemblages of the people at Manchester, collected by Mr. Henry Hunt, under the pretence of petitioning for a radical reform in the Commons House of Parliament. 1820 In 1820, the regiment was stationed in Lan- 182ica8hire; in April, 1821, it was removed into Yorkshire, and in August its establishment was reduced to six troops. The regiment marched to Hampton Court 1822 barracks and adjacents in May, 1822 ; it took the escort duty to His Majesty; and it formed part of a division of Cavalry, consisting of the House- hold Brigade, Tenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Light Dragoons, commanded by General Earl Cathcart, which was reviewed on the 1st of June, on Hounslow-heath, by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who was pleased to express, in the most gracious terms, his high sense of the merits of the different corps composing the two brigades. In November of this year, and again in July, 1823 1823, the Colonel of the regiment. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, inspected the corps, examined its interior arrangements, and ex- pressed great satisfaction with its appearance and discipline; the Duke, also Prince William of Salms, and other persons of distinction, dined at the officers' mess in the evening. THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 105 On thp i5th of July, the regiment formed 1823 part of ijk division of twenty-one squadrons of Cavalry and eight pieces of artillery, commanded by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset, re- viewed on Hounslow-heath by His Royal High- ness the Duke of York, who expressed his unqualified approbation of the appearance, equip- ment, activity, and precision evinced by the several corps, and the high estimation he entertained of their merits. After the review, the regiment marched to Canterbury, Hythe, Deal, and Norwich; and in July, 1824, it again formed part of a division of 1824 twenty-one squadrons of Cavalry and twelve guns, reviewed by the Duke of York on Hounslow- heath, when His Royal Highness repeated his former expressions of approbation. • On the 20th of July, the regiment embarked at Bristol for Ireland, and having landed at Cork, was stationed at that place until April, 1825, 1825 when it marched to Dublin. From Dublin, the regiment was removed, in the spring of 1826, to Ballinrobe, Athlone and 1826 Longhrea; and a detachment was employed in suppressing riots at the Galway election in July. On the appointment of Field Marshal His Royal 1827 Highness the Duke of Cumberland to the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, in January, 1827, the Colonelcy of the King's Hussars was conferred on Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, who had so often led the regiment to battle and to victory. Six weeks afterwards the regiment marched to Dublin. 106 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1827 During its stay in Ireland, the appearance and discipline of the regiment had been repeatedly commended at the inspections and reviews. It embarked for Liverpool in May, from whence it marched to Kingston upon Thames, and in July it was stationed at Canterbury and Deal. 1828 From Canterbury and Deal the regiment marched, in February, 1828, to Hounslow and Hampton Court barracks, and took the escort duty to His Majesty. On the 6th of July, the King's Hussars were reviewed on Hounslow-heath, by General Lord Hill, commanding-in-chief, who expressed himself in high terms of commendation of their appear- ance, condition, and movements. The same sen- timents were also expressed by His Royal High- ness the Duke of Cumberland, who reviewed the regiment on the 6th of August, and afterwards dined with the officers. 1829 In tlie spring of 1829, the King's Hussars practised, under the superintendence of Major- General Sir Hussey Vivian, the new system of formation and movements for the Cavalry, and made such proficiency therein as obtained the commendations of the Inspecting General of Cavalry. On the 27th of May, the regiment was reviewed in Hyde Park, with the Second Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards, Tenth Hussars, First and Third Foot Guards, and a brigade of Artillery, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Orleans ; and on the 29th, it was reviewed in brigade with the Tenth Hussars, on Hounslow-heath, by the General commanding-in-chief, and His Royal Highness the THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. 107 Duke of Cumberland, who expressed »r satis- 1829 faction at the performance of the two regiments. In April, 1830, the regiment marched to Not- 1830 tingham and Sheffield, and it was stationed in that part of the United Kingdom in the year 1831, 1831 during which period scarlet pelisses were adopted. In the summer of 1832, the head quarters 1832 were removed to Manchester, and in April, 1833, 1833 the regiment embarked at Liverpool for Ireland ; it landed at Dublin, and in the autumn the head quarters were established at Cork. The regiment returned to Dublin in April, jgg^ 1834, and in the summer of 1835, it marched to 1335 Cahir. On the decease of Lieut.-General Sir Colqu- houn Grant, the Colonelcy of the King's Hussars was conferred on Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Robert Wilson, bv commission dated the 29th of December, 1835. From Cahir the regiment marched in May, 1836 183C, to Dublin, and afterwards to Newbridge; it returned in May, 1837, to Dublin, from whence 1837 it pmbarked for Liverpool, and was afterwards stationed at Leeds. In May, 1838, the King's Hussars marched i838 from Yorkshire to Scotland, and were stationed at Glasgow; in March, 1839, they embarked at 1339 Newhaven, and, having landed at Gravesend, they were stationed at Chatham, where arrangements were completed for their proceeding to India. In the summer of 1839, the King's Hussars, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Badcock Lovell, K.H., embarked at Gravesend, for the East Indies ; 108 THE FIFTEENTH HUSSARS. ';>• M 1839 they proceeded, in the first instance, to Bombay, in the expectation of receiving the horses of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons at that place, but this arrangement being altered, they re-embarked and sailed to Madras, where they arrived in the early 1840 part of the year 1840, and proceeded up the country to the Cavalry-station at Bangalore: — an official report was made that no regiment had ever landed from England in finer order, and whose conduct, after their arrival, had been more exemplary. The King's Hussars were reviewed at Banga- lore by Major-General Sir Hugh Gough and Major-General Allan, and presented so beautiful a spectacle of order, efficiency, and correct ma- noeuvring, that these general officers also ex- pressed their admiration and approbation of the regiment in the strongest language. Thus, after having signalized itself in combat with the enemies of its country, at various periods, in Germany, Flanders, Holland, Spain, and France, and having, on numerous occasions, performed valuable service in the United Kingdom, the Fif- teenth, or the King's, Regiment of Hussars is now distinguished as a splendid corps of Light Cavalry protecting the Colonial possessions of Great Britain in the distant clime of India. ji-i' 1841. m i SUCCESSION OF COLONELS ov THE FIFTEENTH, OB THE KING'S, REGIMENT OF LIGHT DRAGOONS. HUSSARS. George Augustus Eliott, Appointed lOih March, 1759. George Augustus Eliott, eighth son of Sir Gilbert Eliott, Baronet, was born at the paternal seat in the district of Teviot-dale, and in the Shire of Rox- burgh, in December, I7l7« At an early age he pro- ceeded to the University of Leyden, and he was after- wards removed to the Royal Military School at La Fere, in Picardy, conducted by the celebrated Vauban, where he made great proficiency in tactics, and laid the foun- dation of that knowledge of the engineer department and fortification for which he afterwards became so eminently distinguished. He subsequently served as a volunteer in the Prussian army, which was considered at that time the best model for military discipline in Europe. On his return to Scotland, he was introduced to Lieut.-Colonel Peers, of the Royal Welch Fusileers, with which regiment he served as a volunteer upwards of twelve months. From the Twenty-third he was removed to the Engineer Corps at Woolwich, where 110 SUCCESSION OP COLONELS. I . h ^ H i he became master of the art of gunnery ; and while at Woolwich, his uncle procured liim the commission of Adjutant in the Second, or Scots*, troop of Horse Grenadier Guards. He proceeded with his troop to Flanders in 1742, and served under King George H., in 1743, at the battle of Dettingen, where he was wounded. He was soon afterwards appointed Major, and, in 1747, Lieut.-Colonel of the Scots' Horse Gre- nadier Guards. In this situation he conducted himself with the most exemplary attention to all the details connected with his troop, which became one of the finest corps of Heavy Cavalry in Europe, and his merits becoming known at the Court, he was appointed aide- de-camp to the King, and honoured with special marks of royal favour and approbation. In 1758, he com- manded the brigade of Light Cavalry in the expedition against the coast of France, under Charles, Duke of Marlborough; and, in 17^9, His Majesty commissioned him to raise, form, and discipline the first of the Light Cavalry Regiments, which the King had resolved to add to his army, — now the Fifteenth, or The King's Hussars. This regiment became a model for the formation of other corps ; and when it proceeded to Germany, the union of discipline, activity, spirit of enterprise, and cool valour which it evinced, proved that it had been moulded by a master-hand. He was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 1759; in 1 760 he served in Germany under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and distinguished himself at the head of the Scots* Greys and Eleventh Dragoons at the battle of Warbourg; he also commanded a brigade of Cavalry during the campaign of 1761 ; was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-General in the same year, and was after- wards recalled from Germany to serve second in com- mand in the expedition against the Havannah. In this enterprise his numerous abihties were of particular BUCCRSHION OF COI.ONBLH. Ill advantage to the service, and, among the conquerors of the Havnnnah, he was conspicuous for his disinterested attempts to lesseii the horrors of war, and alleviate the sufferings of the van(|uished. After the termination of the war, his regiment was frequently reviewed by King George III., who was so well pleased with its behaviour abroad and continued excellent conduct on home service, that, in IJCiCt, His Majesty asked General Eliott what favour he could bestow upon it equal to its merits, when the General answered, that his corps would be proud if Ilis Majesty would allow it to be called the Kino's Regiment, which was immediately granted. He was appointed Commander of the Forces in Ire- land, but only remained a short period in that country; and lie was subsequently rewarded with the command of Gibraltar, ot a fortunate period for the safety of that important fortress. His mode of living, as well as his education, particularly qualified him for that trust. He was abstemious in diet, allowed himself little time for repose, and had so inured himself to habits of hardiness, that the unwearied diligence and constancy of attention which prove painful and difficult to other men, were his daily practice, and were rendered plea- sant by use. Gibraltar was invested by the united forces of Spain in August, 1779 J but it was not «asy to surprise General Eliott, nor yet to starve him into a surrender ; his wants were easily supplied, and his watchfulness was beyond precedent. The example of the Commander-in-Chief had a most persuasive efficacy in forming the manners of the soldiery, who soon came to regulate their lives by the strict rules which their situation rendered necessary, and sever exercise and short diet became habitual to them. The system which he introduced, and the preparations made for his defence, were contrived with so much judgment 112 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. m » I; n and executed with so much address, that he was able, with a handful of men, to preserve his post against an attack, the constancy and vigour of which were suffi- cient to exhaust any common set of men. Collected within himself, he deliberately observed the approaches of the enemy, and seized, with the keenest perspection, the proper moment in which to make his attacks with success. The garrison was relieved in February, 1780; but he never relaxed from his discipline by the appear- ance of security, nor hazarded the lives of his men by vain experiments ; by a cool and temperate demeanour he maintained his station during three years, in which all the powers of Spain were directed against him, and all Europe viewed with intense interest the conduct of Lieut.-General Eliott and his garrison. All ordinary means having failed, the enemy made most stupendous preparations on a new principle, and floating batteries were constructed with great art and labour, and were accounted the most perfect contrivance of the kind ever seen. In September, 1782, the combined fleets of France and Spain appeared before Gibraltar, and ten of the newly-invented battering ships took their station near the fortress ; at the same time the Duke of Crillon, several Princes of the royal blood of France, some Spanish nobility, dignified characters of Europe, and an amazing concourse of persons filled the enemy's camp, and covered the adjacent hills to witness the fall of the fortress under the fire of these stupendous vessels. General Eliott and his garrison were pre- pared for their adversaries ; they opened a heavy fire of red-hot balls, and in a few hours these floating bat- teries, which had been pronounced invincible, were in flames, and afforded one of the grandest spectacles of destruction ever beheld. The combined fleets were soon afterwards damaged by a storm; the prodigious efforts of Spain and France ended in defeat, and SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 113 General Eliott's conduct justly raised him to a most elevated place in the military annals of his age. The praises and gratitude of his country, — the admiration of his enemies, — the approbation of his sovereign, — the thanks of parliament, and the dignity of a Knight of the Garter, were the rewards of his meritorious con- duct; to which a peerage, with the title of Lord Heathfield, Baron Gibraltar, was added in 1787j with permission to assume the arms of the fortress he had so bravely defended. — He died on the 6th of July, 1790. and Guy Lord Dorchester, Appointed ISth July, 1790. Guy Carleton was born in 1724, and serAcd many years in the First Foot Guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of captain and lieut.-colonel. In 1757 he was aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland in Germany. In 1758, he was appointed lieut.-colonel of the Seventy-second Foot, he was also promoted to the rank of colonel, and appointed quarter-master gene- ral in America, where he served under Major-General Wolfe, and was wounded at the battle of Quebec, on the 13th of September, 1759. He also served under Sir Jeflfery, afterwards Lord, Amherst, whose achievements were crowned with the reduction of Canada. He was promoted to the rank of brigadiei'-general in America, in 1762, and at the peace in 1763, his regiment was disbanded. He was rewarded with the appointment of lieut.-governor of Quebec; and in 1 772, he was appointed colonel of the Forty-seventh Foot, and promoted to the rank of major-general. In 1775 the American war com- menced, and Major-General Carleton was at the head of the British troops in Canada, when that country was invaded by the provincials. His forces being very few 114 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. in number, he was obliged to abandon Montreal, and retire to Quebec. The Americans failed in their design to surprise Quebec: they afterwards attacked the fortress by storm, but were repulsed with great slaughter j and on the arrival of reinforcements from England, in the spring of 1 776, the provincials saved themselves by a precipitate flight. Being enabled to take the field. Major ^'^eneral Carleton soon forced the Americans to evacuate their conquests, and retire to Crown Point. An armament was prepared for navigating I ake Champlain, a naval war followed, and the American flotilla was destroyed. His services were rewarded with the dignity of a Knight of the Bath. On the appointment of a junior officer, Major-General Burgoyne, to command an expedition from Canada against the United States, Major-General Carle *^^on resigned his government, and returned to England ; at the same time he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general. In 1781 he succeeded Lieut.- General Sir Henry Clinton as commander-in-chief in America, where he remained until the termination of the war. His services were rewarded, in 1786, with the dignity of Lord Dorchester, of Dorchester, in the county of Oxford ; and in 1790, he succeeded Lord Heathfield in the command of the Fifteenth, or the KiNG^s regiment of Light Dragoons. In 1802 he was appointed to the Fourth Dragoons. He died in 1808. Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, Appointed 2Sth March, 1801. Among the numerous marks of "oyal favour be- stowed on the Fifteenth Light Dragoons by King George III., the appointment of a Prince of the royal blood, distinguished for military virtues, to the Colo- nelcy of the regiment, is a proof of the high estima- tion in which this favourite corps was held. Prince SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 116 Ernest Augustus, fifth, son of our highly venerated sovereign King George III., was born in 1771 ; and while receiving an education suitable to his rank, he proved of great aptitude and vigour of mind. Tn 1 786 he proceeded to Gottingen to complete his studies, and in 1790 he was appointed to a commission in the Ninth Hanoverian Light Dragoons ; in 1793 he was appointed Colonel of that regiment. In this year he commanded the first brigade of Cavalry in charge of the out-posts of the troops under Marshal Walmoden, and while in the field he was conspicuous for chivalrous gallantry, which appears to be inherent in the royal family of Great Britain. This trait in His Royal Highness's character was displayed early in the campaign of 1794, in a rencounter with the enemy near Tournay, where he was severely wounded in the arm, lost his left eye, and was obliged to quit the army. On being partially restored to health, the military ardour, which glowed in His Royal Highness's breast, brought him back to the field ; he took part in the sortie from Nimeguen, and in other actions, and commanded the troops com- posing the rear-guard in the retreat through Holland. In May, 1798, he was appointed Lieut.-General in the British service; and in 1799 he was created Earl of Armagh, and Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale; and was appointed to the command of the British Cavalry in the expedition to Holland ; but the failure of that enterprise before all the Cavalry had landed, deprived His Royal Highness of an opportunity of gathering fresh laurels in war. Two years afterwards he was placed at the head of the King's regiment of Light Dragoons, which corps experienced the advantage of his attention to everything connected with its inte- rests. In 1803 His Royal Highness was promoted to the rank of General, and held the command of the Severn I 2 116 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. U 'I district, from which he was removed to the south-west district, where he commanded until 1807, when he went abroad, and, joining the Prussian army engaged in the struggle against Buonaparte, was present at several of the engagements which took place at that period. During the disorder which followed the defeat of the enemy. His Royal Highness entered Hanover, and took possession of the Electorate, which political step had an effect on the arrangements which ensued. In 1813 His Royal Highness was advanced to the rank of Field Marshal ; he was also honoured with the dignity of a Knight of the Garter, Knight of St. Patrick, and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath ; also Knight Grand Cross of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order. In 1827 he was removed to the Colonelcy of the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, which appoint- ment he resigned in November, 1830. On the decease of His Most Gracious Majesty King William IV., in .June, 1837, His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland succeeded to the Crown of the Kingdom of Hanover. m Sib Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B., G.C.H., Appointed 22nd January, 1827. This officer was appointed Ensign of ths Thirty- sixth Foot in 1793, and joined his regiment at Trichi- nopoly immediately after his appointment. In 1797 he exchanged to the Twenty-fifth Light Dragoons, with which corps he served the Mysore campaign, and was at the taking of Seringapatam. In 1800 he was appointed Captain in the Ninth Dragoons; he was promoted to the Majority of the Twenty-Eighth Light Dragoons in the following year, and in 1802 he obtained the Lieut.-Colonelcy of the Seventy-second Foot, which regiment he commanded at the capture of the Cape of SIJCCESHION OF COLONELS. 117 Good Hope, in 1806; in 1808 he exchanged to the Fifteenth, the King's Hussars. He commanded the Fifteenth in Spain in 1808, and highly distinguished himself at Sahagun, where he was wounded, and he was rewarded with a gold medal. In 1811 he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Prince Regent, and promoted to the rank of Colonel. He embarked with his regiment for the Peninsula in 1813; and com- manded the Hussar brigade at the action at Morales, where he was wounded ; he also commanded the Hussar brigade at the battle of Vittoria, and was rewarded with an additional honorary distinction. He subsequently commanded a brigade composed of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Light Dragoons. On the 4th of June, 1814, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General ; he was also honoured with the dignity of a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and in May, 1815, he was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland. At the battle of Waterloo he commanded a brigade of Hussars (Seventh and Fifteenth British, and Second Hussars King's German Legion), and had several horses killed under him. His services were further recompensed with the Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guel- phic Order ; and he obtained permission to accept the Orders of Wladimir of Russia, and Wilhelm of the Netherlands. Li 1825 he was appointed Colonel of the Twelfth Royal Lancers, and was removed, in 1827, to the King's Hussars ; in July, 1830, he was promoted to the rank of Lieut.- General. He died in December, 1835. Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, Appointed 29th December, 1835. Lieut.-General ; — Grand Cross of the Red Eagle of Prussia, and of St. Anne of Russia ; — Knight Com- If £''■(, m 118 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. niander of Maria Theresa, and of St. George of Russia, with which he was decorated in the field of battle, and at the head of the Imperial Russian Guards, by the Emperor, with his own hands, after having had the Cross first put around his own neck; — Knight Com- mander of the Tower and Sword of Portugal; — Knight of the Turkish Crescent; — Villiers en Couch^ gold medal*; — and Moscow medal. 1'. i * The followi.i J is the inscription on the medal given by the Emperor of Austria, "Forti Brtttanico in Exercitu JFeederato ad Camerucum : xxiv Aprilis, 1794." III ;2) Russia, battle, rds, by had the t Com- Knight te gold n by the lerato ad m