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THE SIXTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, OK THE CARABINEERS. ■ • ■ / LONDON: Printea by William Clowis aiid Sons, 14, Chating Orosi. GENERAL ORDERS. HORSE GUARDS, Ut January, 1836. His Majesty has been pleased to command, that, with a view of doing the fullest justice to Regi- ments, as well as to Individuals who have distin- guished themselves by their Bravery in Action with the Enemy, an Account of the Services of every Regi- ment in the British Army shall be published under the superintendence and direction of the Adjutant- General ; and that this Account shall contain the following particulars : viz., The Period and Circumstances of the Ori- ginal Formation of the Regiment; The Stations at which it has been from time to time employed ; The Battles, Sieges, and other Military Operations, in which it has been engaged, particularly specifying any Achievement it may have performed, and the Colours, Trophies, &c., it may have captured from the Enemy, The Names of the Officers and the number of Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, Killed or Wounded by the Enemy, specifying the Place and Date of the Action. a 2 • GENERAL ORDERS. The Names of those Officers, who, in con- sideration of their Gallant Services and Meritorious Conduct in Engagements with the Enemy, have been distinguished with Titles, Medals, or other Marks of His Majesty's gracious favour. The Names of all such Officers, Non-Com- missioned Officers and Privates as may have specially signalized themselves in Action. And, The Badges and Devices which the Regiment may have been permitted to bear, and the Causes on account of which such Badges or Devices, or any other Marks of Distinction, have been granted. By Command of the Right Honourable GENERAL LORD HILL, Commanding'in-Chief. John Macdonald, Adjutant- General. PREFACE. The character and credit of the British Army must chiefly depend upon the zeal and ardour, by which all who enter into its service are animated, and consequently it is of the highest importance that any measure calculated to excite the spirit of emulation, by which alone great and gallant actions are achieved, should be adopted. Nothing can more fully tend to the accomplishment of this desirable object, than a full display of the noble deeds with which the Military History of our country abounds. To hold forth these bright examples to the imitation of the youthful soldier, and thus to incite him to emulate the meritorious conduct of those who have preceded him in their honourable career, are among the motives that have given rise to the present publication. The operations of the British Troops are, indeed, announced in the ' London Gazette,' from whence they are transferred into the public prints : the achievements of our armies are thus made known at the time of their occurrence, and receive the tribute of praise and admiration to which they are entitled. On extraordinary occasions, the Houses of Parliament have been in the habit of conferring on the Commanders, and the PRFFACE. Officers and Troops acting under their orders, expresHions of approbation and of thanks for their skill and bravery, and these testimonials, confi'med by the high honour of their Sovereign's Approbation, constitute the reward which the soldier most highly prizes. It has not, however, until late years, been the practice (which appears to have long prevailed in some of the Continental armies) for British Regiments to keep regular records of their services and achievements. Hence some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining, particularly from the old Regiments, an authentic account of their origin and subsequent services. This defect will now be remedied, in consequence of His Majesty having been pleased to command, that every Regiment shall in future keep a full and ample record of its services at home and abroad. From the materials thus collected, the country will hence- forth derive information as to the difficulties and privations which chequer the career of those who embrace the military profession. In Great Britain, where so large a number of persons are devoted to the active concerns of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, and where these pursuits have, for so long a period, been undisturbed by the presence of war, which few other countries have escaped, comparatively little is known of the vicissitudes of active service, and of the casualties of climate, to which, even during peace, the British Troops are exposed in every part of the globe, with little or no interval of repose. In their tranquil enjoyment of the blessings which the I'ltLFACK. country derives from the induHtry and the enterpriiie of the agri- culturist and the trader, its happy inhabitants may be sup|K>sed not often to reflect on the perilous duties of the soldier and the sailor, — on their Bufferings, — and on the sacrifice of valu- able life, by which so many national benefits are obtained and preserved. ' The conduct of the British Troops, their valour, and endur- ance, have shone conspicuously under great and trying diffi- culties ; and their character has been established in Continental warfare by the irresistible spirit with which they have effected debarkations in spite of the most formidable opposition, and by the gallantry and steadiness with which they have main- tained their advantages against superior numbers. In the official Reports made by the respective Commanders, ample justice has generally been done to the gallant exertions of the Corps employed ; but the details of their services, and of acts of individual bravery, can only be fully given in the Annals of the various Regiments. These Records are now preparitig for publication, under His Majesty's special authority, by Mr, Richard Cannon, Principal Clerk of the Adjutant-General's Office ; and while the perusal of them cannot fail to be useful and interesting to military men of every rank, it is considered that they will also afford entertainment and information to the general reader, particularly to those who may have served in the Army, or who have relatives in the Service. There exists in the breasts of most of those who have served, or are serving, in the Army, an Esprit de Corpif'tin attach- PREFACE. ment to every thing belonging to their Regiment ; to such persons a narrative of the services of their own Corps cannot fail to prove interesting. Authentic accounts of the actions of the great, — the valiant, — the loyal, have always been of paramount interest with a brave and civilised people. Great Britain has produced a race of heroes who, in moments of danger arid terror, have stood, " firm as the rocks of their native shore;" and when half the World has been arrayed against them, they have fought the battles of their Country with unshaken fortitude. It is presumed that a record of achievements in war, — victories so complete and surprising, gained by our countrymen, — our brothers — our fellow-citizens in arms, — a record which revives the memory of the brave, and brings their gallant deeds before us, will certainly prove acceptable to the public. Biographical memoirs of the Colonels and other distinguished Officers, will be introduced in the Records of their respective Regiments, and the Honorary Distinctions which have, from time to time, been conferred upon each Regiment, as testifying the value and importance of its services, will be faithfully set forth. As a convenient mode of Publication, the Record of each Regiment will be printed in a distinct number, so that when the whole shall be completed, the Parts may be bound up in numerical succession. 4 INTRODUCTION. The ancient Armies of England were composed of Horse and Foot ; but the feudal troops esta- blished by William the Conqueror in 1086, con- sisted almost entirely of Horse. Under the feudal system, every holder of land amounting to what was termed a " knight's fee," was K'quired to provide a charger, a coat of mail, a helmet, a shield, and a lance, and to serve the Crown a period of forty days in each year at his own expense ; and the great landholders had to pro- vide armed men in proportion to the extent of their estates ; consequently the ranks of the feudal Cavalry were completed with men of property, and the vassals and tenants of the great barons, who led their dependents to the field in person. In the succeeding reigns the Cavalry of the Army was composed of Knights (or men at arms) and Hobiliers (or horsemen of inferior degree) ; and the Infantry of spear and battle-axe men, cross-bowmen, and archers. The Knights wore armour on every part of the body, and their weapons were a lance, a sword, and a small dagger. The Hobiliers were accoutred and armed b 11 INTRODUCTION. for the light and Icrh important services of war, and were not considered qualified for a charge in line. Mounted Archers* were also introduced, and the English nation eventually became pre- eminent in the me of the bow. About the time of Queen Mary the appellation of " Men at Arm«" was changed to that of " Spears and Launces.'* The introduction of fire-arms ulti- mately occasioned the lance to fall into disuse, and the title of the Horsemen of the first degree was changed to ** Cuiramers.'' The Cuirassiers were armed cap-H-pi^, and their weapons were a sword with a straight narrow blade and sharp point, and a pair of large pistols, called petrenels ; and the Hobiliers carried carbines. The Infantry carried pikes, matchlocks, and swords. The introduction of fire-arms occasioned the forma- tion of regiments armed and equipped as infantry, but mounted on small horses for the sake of expedition of movement, and these were styled "Dragoons;" a small portion of the military force of the kingdom, however, consisted of this description ,f troops. The formation of the* present Army commenced * In the 14th yeur of the reign of Edward IV. a small force was establJHhed in Ireland by Parliament, consisting of 120 Archers on horsebuck, 40 Horsemen, and 40 Pages. • INTRODU' ON. Ill ;s ofwur, charge in itroduced, ame pre- ppellation f " Spears arms ulti- to disuse, ■st degree Cuirassiers ns were a nd sharp }etrenels ; Infantry s. The le forma- infantry, sake of re styled military d of this nmenced a small nsisting of 'ages. after the Restoration in 1660, with the establish- ment of regular corps of Horse and Foot; the Horsemen were cuirassiers, but only wore armour on the head and body ; and the Foot were pike- men and musketeers. The arms which each description of force carried, are described in the following extract from the ** Regulations of King Charles II.," dated 5th May, 1663 :— ** Each Horseman to have for his defensive ' armes, back, breast, and pot ; and for his offen- ' sive armes, a sword, and a case of pistoUs, the * barrels whereof are not to be und'. foorteen * inches in length ; and each Trooper of Our * Guards to have a carbine, besides the aforesaid * armes. And the Foote to have each souldier a ' sword, and each pikeman a pike of 16 foote * long and not und'. ; and each musqueteer a * musquet, with a collar of bandaliers, the barrels * of which musquet to be about foor foote long, * and to conteine a bullet, foorteen of which shall * weigh a pound weight *." The ranks of the Troops of Horse were at this period composed of men of some property — gene- rally the sons of substantial yeomen : the young men received as recruits provided their own horses, * Military Papers, State Paper Office. b2 I ' i 1 IV INTRODUCTION. and they were placed on a rate of pay sufficient to give them a respectable station in society. On the breaking out of the war with Holland, in the spring of 1672, a Regiment of Dragoons was raised*; the Dragoons were placed on a lower rate of pay than the Horse; and the Regiment was armed similar to the Infantry, excepting that a limited number of the men carried halberds instead of pikes, and the others muskets and bay- onets ; and a few men in each Troop had pistols ; as appears by a warrant dated the 2nd of April, 1672, of which the following is an extract : — " Charles R. " Our will and pleasure is, that a Regi- " ment of Dragoones which we have established " and ordered to be raised, in twelve Troopes of " fourscore in each beside officers, who are to be " under the command of Our most deare and most " intirely beloved Cousin Prince Rupert, shall " be armed out of Our stoares remaining within " Our office of the Ordinance, as followeth ; that " is to say, three corporalls, two Serjeants, the " gentlemen at armes, and twelve souldiers of " each of the said twelve Troopes, are to have and " carry each of them one halbard, and one case * This Regiment was disbanded after the Peace in 1674. INTRODUCTION. " of pistoUs with holsters; and the rest of the " souldiers of the several Troopes aforesaid, are '• to have and to carry each of them one match- " locke musquet, with a collar of bandaliers, and " also to have and to carry one bayonet *, or great " knife. That each lieutenant have and carry " one partizan ; and that two drums be delivered " out for each Troope of the said Regiment f." Several regiments of Horse and Dragoons were raised in the first year of the reign of King James II.; and the horsemen carried a short car- bine J in addition to the sword and pair of pistols : and in a Regulation dated the 21st of February, 1687, the arms of the Dragoons at that period are commanded to be as follow : — **The Dragoons to have snaphanse musquets, ** strapt, with bright barrels of three foote eight " inches long, cartouch-boxes, bayonetts, granado " pouches, bucketts, and hammer-hatchetts." After several years' experience, little advantage was found to accrue from having Cavalry Regi- ments formed almost exclusively for engaging the * This appears to be the first introduction of bayonets into the English Army. f State Paper Office. X The first issue of carbines to the regular Horse appears to have taken place in 1678; the Life Guards, however, carried carbines from their formation in 1660. — Vide the ' Historical Record of the Life Guards.' / VI INTRODUCTION. enemy on foot ; and, the Horse having laid aside their armour, the arms and equipment of Horse and Dragoons were so nearly assimilated, that there remained little distinction besides the name and rate of pay. The introduction of improve- ments into the mounting, arming, and equipment of Dragoons rendered them competent to the performance of every description of service re- quired of Cavalry ; and, while the long musket and bayonet were retained, to enable them to act as Infantry, if necessary, they were found to be equally efficient, and of equal value to the nation, as Cavalry, with the Regiments of Horse. In the several augmentations made to the regular Army after the early part of the reign of Queen Anne, no new Regiments of Horse were raised for permanent service ; and in 1746 King George II. reduced three of the old Regiments of Horse to the quality and pay of Dragoons ; at the same time, His Majesty gave them the title of First, Second, and Third Regiments of Dragoon Cruards: and in 1788 the same alteration was made in the remaining four Regiments of Horse, which then became the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Regiments of Dragoon Guards. At present there are only three Regiments which are styled Horse in the British Army, INTRODUCTION. Vll // namely, the two Regiments of Life Guards, and the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, to whom cuirasses have recently been restored. The other Cavalry Regiments consist of Dragoon Guards, Heavy and Light Dragoons, Hussars, and Lancers ; and although the long musket and bayonet have been laid aside by the whole of the Cavalry, and the Regiments are armed and equipped on the principle of the old Horse (excepting the cuirass), they continue to be styled Dragoons. The old Regiments of Horse formed a highly respectable and efficient portion of the Army, and it is found, on perusing the histories of the various campaigns in which they have been en- gaged, that they have, on all occasions, maintained a high character for steadiness and discipline, as well as for bravery in action. They were formerly mounted on horses of superior weight and phy- sical power, and few troops could withstand a well-directed charge of the celebrated British Horse. The records of these corps embrace a period of 150 years — a period eventful in history, and abounding in instances of heroism displayed by the British troops when danger has threatened the nation, — a period in which these Regiments have numbered in their ranks men of loyalty, valour, and good conduct, worthy of imitation. Vlll INTRODUCTION. I 1 !l ill Since the Regiments of Horse were formed into Dragoon Guards, additional improvements have been introduced into the constitution of the several corps ; and the superior description of horses now bred in the United Kingdom enables the commanding officers to remount their regi- ments with such excellent horses, that, whilst sufficient weight has been retained for a powerful charge in line, a lightness has been acquired which renders them available for every description of service incident to modern warfare. .^ The orderly conduct of these Regiments in quarters has gained the confidence and esteem of the respectable inhabitants of the various parts of the United Kingdom in which they have been stationed ; their promptitude and alacrity in at- tending to the requisitions of the magistrates in periods of excitement, and the temper, patience, and forbearance which they have evinced when subjected to great provocation, insult, and violence from the misguided populace, prove the value of these troops to the Crown, and to the Government of the country, and justify the reliance which is reposed on them. ! ! HISTORICAL RECORD ov THE SIXTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, OK THE CARABINEERS; CONTAININO AN ACCOUNT OF THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1685, AND OF ITS SUBSEQUENT SERVICES TO 1839. ILLUSTRATED fVITH PLATES. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY LONGMAN, ORME AND CO., PATERNOSTEKROW, AND BY MESSRS. CLOWES AND SONS. AMD TO Bl HAD UF ALL B00K9BLLERS. 1839. I m U>MK)N: l*iiiiW by W. Cixjwia nu>l Suns, Stamrnril Streft. r n CONTENTS. Anno 1685 Formation of the Regiment — — Equipped as CuirasBiers, ranked as Ninth Horse, and styled the Queen Dowager's Regiment Reviewed by King James II. . . , 1686 Do. Do First Establishment . . , . Names of officers .... 1688 Revolution . . . . . 1689 Embarks for Ireland 1690 Battle of the Boyne ' . — — Sieg^ of Limerick . Skirmish near Mountmellick 1691 Montrath Mountmellick Portarlington Castle-cuff Battle of Aghrim . Capture of Banagher-castle Skirmish near Cariganlis . Services during the siege of Limerick . . — Obtains the title of Carabineers . 25 Returns to England . . . .27 1692 Proceeds to the Netherlands . . 28 Battle of Steenkirk . . .29 1693 Landen . 80 1695 Covering the siege of Namur , . .32 1697 Returns to England and delivers the armour into store ..... 38 I 8 4 » 6 7 8 11 13 18 17 18 19 28 24 iv OONTINTS. Anno I'ng* 1702 Embarks fur Hollund . . .34 Covering the sieges of Venloo, Ruremoiide. Ste- venswuert. and Liege ... — » 1708 Covering the sieges of Huy and Limbiirg — 1704 Proceeds to Germany ... 35 Battle of Schellenberg . . — ' ,1' Blenheim Covering the siege of Landau 1705 Forcing the French lines at Helixem 1706 Battle of Ramilies .... Covering the siege of Ostend 1707 The cuirasses restored .... 1708 Battle of Oudenarde Covering the siege of Lisle 1709 Tournay Battle of Malplaquet .... Covering the siege of Mons . 1710 sieges of Douay, Bethune, St.Ycnant, and Aire ..... 1711 Surprised in the camp near Douay . Forcing the French lines at Arlciix Covering the siege of Bouchaiu 1712 Quesnoy . 1714 Proceeds to Ireland, and the cuirasses delivered into store .... 17 1 5 Facings changed firom sea-green to pale-yellow 1720 Regulated prices of commissions 17'iO Styled the Third Irish Horset or the Carabineers 1751 Regulation for the clothing and standards 1760 Embarks for Germany .... Skirmish near Wolfshagpn Battle of Warbourg . . 1761 Skirmish near Werl Battle of Kirch-Denkern 1761 Skirmish near Stradtberg . 86 41 42 43 45 46 47 48 50 51 53 54 55 57 'il 64 65 CONTtNTH. • 51 • 53 • • 54 ivered ow • 55 leers 57 • 60 • 'il • 64 . 65 Anno I'M* 1761 SkirmiHh near ImmenhauMn , .96 1762 Battle of GroebenHtien . . . — 1763 Embarks for England, and procecdN (o Ireland nn 1768 Facing changed to white . . 7U 1788 The title changed to Sixth Rvgiment of Dragoon Guards, or the Carabineeri , , 78 1793 Proceeds to Flanders . . . .74 1794 Covering 'he tiege of Landr^ciei . « 7ft Batt' >, ' i TiiUT ' ny . . , . — F ( eats thruii;.7h Holland to Germany . 77 1795 Fuiciv.i to England . . .78 r/!;(» Ireland . , . — . 17f}U Affair near Castiebar . . .79 1803 EmbarkB for England ... 80 1806 Four troops proceed to South America . . — 1807 Attack on Buenos Ayres . . 81 The four troops return from South America tS 1810 Proceeds to Scotland . . , ,84 1812 Alteration in the clothing, &c. . . — 1813 Embarks for Ireland . , ... 1815 Scotland . , . « Alteration in the clothing .,,.-. 1817 Proceeds to England . , , 1821 Embarks fur Ireland , . 1824 England Proceeds to Scotland , , , 1825 Returns to England 1827 Alteration in the equipment . , 1830 Embarks for Ireland . . . . ^ 1834 Returns to England and proceeds to Scotland 1 'j'i Returns to England , , , m^ 1838 On duty at the coronation of Her Majesty, the Queen Victoria . , , .« 1839 The conclusion . , .88 8ft 86 87 ii vi CONTENTS. SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. I. Ill 1 1 Anno Page 1685 Richard, Lord Lumley . 89 1687 Sir John Talbot .... 91 1688 Sir George Hewytt . » 1689 Robert Byerley .... 92 1692 Hugh Wyndham — 1706 Francis Palmes .... 93 1712 Leigh Backwell 94 1715 Richard Waring — 1721 Richard Viscount Shannon — 1727 George Macartney 96 1730 Henry Earl of Deloraine — 1731 Sir Robert Rich, Baronet 97 1733 Charles Lord Cathcart — • 1740 Phineas Bowles .... 99 1749 The Hon. James Cholmondeley — 1750 Lord George Sackville 100 1757 Louis Dejean . . . . 102 1764 Edward Harvey — 1775 Sir William Augustus Pitt, K.B. — 1780 Sir John Irwine, K.B. 103 1788 Henry Lawes, Earl of Carhampton 104 1821 The Hon. Robert Taylor LIST OF PLATES. The Standard of the Regiment to precede • Page 1 The capture of the colours of the French Royal Regiment of Bombardiers by the Carabineers, at the battle of Ramilies, to face .... Page 44 The Carabineers ai the battle of Warbouig, to face , , 62 ^ Page 89 91 92 93 94 96 97 99 100 102 103 104 Pagfe 1 legiment of f Ramilies, Page 44 le ,,62 SIXTH UEOIUEN'I' OK DJIAQOON tiUAltl»S (.CAItAliimBKa), M bCCC XSXVl II. HISTORICAL RECORD OP TUB SIXTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, OB THE CARABINEERS. / ■-N, The Carabineers, whose services and achieve- ments form the subject of the following pages, derive their origin as a corps of cavahy from the commotions which followed the accession to sovereign power of James II., — a prince who had openly avowed his conversion to the doc- trines of the church of Rome. This monarch being a zealous enthusiast in the cause of his religion, his advancement to the throne of a pro- testant kingdom encouraged bold and desperate men, who had been the subjects of political prosecution in the preceding reign and who ex- pected no lenity from the new government, to rise in arms against their sovereign. By men of this character James Duke of Monmouth, who was a political exile on the continent, was induced to B 1685 M f. i y Ml ! :| a HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1685 appear in arms on the western coast, and raise the standard of rebellion. This nobleman, though of a mild and generous disposition, had been led to entertain ambitious views from being the natural son of Charles II., who evinced great affection for him, and from the existence of a report that the king had been married to his mother ; and the alarm and consternation to which his appearance in arms in the summer of 1685 gave rise, was immediately followed by the din of hostile pre- paration throughout the country. The miseries and horrors of the civil war in the reign of Charles I. were not forgotten by the people ; and notwithstanding the unpleasant feeling induced by the king's religion, loyalty prevailed over every other consideration, and the yeomen and mechanics flocked to the royal stand- ard. It is stated in the national records, that in addition to numerous companies of foot and troops of dragoons, upwards of eighty troops of horse were raised on this occasion for the service of James II., of which number fifty-seven were formed into nine regiments of cuirassiers, and after the suppression of the rebellion the remainder were disbanded; excepting one, which was re- tained in the service' a short time as an independ- ent troop of light cavalry. One of the most active adherents of royalty at this time was Richard Lord Lumley, Baron of Lumley Castle, who was descended from a noble line of ancestors, and was distinguished for his merit and approved fidelity to the crown. He . raised a troop of horse in the county of Hants ; THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. d and while it was embodying, he placed himself at 1685 the head of three troops of horse and of four com- panies of foot of the Sussex militia, with which he went in quest of the wreck of the rebel army after the battle of Sedgemoor, and was instrumental in the capture of the unfortunate Monmouth, whom he conducted to London, where his grace perished on the scaffold. The Lord Lexington was also active in op- posing the progress of the rebellion, and raised an independent troop of horse at Newark-upon- Trent ; Sir William Villiers exerted himself in the royal cause, and raised a troop of horse at Hoddesdon, and other places in Hertfordshire ; Robert Byerley, Esq., a loyal Yorkshireman, raised a troop at Doncaster; another troop was raised by Henry Hevingham, Esq., at Ipswich ; and the brave Sir John Clobury also raised a troop of loyal yeomen for the service of his king. After the suppression of the rebellion these six independent troops of horse marched from their dis- persed quarters to Guildford, Godalming, and Weybridge ; and were, on the 30th of July, 1685, constituted a regiment of cuirassiers, of which the Lord Lumley was appointed colonel ; Sir John Clobury, lieut.-colonel ; and Adam Cun- ningham, major. The regiment thus formed ranked as Ninth Horse; its colonel held in the preceding reign the court appointment of master of the horse to Queen Catherine, consort of Charles IL, and was highly esteemed by the royal family ; his corps was distinguished by the B 2 II HISTORICAL RECORD OF ill! If 1685 title of the Queen Dowager's Regiment, in honour of her majesty ; and having been continued in the service of the crown through the eventful period of more than one hundred and fifty years, it now bears the designation of the Sixth Dra- goon Guards, or the Carabineers. At its formation it was mounted on large long-tailed horses of superior weight and power, which were selected at that period for the heavy cavalry regiments ; the troopers were equipped with armour on the head and body, called backs, breasts, and pots ; they were armed with long broad swords, pairs of large pistols, and short car- bines ; their uniform was scarlet, and the distin- guishing colour of the corps, then called its livery, and now its facing, was sea-green ; which ap- pears to have been a favourite colour of Queen Catherine's, as her troop (now second regiment) of life guards, and her regiment of foot (now the second, or queen's royal,) had sea-green as their distinguishing colour. In a few weeks after its formation, the regiment appeared in review order on Hounslow Heath, before the king. A taste for ornament prevailed in the army at this period, which was not dis- couraged by the court; and the Queen Dow- ager's troopers exhibited sea-green nbands in their broad-brimmed hats, and the officers dis- played ostrich feathers ; both officers and troopers ornamented the heads and tails of their horses with sea-green ribands, and their waistcoats, breeches, and embroidered horse furniture were of the same colour ; each troop displayed a sea- THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. with their green silk damask standard, ornamented regimental devices. Having performed exercises and evohitions before the king and ladies of the court, and received the expression of his majesty's approbation of the readiness with which they had enrolled themselves under his banners on the sudden emergency which had called forth their services, also for their noble and warlike appearance as a corps of cuirassiers, and for their attention to military duty, they marched into quarters at Petersfield, Lewes, and Brighton, where they passed the winter ; during which time Sir John Clobury was succeeded in the Jieut.- colonelcy by Henry Verman. In the following summer the Queen Dowa- ger's CUIRASSIERS again appeared on Hounslow Heath, where they pitched their tents, and took part in the mock-battles, sieges, and other specta- cles which were exhibited in presence of the royal family, and of vast assemblages of people, who crowded thither to see the fine and gallant army the king had embodied, which in numbers, dis- cipline and appearance, exceeded everything of the kind which had been seen in England in time of peace (excepting during the commonwealth) : his Majesty made a pompous disj)lay of his forces, with the view of inspiring his subjects with a sense of his power, that the influence of terror might prevent resistance to the changes he purposed making in church and state. The establishment of the regiment consisted, at this period, of the following numbers, and rates of pay ; which are extracted from a warrant. 1685 1686 ./ . HISTORICAL. RECORD OF 1686 under the sign manual, issued at the cbnimence- ment of the year ; — M' , I II lii THE QUEEN DOWAGER'S REGIMENT OF HORSE. Field and SrAPr-OPFioBRs. The Colonel, at Colontl Lwutenant-Colonel, ai LteuL-Oulonet The Major (who hat no troop), for himself, Iiorsei,! and servants j Adjutant Chaplain . Chirurgeon iv* per day, and j horse to carry hisi chest, ij* per day ) A Kettle-Drummer to the Colonel's troop . . . Thb Colonbl's Troop. The Colonel, m Captaine, x* per day, and ij horses) each at ij* per day ) laevtenant vi*, and ij horses, each at ij* Comett V*, and ij horses, each at ij* . Quarter Master iv*, and i horse, %t ij* . Three Corporals, each at iij* per day . Two Trumpeters, each at ij* viii<> . . Forty Private Soldiers, each at ij* vi<* per day Five Troops more, of the same numbers, and at the) same rates of pay as the Colonel's troop . . . | Total por tbis Rboihent per Dieh . . . Per Annum . . £17,897. 3«. Ad. Per Diem. £. 1 7 38 49 t. 12 8 14 10 9 6 9 5 13 6 d. THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. lonimeace- The following officers were holding commissions 1686 in the regiment : — HORSE. Per Diem. £. «. d. 12 8 1 5 6 8 6 3 3 8 14 10 9 6 9 5 4 5 7 13 4 38 6 8 49 8 THE QUEEN DOWAGER'S REGIMENT OF HORSE. Troop. Captains. Lieutenants. Cornets. iBt. 2d. 3d. 4th. 5th. 6th. Rich. Lord Lumley (Col.) Hen. Verman, (Lt.-Col.) SirWm. Villiers . . Rob. Byeriey . . . Hen. Hevingham . . Matthew Aylmer . . Robert Cornwall James Webb Thomas Vinor R. Manluver Edward Watson John Cocks William Bridger J. Skyrmisher Charles Villiers. Ghr. Graham. Henry Foubeit. Richard Qee. Adam Cunningham .... Major. Richard Sherlock Chaplain. George Bellamy Chirurgeon. Tliomas Bruning .... Adjutant. In August the regiment struck its tents and marched into quarters in Essex ; and in a few weeks afterwards the Lord Lumley, not approving of the popish councils which governed the proceed- ings of the court, resigned his commission, and united with other noblemen and gentlemen in an invitation to the Prince of Orange, to assist them in preserving the constitution and established re- ligion of the country from the menaced danger. No symptoms or expressions of disapprobation 1687 could divert the king from his deeply laid designs, and in January, 1687, his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on a steady and deter- mined adherent to the measures of the court. Sir John Talbot, from the lieut.-colonelcy of the third 8 / HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1687 horse, — now second dragoon guards. This change was followed by the appointment of Sir Edward Vaudry to the lieut. -colonelcy in the place of Verman deceased ; and Jenken Morgan, from the third troop of life-guards, was appointed major. The Queen Dowager's Cuirassiers made their appearance at the camp near Hounslow in the summer of 1687 ; and again in the following 1688 year, and in July 1688 struck their tents, and took pust at Chichester and Arundel. Alarm and consternation, the inseparable com- panions of conscious guilt, prevailed at court ; the king's proceedings towards the introduction of papacy and despotic power, had alienated the affections of his subjects ; and the gathering of a hostile storm in Holland, with the discovery that his soldiers retained their national spirit and feelings, and hated papacy as much as his other subjects, were sufficient causes for fear : prepara- tions were made to resist the coming temp( s*^. and four troops of this regiment were selected to form part of the garrison of Portsmouth.* The danger * James R. " Our will and pleasure is, that upon notice from our gover- " nor, lieutenant-governor, or other officer commanding in chief at " our garrison of Portsmouth, of the approach of a Dutch fleet, or " the landing of any men thereabouts, you cause four troops of our "dear sister the Queen Dowager's regiment of horse to march " forthwith to Portsmouth, and do duty there. " Given at our court at Windsor, this 25th day of August, 1688. "By His Majesty's command. " William Blathwayte. To our trusty and well-betoved Sir John Talbot, Knight, Colonel of one of our regi- ments of horse" THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 9 was imminent, and the dismissal of protestants, 1688 and the more general introduction of papists into the army were resolved upon. The experiment was tried by the king's natural son, the Duke of Berwick, colonel of the Princess Anne's (now eightii) regiment of foot, which was in garrison at Portsmouth ; but met with steady and inflexible resistance from the lieutenant-colonel, Beaumont, and five captains, who refused to admit papists into their companies, for which they were placed in arrest, and sent under the charge of an escort of a cornet and twenty troopers of the Queen Dowa- ger's Cuirassiers, to Windsor, where a court of inquiry was assembled, and upon the report of this court the king deprived them of their commis- sions.* The attempt to introduce papists into the old regiments was not repeated, but commissions were issued for raising new corps to be composed of men of that persuasion ; an augmentation was ordered thoughout the army, troops arrived from Scotland and Ireland, and a force was assembled of more than double the numbers of the army com- manded by the Prince of Orange. While these events were taking place, the Queen Dowager's Cuirassiers were in quarters, completing an augmentation of ten men per troop, and awaiting the results of the mighty efforts * An engraving was made in 1688, and headed "The Portsmouth Captains," containing the portraits of Lieut. Col. Hon. John Beaumont, Captains Hon. Thomas Paston, Simon Packe, Thomas Orme, John Port, and William ]Cook ; with the mot'.o, — Pro Latvia, Patria, Atria, 10 HISTORICAL RECORD OF !• 1688 which were being made ; when the Prince of Orange landed, the order for their proceeding to Portsmouth was countermanded, and they were directed to march for Salisbury.^* The moral in- fluence produced by the predilection of the court to papacy proved fatal ; the king fled to France ; the Prince of Orange assumed the sovereign power, and ordered the regiment to march to Guildford and Godalming. Sir John Talbot having resigned his commis- sion, the Prince of Orange conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Sir George Hewytt, Baro- net, an officer of firm protestant principles, who had recently held the appointment of lieutenant- colonel of the second troop (now second regiment) of life-guL rds, and was one of the officers who joined the Prince soon after he landed. This revolution ushered in a new era in the 1689 annals of the kingdom, and the first service per- formed by the Queen Dowager's Horse under the new dynasty, was taking part in the pro- clamation of the accession of King William and Queen Mary, at Guildford, on the 16th of Fe- bruary, 1689 ; when, after firing several voUies, the troopers drank their majesties* health, with drums beating and trumpets sounding. The joy to which this sudden deliverance from the power of papacy gave rise, was soon alloyed by a defec- * Before commencing this march, the men were ordered te de- liver their cuirasses into store ; but the order was rescinded, and they continued to wear their armour. THE SIXTH DRAGOON aUARDS. It tion in the army, and newi of the opposition given 1689 to their majesties' authority in Scotland ; this regiment was one of the corps wiiich adhered to the principles of the revolution, and was ordered to march to the north, and while at Penrith it was inspected (17th June) by the commissioners ap- pointed to re-model the army. Before the commotions in Scotland were sup- pressed, the services of the regiment were required in Ireland, which country was held by the lord- lieutenant, the Earl Tyrconnel, in the interest of papacy, and King James had proceeded thither with men, money, and a fleet from France. Many of the protestants were in arms against their persecutors, and to rescue this kingdom from the power to which nearly every part of it had become subject, an army was sent thither under the orders of the veteran Marshal Duke Schom- berg. The Queen Dowager's Cuirassiers having returned from the north, and their colonel having been elevated to the peerage of Ireland, by the title of Baron of James-town and Viscount Hewytt of Goram, they embarked from Highlake on the 12th of September, landed in Ireland a few days afterwards, and joined the army at its camp at Dundalk on the 'iSJd of that month. These spirited horsemen having thus taken the field, looked forward with eager anxiety for an opportunity to signalize their zeal for the interest of their king and country; but, though they were not brought into contact with armed antagonists, they were doomed to encounter an adversary they had not expected to meet ; the i:;.!' ■ \ 1 'M Ji' ! i! nv II i 12 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1689 ground on which the army was encamped being- low and marshy, and the weather particularly rainy, a pestilential disease broke out among the troops, and although the regiment was removed in October to Carlingford for the convenience of forage, and afterwards occupied quarters at Kil- leleagh, Killinchey, Armillan, and Newtown, it did not escape the mortality, which raged with ap- palling violence. Its colonel, lieut.-colonel, major, and two senior captains, were among the sufferers, and it was commanded during the winter by Captain Cornelius Wood, an officer who was an ornament to his profession, and afterwards became eminent for intrepidity and manly virtues.* Its colonel, Viscount Hewytt, obtained permission to return to England, and died at Chester in Decem- ber: the major, with several other officers and many troopers were also victims of the malady ; the lieut.-colonel, Robert Byerley, a zealous officer, who had belonged to the regiment from the time of its formation, — having raised one of the troops at Doncaster, recovered and was pro- moted to the colonelcy on the 30th of December. 1690 The lieut.-colonelcy was conferred, in March, 1690, on Hugh Wyndham, from the majority of Berke- ley's (now fourth) dragoons : and the gallant Captain Wood was appointed major. Forty aspirants for the honour of fighting for the good of their native country replaced the loss oc- casioned by this mortality among the troopers : new * A memoirofGeneral Cornelius Wood is yiven in the'successiun of colonels in the Record of the Third Dragoon Guards, page 118. THE SIXTH DKAdOON GUARDS. 13 »ers : new clothing for the men, and a remount of one hundred 1690 horses, also arrived from England, and when the regiment took the field to serve the campaign of 1690 under the eye of its sovereign, who commanded the troops in Ireland this summer, its appearance at the general review of the army was such as to obtain hismajesty's approbation. Advancing on the 30th of June, with the van-guard commanded by that excellent officer, Sir John Lanier, to the banks of the Boyne, the regiment sustained a loss of several men and horses from a cannonade to which it was exposed. King William was at the same time slightly wounded in the shoulder by a cannon ball, and a report of his death spread through Ireland and France, and occasioned great rejoicings : but while this false rumour was cir- culating, the king was making arrangements for forcing the passage of the river, and the report of his death was speedily followed by that of the glorious victory he achieved on the 1 st of July : a day important in the annals of the Sixth Dra- goon Guards, being the first occasion on which the regiment was brought into close contact with an enemy in the field. Early in the morning the Queen Dowager's Cuirassiers were seen, with green branches in their hats, directing their march towards the fords between the camp and Slane bridge, and were led by Count Schomberg, who commanded the cavalry of the right wing, while the brave Lieut.-General Douglas approached the same point with a division of infantry : this regiment, though constituting lil'l ' .1 ij iinil i > I i M lit i : I 14 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1690 but a small portion of the army, was conspicuous for its sea-green standards floating in the breeze, and the eea-green ribands with which the horses were decorated. After passing the stream and routing a regiment of dragoons, the troops formed line, and advanced against the enemy's left wing : the Irish soon gave way; the English troopers galloped forward, and spreading themselves over the fields, and dashing along the narrow lanes, mixed fiercely with their antagonists, who were distinguished by pieces of white paper in their hats. The Irish infantry fled for refuge behind the hedges, and attempted to conceal themselves in the corn-fields, or escape beyond the deep ditches ; many fell beneath the glittering broad- swords of the cuirassiers ; others cast away their muskets and threw themselves on the ground, or prostrate demanded quarter of the victorious horse- men, who spread havoc and confusion on the enemy's left. Meanwhile, the remainder of the army had passed the Boyne at other points ; the enemy gave way on every side ; a complete victory was gained, and King James fled from the field and escaped to France. Thus, in a very short space of time the battle of the Boyne, an event of great importance to the protestant interest in Ireland, was won with little loss, except the fall of the veteran Schomberg, who was killed at the head of a regiment of French protestants. The army advanced upon 'Dublin, and on the 7th of July the Queen Dowager's Horse were in- spected by King William at the general review at THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 15 Finglass, and received his majesty's thanks for 1690 their good conduct ; the regiment mustered forty private men per troop at this review. After gaining possession of Dublin, and re- ducing Kilkenny, Clonmel, and Waterford, the siege of Limerick was undertaken; cavalry corps have seldom an opportunity of distinguishing themselves during a siege : but on this occasion a detachment of the regiment evinced, in a signal manner, the ardour which glowed in the breasts of the officers and men, under the following circum- stances. About two in the afternoon of the 20th of August, the regiment advanced near the walls of Limericky to support the grenadiers of Lord Cutt's and the Earl of Meath's regiments, in the assault of a tower near one of the entrances to the town, and to prevent a sally of the garrison : and while thus employed, it was exposed to a severe cannonade, and lost several men and horses : when the tower was captured, it withdrew beyond a hill, leaving Major Wood with twenty- seven English troopers, and twenty-four French protestants as an advanced picquet. About an hour afterwards the enemy sallied in force ; a tre- mendous fire was opened from the trenches and town, and the piquet found iiself in danger of being cut off; but instead of seeking safety in flight. Major Wood and his little band leaped a deep ditch, and rushing with manly courage into the thickest of the fight, broke a squadron of the enemy's horse, and used their broad swords with terrible execution. At the same time Lieut.- 1 1 lit Ml 1 1 I I II ii ;,ii !! 16 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1690 Colonel Wyndham came galloping down the hill at the head of a squadron to support the piquet ; a party of Dutch and Danish horse joined in the charge, and the enemy fled towards the town. Wood and his small party pursued at speed, smiting their adversaries to the ground with uncontrollable fury, and the brave Wyndham followed in gallant style. In a few moments they were under the works ; a tremendous fire was opened upon them: the cannon balls flew thickly over their heads, tore up the ground under their feet, and rent chasms in the ranks, and they were soon en- veloped in a thick cloud of smoke. King William, standing on a hill at a distance, witnessed this display of valour, and expressed much concern for the fate of Wood and his party ; but his majesty was speedily gratified by witnessing the gallant major and the remains of his little band emerging from the smoke, and retiring in good order out of the reach of the enemy's guns ; and Lieut. -Colonel Wyndham Avas seen leading back his squadron on foot, — his horse having been killed under him. Two hundred of the enemy lay dead on the field ; and among them Captain Lacy of the Blues, and twenty-one English troopers, with sixty-four horses; and fifty-two men and fifty- seven horses were wounded. Lieut.-Colonel Wyndham, Major Wood, and the brave men who fought with them, were honoured with the expres- sion of his majesty's approbation, for the valour they had shown on this occasion. An attack on the town by storm having failed, the king raised the siege and returned to England. THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 17 A strong body of the enemy afterwards passed 1690 the Shannon and besieged the castle of Birr, and this regiment formed part of the force sent to the relief of the fortress : the enemy having raised the siege, the regiment marched into quarters at Dublin. The winter quarters of the army were much infested with bands of armed papists, called rap- parees, who had forsaken the vocations of civil life, and prowled about the country in the charac- ter of freebooters ; the regiment was in conse- quence withdrawn from Dublin in the middle of November, and sent to the village of iWoww^me/ZicAr, where a small garrison was stationed, of which its commanding officer, Colonel Byerley, was ap- pointed commandant. The enemy's frequent attempts to surprise and burn the town, as they had others in that neighbourhood, occasioned the troopers to be constantly on duty, and in the pre- cautionary measures he adopted, Colonel Byerley evinced the qualities of a good officer. In the beginning of December he received notice of the arrival of a band of rapparees near the town, and he sent out Lieutenant Dent and twenty troopers of the regiment, each with a musketeer behind him. On arriving near the spot where the rap- parees were reposing under some trees, the mus- keteers dismounted and concealed themselves behind a hedge, and the troopers advanced alone. The half-civilized peasantry, who had forsaken their homes and become inured to rapine and bloodshed, observing so small a party of horsemen approach, bounded forward with eager haste to m ! Hti ; 13 1 f Li Jf III -ji !l Hi ' .iii! :liil 18 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1690 destroy the adventurous troopers, who, retiring as if in confusion, drew their adversaries within range of the fire of the musketeers. The half- naked crowd was urging forward in pursuit with ferocious cries, when they sustained a volley, which laid ten men dead on the spot ; the troopers faced ahout, and galloping forward with a shout were assailed with a straggling fire ; the musket- eers issued from their hiding place and joined in the charge, when a desperate strugglf^ ensued; in a few moments the combat ceased; thirty rapparees lay dead in the field ; four were cap- tured and immediately hanged ; and the remainder escaped. 1691 This recourse to severity intimidated the enemy, and the neighbourhood was permitted to enjoy a few weeks* quiet; but on the 14th of March 1691, a party of rapparees having stolen some cattle near Montrathy was pursued by a few mer of the regiment and some militia ; and the valiant troopers soon overtook their antagonists, sabred six men, recovered the cattle, and took two prisoners, who were hanged on the following day. On the 17th of March, as another party of the regiment was scouring the woods near Mountmel- lick, it encountered a band of rapparees, and after a short chase, slew twelve among the trees. The same party continuing the search on the following day, fell in with another, straggling body of the enemy, killed six, and took a lieutenant prisoner. Information was received on the 18th of March that forty of the enemy were concealed in a glen THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 19 near the cantonments of the regiment, and a few 1691 troopers were sent out against them ; but there proved to be a much greater number, and the soldiers were in great danger. A trumpeter, who had taken his stand on a hill in the rear to see the fight, observing the peril of his companions, with happy presence of mind sounded a mai'ch, then a charge, and gave a loud shout ; the rap- parees, thinking a squadron of horse was advanc- ing to attack them, fled in dismay ; the troopers faced about and charged their astonished adversa- ries, sabred twenty-seven, and took thirteen prisoners, who were all hanged. In the beginning of May, as another detach- ment of the regiment and a few musketeers were scouring the thickets near PortarUngton, they espied a company of the enemy's infantry, and instantly charging sword in hand, sabred eighteen and took one ensign, one Serjeant, and six private men prisoners. Thus these gallant horsemen were seen evinc- ing their innate bravery and zeal for their king and country on every occasion ; and these skir- mishes were the prelude to a display of valour and prowess, which rivalled the deeds of the heroes of former ages : the circumsl ^nces were as fol- lows : — A detachment consisting of Adjutant Robinson, Cornets Jocelyn* and Hazleton, with Quarter- masters Davies and Cadford, and fifty troopers, * This officer was appointed colonel of the fifth horse, now fourth dragoon guards, in 1713. See Page 85 of the history of the Fourth Dragoon Guards. c 2 20 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 111 '^f\ • }M *'>9l accompanied by three hundred men of Lloyd's (now fifth fusiliers), and Lord George Hamilton's regiments, the whole commanded by the brave Major Wood, of this regiment, marched out of Mountmellick at nine o'clock on the evening of the 4th of May, and dividing themselves into several small parties, the infantry scoured the bushes and bogs in quest of the hordes of rap- parees who infested that neighbourhood, while the horsemen marched along the skirts of the bogs to prevent the escape of their adversaries. Several lurking parties were discovered during the night, sixty rapparees were killed, and a quantity of cattle captured, which were sent to Mountmellick under a guard of thirty men. The remainder continued their search until ten o'clock on the following morning, when Major Wood, with one party of thirty-four troopers and thirty foot, discovered two columns of the enemy's regular army, consisting of about eight hundred men, of the regiments of Butler, Grace, Moore, Sir Maurice Eustace, and a party of Lutterell's dragoons, commanded by Major John Fitzpatrick, marching" silently between the wood and moun- tains, not far from Castle-cuff^. The little band of English with that noble bearing and audacity for which they were distinguished, prepared to oppose this formidable host, and the Irish sent forward their grenadiers to commence the attack ; but the undaunted countenance of this small body of men intimidated their adversaries, who con- tinued their march. At this moment a sharp firing was heard at a distance, and Major Wood THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 21 apprehending that the party with the cattle was 1691 attacked, proceeded to its assistance ; but the thirty foot repulsed their assailants aiid effected their retreat without loss. The firing having brought eighty of Lloyd's (now fifth fusiliers) from the opposite side of the forest, Major Wood had thirty-four horsemen, and one hundred and ten foot with him, and with this small band he re- solved to fight the eight hundred Irish. Dividing his foot into two parties, be directed them to attack the enemy in front, while himself with the horse made a short compass to gain the enemy's rear. Among the numerous instances of national magnanimity and heroism on record, this, though not important in its bearing on general history, deserves to be particularly noticed. Few military men whose feelings are alive to the interesting scenes of actual warfare, will view in their minds' eye the noble spectacle of Wood and his little band of one hundred and forty-four lion-like champions advancing to charge two columns of regular troops, amounting to eight hundred men, without experiencing a rapturous glow of admira- tion kindling in their breasts. In a few moments the enemy's front was pierced by the musket balls of the foot, and Wood and his thirty-four troopers issued at full speed from among the trees, and dashing with terrific violence upon the flank of the Irish column, broke, trampled, and cut down the opposing ranks with uncontrolled power. Having plunged headlong into the column, the heavy horse- men fought with the native strength and majesty 22 HISTORICAL RECORD OF r|':'' I I I 1691 of British soldiers; their adversaries cast away their arms, and fled in dismay through the wood to a large bog, while others climbed trees, threw themselves into ditches, or ran into deep water, to escape the fury of the pursuing English troopers and foot, who slew one hundred ofl&cers and men, and took Major John Fitzpatrick, five captains, eleven subalterns, one adjutant, one surgeon, six Serjeants, seventeen corporals, three drummers, and eighty-two private men prisoners. The Irish officers were encumbered with heavy armour which impeded their flight, and occasioned so many to be taken prii^oners. This brilliant exploit, which stands as a monument of the valour and prowess of English soldiers in the seventeenth century, was achieved with the trifling loss of one corporal killed; Adjutant Robinson, one trooper and two musketeers wounded ; a result so astonish- ing, that if the whole narrative was r t substan- tiated by official documents of undisputed authority, and the collateral evidence of credible historians, it would appear more like fictitious romance than sober truth. The regiment having been withdrawn from its winter quarters to take part in the operations of the army commanded by General de Ginkell, (afterwards Earl of Athlone) joined the camp before Athlone on the 20th of June, and was formed in brigade with the Queen's and Woolsley's regiments of horse,* commanded by * The Queen's horse is now the first dragoon guards ; Woolsley's was a regiment of Inniskilling horse, embodied in 1689, and dis- banded after the peace of Ryswick in 1697. THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. Brigadier-General Leveson. This brigade re- 1691 mained before Athlone until the capture of that place by storm on tlie 30tli of June, and subse- quently advanced with the army to attack the French and Irish forces, commanded by General St. Ruth, in the strong position which he had taken up near Aghrim in the county of Galway. In this action, which was fought on the 12th of July, the regiment had an opportunity of adding to its previously acquired reputation. After sup- porting the attacks of the infantry, it was directed to take part in forcing a difficult pass near the castle of Aghrim, where only two men could ad- vance abreast ; an undertaking so hazardous, that when the French general saw the troopers scram- bling over the difficulties, he exclaimed with an oath " They are bra; e fellows ! it is a pity they should be so exposed." After forcing the pass, the regiment charged along the edge of a bog, and with the Blues, and Langston's horse (since dis- banded), and Leveson's (now third light) dragoons, bore down all before them with surprising impe- tuosity. The Irish gave way at every part of the field, St. Ruth was killed by a cannon ball, and a complete rout ensued. The English cavalry gal- loped forward in pursuit, spreading terror, dismay, and carnage on every side ; the enemy's foot .;ast away their arms, and seeking for safety by flight, were cut down with indiscriminate slaughter until the darkness of night and misty rain put an end to the pursuit. The regiment had seven men and five horses killed in this engagement, and Major Wood and fourteen troopers wounded. 24 IIISTUKICAL RECOKI) OF ' ' ,1 1691 Major Wood's wound was, however, not dan- gerous, and on the following day he was sent with three troops of the regiment against the fort and castle of Banagher, which was innnediately surrendered. On the 2nd of August Brigadier-General Leve- son and Major Wood were detached with five hun- dred horse and dragoons to scour the country, and drive in the enemy's detachments. On the 4th they approached an old castle on the domain of the Duke of Ormond near Nenagh, which was garrisoned by five hundred of the enemy, who im- mediately fled towards Cariganlis. The gallant Major Wood pursued with his hardy troopers, and captured the enemy's baggage and four hundred head of cattle. These two officers (Leveson and Wood) were both daring aspirants to military fame, and had become celebrated for their zeal and ability on de- tached services. When the second siege of Lime' rick was undertaken, they were sent with a body of horse and dragoons, of which a detachment of this regiment formed part, into the county of Kerry to reduce the enemy's detached posts, when they found the whole country in arms against them, and two regiments of Irish horse (Lord Merrion's and Lord Bretta's) there to assist the rapparees. Having ascertained where the enemy's two regi- ments lay, Leveson and Wood surprised them in their camp about one o'clock on the morning of the 2d of September, and made a dreadful slaughter : the Irish fled in two directions and were pursued several miles. Lord Merrion nar- THE SIXTH DUACiOON OUAKDH. 25 rowly escHped being taken : tteverul entire troopH 1691 were cut off und Lord CtiHtleconnel and liio ludy became prisoners. Mujor Wood, being very earnest in the pursuit, wuh wounded and had hii» leg broken. This portion of the regiment wan afterwards employed in reducing several Irinh garrisons between Cork and Limerick ; and on tiie 22<1 of September attacked and routed a hirge body of the enemy's dragoons und rapparees. It continued to act as a detached corps until the surrender of Limerick, which terminated the war in Ireland, und all the kingdom was reduced under tlie autho- rity of King William. After the termination of this contest the regi- ment was rewarded for its numerous feats of gallantry and its good conduct on all occanions,''' with the honorary title of " The Cakarinekrs :" in muster rolls and other official documents it was sometimes designated" The Kinu'sCarahineekm," and on other occasions the " First RK.>, they advanced to the charge, in firm array. The King, after witnessing the overthrow of some foreign cavalry, was riding to meet the British horse from the left, when Wyndham and Wood THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 31 were seen thundering along the plain at the head 1693 of their squadrons, breathing vengeance and de- struction, — their shining sabres emitting a gleamy splendour as they dashed over ground strewed with broken arms and slaughtered men. In a moment these valiant horsemen, encountering and overthrowing the adverse ranks of war, carried ter^ jr and carnage into the enemy's columns ; while Ormond, Lumley, and Langston* (heroes celebrated in the history of this battle) ^at the head of squadrons equally brave, made noble efforts to turn the fortune of the day ; but so nu- merous was the opposing army that these gallant exertions were unavailing. Three ranks of French cavalry were broken by the Carabineers ; yet fresh combatants renewed the conflict, and many daring English troopers who rushed into the fight, fell pierced with redoubled wounds ; meanwhile Ormond and Langston were wounded and made prisoners ; and the king, fighting at the head of Galway's squadrons, received several shots through his clothes and was nearly surrounded ; his majesty then ordered a retreat. The Carabineers left many men dead on the field, the survivors with- drew from the combat, and with Lumley's and Galway's horse fonned up to cover the retreat by the bridge of Neer-Hespen. This movement was attended with difficulty; the enemy's numerous * Among the English horse, the Duke of Ormond, colonel of the second troop (now second regiment) of life guards ; the Ho- nourable Henry Lumley, brother of the first colonel of the Cara- bineers, and colonel of the second horse, now first dragoon guards ; with Colonel Francis Langston of the fifth horse, now fourth dragoon guards, highly distinguished themselves. 3-2 HISTORICAL RECORD OF H^ ,:| ;'.'t rr:., f : 58. ■ SI t ' li-r 1693 legions came pouring down on the rear; twice the gallant Wood faced his squadron about to punish the temerity of the pursuing horsemen, but a rout ensuing, he was forced back by the pres- sure of crowds of pikemen, musketeers, dragoons, and gunners, hurrying in dismay towards the bridge, while the French cavalry, urging forward, captured the artillery and sabred and took prisoners hundreds of fugitives ; others attempting to escape through the river were drowned. After passing the Gheet the regiment marched to the vicinity of Tirlemont ; and several brigades having retreated by Doniial to Lewe, the whole were re- united at Eppeghem on the following day. King William was pleased to compliment the regiment for its conduct on this trying occasion ; his Majesty made Lieut.-Colonel Wood a present of a valuable charger, and in the beginning of the following year promoted him to the colonelcy of the fourth regiment of horse, now third dragoon guards. 1694 The Carabineers passed the winter at Ghent ; a body of fine recruits replaced the brave men who fell at Landen, and the regiment again took the field in 1 694 and served a long and exhausting campaign of marches and countermarches, in which the troopers displayed patience and constancy 1695 under fatigue and privation. In the following year they had the honour of forming part of the covering army during the siege of the important 1696 fortress of Namur ; in 1 696 they served with the army of Brabant, but returned to Flanders in the 1697 autumn ; and in the summer of 1697 they were again in the field taking part in the operations of !'•;:;•! THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 33 the main army commanded by King William in 1697 person. By the exertions of the confederates the am- bitious designs of the French monarch were de- feated ; the contending powers became weary of this annual expenditure of life and treasure, and a treaty concluded at Ryswick, gave peace to Europe, and freed the Low Country provinces from the presence of foreign armies. The Carabineers quitted Belgium in No- vember, and after landing at Harwich, were quartered at Chichester, Petworth, and Arundel ; in November, 1698 they furnished a relay of 1698 escorts to attend the king on his return from the continent. From the proceedings in parliament it appears that the arrears due to the regiment had accumu- lated to the sum of twenty-five thousand pounds. The strength of the army was reduced, and in 1699 the establishment was fixed at twenty-one 1699 officers, six quarter masters, one kettle drummer, six trumpeters, twelve corporals, and two hundred and four private men ; and subsequently a further reduction of twenty men was made in its numbers. Being removed from scenes of actual warfare, the Carabineers delivered their cuirasses into store, and they remained in the south of England, taking their turn with the Blues, Queen's, Wood's, and Schomberg's regiments of horse, in the escort duty for the royal family, until the early part of 1702, when the French monarch, having violated 1702 the conditions of the treaties he had entered into, D 34 HISTORICAL RECORD OF ■It •; • III u 1 ■ ;!!:■" r ; : : I ti '( i If.} m 1702 and procured the accession of his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, to the throne of Spain, prepara- tions for war were again made, the establishment was ordered (12th February, 1702) to be aug- mented to three corporals, two trumpeters, and fifty-seven private men per troop, and the regi- ment was directed to hold itself in readiness for foreign service. Several of the veterans of the former war, who had been discharged at the reduction, and a number of young men from the inland counties who panted for the honour of gaining laurels with so celebrated a corps, offered themselves as re- cruits, and in six weeks after the order for the augmentation was given, the regiment embarked for Holland : having occupied quarters for a short period at Breda, it joined the allied army com- manded by the Earl (afterwards Duke) of Marl- borough, under whose orders the Carabineers were destined to gain new honours. The first campaign, however, passed without an engage- ment, and their services were limited to covering the sieges of Venloo, Ruremonde, and Stevens- waert, and taking part in the capture of the city 1703 of Liege : throughout the summer of 1703 the enemy also avoided a battle, and the troopers were employed in out-post duty, escorting supplies of provision and ammunition, and covering the sieges of Hut/ and Limburg ; but the succeeding year was pregnant with more important events. The policy of the French monarch, in sending an army through the Black Forest to unite with the Bavarians against the Imperialists, occasioned i !-■■ THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 35 ^ear ling ;ith )ned the interior of Germany to become a theatre for 1703 the display of British valour and magnanimity. The renowned Marlborough, leaving a Dutch army to act on the defensive in the Netherlands, advanced to the aid of the emperor, and in the months of May and June, 1704, the Carabineers 1704 were traversing the states of Germany by regular and well-arranged marche.>, commencing each morning at day-break, and after proceeding the regulated distance, encamping on ground pre- viously marked out, where forage and provision were found ready for their use. Having joined the imperial forces, the Carabi- neers were selected on the 2nd of July to form part of the cavalry to be employed in supporting the attack on the enemy's intrenched position on the lofty heights of Schelknbergt situated on the left bank of the Danube. The determined resist- ance of the French and Bavarian infantry occa- sioned the leading regiments to recoil, and the cavalry moved forward and sustained the repulsed battalions ; the Germans arriving to [co-operate in the attack, the heights were forced, when Marl- borough's troopers, dashing furiouslj^ forward, broke and cut down the enemy's battalions with terrific violence. Several corps fled towards the Danube, and the fugitives pressing in crowds across the river to escape the sabres of the pur- suing horsemen, a bridge of boats broke under them, and numbers were drowned. The Bavarian commander, the Count D'Arco, after witnessing the destruction of his troops, escaped by swimming, leaving many prisoners, sixteen guns, thirteen D 2 36 HISTORICAL RECORD OF vy. ip: i.^ ! , i'" >''■: I \'.:,f': 1704 colours, and his camp equipage, in possession of the victors. Triumph succeeded triumph ; and, after taking part in the operations of the main army in Ba- varia, — through which hapless country the Im- perialists, with the ruthless cruelty of barbarians, carried havoc and devastation, — laying upwards of three hundred towns, villages, and hamlets, in ashes, the Carabineers again signalized them- selves in a general action fought on the 13th of August, in the valley of the Danube, near the village of Blenheim. On the morning of this eventful day, in which the fate of the empire was decided in a pitched battle, as the first rays of light gilded the horizon, the signal for the army fo advance from its position near Minster was given, when the Carabineers mounted their horses, and, after traversing many miles of difficult ground, confronted the numerous legions of France and Bavaria, whose formidable lines, covered in front by the little river Nebel and a morass, extended from the bank of the Danube to the woody grounds bordering the plain. The Duke of Marlborough ordered the infantry brigades of Row and Ferguson, supported by the cavalry under Major-General Wood, to attack two water-mills on the Nebel, which the enemy in- stantly quitted and set on fire. The advance- guard, consisting of a squadron of the Carabi- neers, commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Palmes, a squadron of Wood's horse, (now Third Dragoon Guards), commanded by Major Oldfield, and a li'J'l I. lit THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS, 37 squadron of Schomberg's regiment (now Seventh 1704 Dragoon Guards) led by Major Creed, crossed the rivulet, followed by the two infantry brigades, and the foot having formed on the low grounds near the village of Blenheim, Palmes led the three squadrons forward with signal audacity to try the countenance of the enemy's front, and to enable the duke to make a reconnoissance. Five squadrons of French cavalry came forward to punish the temerity of the British horsemen, who dared thus to approach the French lines un- supported, and two of the squadrons having in- clined outwards menaced the flanks, while the other three advanced with all the confidence which the anticipation of certain success could infuse, to charge the front. The approach of these for- midable ranks, instead of intimidating the British troopers, infused new fire into their souls, and they burned with eagerness to measure swords with their adversaries. Palmes, like another Hector, boldly confronted his opponents ; he directed Major Oldfield, who commanded the squadron on his right, and Major Creed, who commanded that on his left, t(/ wheel outwards and charge the squadrons which were advancing against his flanks, and when they had broken these, to wheel inwards and take the other three squadrons; in flank, while he charged them in front with ids Carabineers. The innate valour of British troopers has seldom shone with brighter lustre than on this occasion, and the encounter taking place between the two armies, it formed a prelude to the general 38 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1704 engagement which followed, while, at the same time, it assumed the character of a national trial of skill and com'age, and the result was glorious to the British arms. Oldfield and Creed broke and routed the two opposing squadrons in a few mo- ments, then wheeling inwards took the other three in flank, ^ hjl'^ the Carabineers charged them in front ; a sharp struggle ensued, in which the com- batants were mingled in close fight, and the swift motion of the glittering sabres showed with what vehemence the gallant troopers strove for victory ; soon a British shout arose above the din of clashing arms, and the French horsemen were seen galloping back in confusion to their lines. Palmes' squadrons pursued a short distance, and then retired leisurely towards the Nebel, leaving twenty adversaries weltering on the grassy plain.* The five British regiments, seconded by a brigade of Hessians, and supported by eleven battalions under Lord Cutts and Wood's cavalry, assaulted the barricades in the village of Blenheim, the !\ .. * This skirmish taking place while the lines were forming, it has been omitted by many historians, but it is detailed very mi- nutely by General Kane, in his history of the Duke of Marl- borough's Campaigns ; and by Captain Parker in his Memoirs : and these authors were both present at the battle, and in one of the brigades which passed the Nebel with the three squadrons, they, consequently, both had an opportunity of witnessing the affray. Captain Parker adds, — "Marshal Tallard placed such " confidence in his troops that he verily thought there were not *' any on earth able to stand before thehi. Seeing his Jive squad- " rons so shamefully beaten by three, he was confounded to that " degree, that he did not recover himself the whole day, for after " that, all his orders were given in hurry and confusion." THE SIXTH DRAOOON (jrARPS. 8U leading regiments were, however, nepulsed, and 1704 the French issued from the village iind churged the broken ranks, but were cheeked by the Hessians. The flank of the infantry being menaced by the enemy's cavalry, ('olonel Palmes led forward the two N<(utulronH ol the Carari- NEERS, with one of Wood's horse under Major Oldfield, and two of Schomberg's, commandi'd by Lieut. -Colonel Sybourg and Major Creed, to support the foot. Having cleared the swamp with difficulty, they were saluted with a volley of nms- ketoons from five squadrons of gann (Tarmeii, the pride and flower of the French army ; and before the smoke had cleared away, the heroic Palmes cried ** Forward" with a voice which bespoke the glowing energies of his soul, and the Carahi- NEERS rushed sword in hand upon their renowned adversaries ; Sybourg, Creed, and Oldfield joined in the charge ; and the genu (Tarmen were broken, and fled, chased by the victorious troopers through the intervals of the brigade of Silly in the second line. Pursuing the routed geii8 (TarmeM with reckless zeal to the teeth of their own lines of in- fantry, Palmes' squadrons were assailed in front and flank by a storm of musketry, charged by fresh squadrons of cavalry, and forced back in dis- order, leaving several brave ofticers and troopers lifeless on the plain : the enemy's horse pursuing with avidity, were driven back by the fire of the Hessians, A second attempt on Blenheim having failed, a feint attack was continued on the village, while the 40 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1704 main body of the army crossed the rivulet higher up, and the action became general along the front. Varied fortunes marked the progress of the battle ; during the afternoon and evening, twice the regi- ment was called forward to charge the opposing legions ; and while, beneath the clouds of smoke which rose in volumes from the scene of conflict, the numerous ranks of horsemen fought in close array and strewed the streamy vale with slaugh- tered men and steeds, Palmes and his Carabi- neers, distinguished by their sea-green furniture and standards, were seen among the combatants nobly contending for the victory. The adverse squadrons were overpowered, but the fire of the French infantry checked the pursuing horse. The allied infantry and artillery renewed the fight, and as the noise of battle waxed louder and louder, the vigilant Marlborough, surveying the field with a penetrating glance, saw the opposing lines begin to waver. A few words issued from his lips, his warlike squadrons instantly rushed foiward, and spreading along the front advanced to the charge, and in less than ten minutes the French masses were broken and driven in confusion before the allied horsemen, who dashed furiously upon the shattered flanks and rear, and carried havoc and carnage to the banks of the Danube, where hun- dreds of the enemy seeking to escape perished in the stream, while others threw down their arms and surrendered prisoners of. war, among whom was the French commander, Marshal Tallard. The Imperiahsts on the right were also victorious ; U .,■•' THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 41 the French troops in Blenheim surrendered, and 1704 the allied army stood triumphant on the field of battle, while the soldiers gazed with exultation and amazement at the number of prisoners, colours, standards, cannon, baggage, and other trophies of victory which they had captured. Thus the powerful armies of France and Bavaria were de- stroyed, the empire was delivered, Bavaria was subdued, and British skill, discipline, valour, and prowess were lauded and admired by the neigh- bouring nations. The Carabineers lost on this occasion Major Clieveneux, Lieutenant Payne, Cornets Thompson and Payne, and Quarter- Master Crocker, killed ; also Captain Wyndham, Lieutenants Hall and Edwards, and Cornets Ward and Neville, wounded. No account of the number of non-commissioned officers and troopers killed and wounded, has been discovered ; but in the war office records it is stated that the regiment had eighty- six horses killed. Advancing througli the circle of Swabia, the Carabineers directed their march towards the Rhine, crossed that river on the 7th of September, and formed part of the covering army during the siege of the important city of Landau, situated in the Bavarian circle of the Rhine, in a beautiful valley on the river Queich. This fortress was captured by the Germans, and the English cavalry marched back to Holland, where they passed the winter. The losses at Schelleri '•« lienn avmg 705 been replaced by recruits and horses from 42 HI6T0EICAL RECORD OF 1705 England, the Carabineers again took the field, in fine condition, in the beginning of the campaign of 1705, and marching through a difficult country to the ancient city of Treves, pitched their tents in the valley of the Moselle. Advancing from thence in the early part of June, they crossed the Moselle and the Saar to carry on tlie vrar in Alsace ; but the English commander, having been disappointed of the promised co-operation of the Germans, marched his army back to the Netherlands. Here an extensive line of entrenchments, constructed with immense labour and skill, covered by rivers and marshes, and defended by a powerful army, stood as a barrier to the progress of his arms ; but by skilful manoeuvring these stupendous works were forced at day-break on the morning of the 18th of July at Helixem and Neer-Hespen, and the Carabineers being among the foremost squadrons which passed the lines, had another opportunity of gaining laurels in close combat with a foreign enemy. On this occanion they encountered the Spanish and Bavarian horse-guards, who were overthrown and cut to pieces, their standards cap- tured, and many officers and men taken prisoners. Several battalions of the enemy's foot were also destroyed, a train of artillery captured, and the numerous forces which guarded the lines made a precipitate retreat, and took up a position beyond the river Dyle. In the subsequent operations of this campaign the regiment took an active part, but it was not afterwards engaged in clohe combat. THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 43 After passing the winter * among the Dutch 1706 peasantry, the regiment took the field in May, 17Q6, and one troop formed part of the van-guard on the march of the army on the 23d of that month towards the position of Mont St. Andr6. About eight o'clock a body of French cavalry was seen in front ; soon afterwards the united forces of France, Spain, and Bavaria were dis- covered in order of battle in the position of Mont St. Andre, with the village of Ramilies in the centre of their line, and dispositions were made for the attack. The battle commenced. The Carabineers stood in column with Wood's horse near the heights of Foulz, viewing the soul-animating scene of horsemen and foot mingled in deadly fight on the plain, until several of the enemy's masses were alternately broken and driven from their ground, and the village of Ramilies was carried. While the contest was still raging, the two regiments advanced to support the troops penetrating through the swamp towards OfFuz, and Major-general Wood, finding the village evacuated, deployed upon the rising ground beyond the houses. Here the two regiments remained only a few moments before their heroic com- mander led them in pursuit of the centre column of the enemy, which was retreating in good order, and as they dashed along the undulating grounds, <*' In December, 1705, Catherine, Queen Dowager of England, died at Lisbon, in Portugal ; the Carabineers had, however, ceased to bear the title of the Queen Dowager s regiment some vears before her decease. 44 HISTORICAL RECORD OF H m •^ i •: 1'* ■K^,' 1706 they overtook, near the farm of Chantrain, seven squadrons of Spanish and Bavarian horse guards, who, with the Elector of Bavaria and Marshal Villeroy at their head, were covering the retreat of their artillery, which was irarching in a line before them. A thousand warlike hoiseFtjn, — all choice troops, — the elite of the Spanish and Bavarian armies, confronted seven hundred British sabres ; but undismayed by the formidable appearance and superior numbers of these armed bands, Wood led his own regiment against the Bavarians on the left, while the Carabineers, headed by the brave Major Pertry, advanced against the Spanish squadrons on the right. A loud British huzza, answered by a shout from the opposing lines, was followed by a terrific rush of rank against rank Avith deadly fury, and many men and horses were overthrown and trampled down in the contest ; — while the clash of swords, — the report of pistols, — and the shouts of the troopers, indicated the fury of the conflict. The setting sun shed its fiery beams on this scene of turmoil and car- nage, and in a few moments sunk beneath the horizon ; and as the shades of evening gathered over the landscape, the wreck of the Spanish and Bavarian squadrons sought for safety in flight. Wood's troopers captured a Bavarian standard and a pair of kettle drums, and took two Ueut.-coloneis, one major, a,n(\ four captains, with several subaltern officers and a number of private men, prisoners. The Carabineers had already made a dreadful slaughter among the ranks of I e S 2 e 2 JO ^ o I ^ I I :§ a I THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 45 their opponents, when their up-lifted swords were 1706 staid by Major de la Guertiere, Cornet Bruan, aad a number of troopers of the Spanish guards dropping their weapons, and demanding quarter. Me.'irvhile part of the regiment fell upon the i 'reijcl. artillery, and after a sharp contest cap- tured SEVERAL GUNS and MORTARS : also took four officers and forty-six men prisoners, and CAPTU; HD the COLOURS OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF BOMBARDIERS. The fate of these squadrons, with the overthrow of a battalion of the line, and the capture of the regiment du rot by the Royal Scots (the Greys) and Royal Irish (late Fifth) dragoons, struck such consternation into the waving masses of the French army, which had hitherto retired in order, that, regardless of consequences, they threw them- selves headlong down the descent leading to the river, or spread in wild disorder in every direction, to escape the fury of the pursuing horsemen. The British cavalry continued to press upon the rear of the fugitive host during the whole of the night, making additional captures of men, colours, stand- ards, and cannon, until the troopers and horses were exhausted, «nd they halted at two o'clock on the following morning. This splendid victory was followed by the im- mediate surrender of many important cities and towns in Brabant and Flanders, while others held out ; and the Carabineers were detached from the main army to take part ir.> tht' siege and capture of Ostend, a fortress which in the beginning of the preceding century was defended for a period 46 HISTORICAL RECORD OF w * Pi 1706 of three years against the forces of Spain under Archduke Albert of Austria, and the famous Marquis Spinola, who lost one hundred and fifty thousand men before the place ; * but this import- ant town was taken by the army under the Duke of Marlborough in a few days. Additional cap- tures were made, and Brabant, with the marqui- sate of the empire, the lordship of Malines, and a great part of Flanders, — provinces which had been disputed for ages, were the conquest of a summer. On the 1st of October the colonelcy of the regi- ment was conferred on the lieut.-colonel, Major- General Francis Palmes, in the room of Major- General Wyndham, who was servi il, v:^ the staff of the army in the Peninsula un i:;r tic T irl of Galway. 1707 During the campaigns from 1702 to 1706 the English horse served without armour, but in the spring of 1707 they were again supplied with steel-backs and breast-pieces, and the Carabi- neers once more appeared in the character of Cuirassiers. Throughout the campaign of thir year (1707) the enemy avoided an engagement ; but in the 1708 following summer they advanced from behind their lines, and after obtaining possession of Ghent and Bruges, appeared before Oudenarde with the view of reducing that fortress. This movement was followed ))y a general action, which was * In the defence of Ostend from 1601 to 1604, a British force, of which the Third Foot is the representative, gained great honour. Vide the Historical Records of the Third Foul, or the THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 47 fought on the 11th of July, 1708, in the enclosures 1708 near the bank of the Scheldt, between the allied army commanded by the Duke of Marlborough, and the French under the Duke of Burgundy and Marshal Vendome. The Carabineers, forming part of the brigade under Brigadier-General Kellum, passed the Scheldt by the pontoon-bridge, and took post on the plain of Heurne, from whence they advanced to support the attack of the infantry, and, while the fire of musketry blazed in the fields and marshy grounds, and echoed in the woods, these celebrated horsemen sustained the allied battalions with a determined countenance. The enemy was driven from hedge to hedge, and from thicket to thicket with great loss, part of their army was nearly surrounded, and the carnage was continued until the darkness of the night rendered it impos- sible to distinguish friends from foes. The wreck of the French army fled in the night tow&ini Ghent, and on the following morning the Cara- bineers were detached in pursuit. The victory at Oudenarde was a severe blow to the French court, but the concern of liouis XIV. became much greater when the important fortress of Lisle, the capital of French Flanders, — a wealthy city situated on a well- watered plain, protected by a series of stupendous works, and defended by 15,000 men under the veteraa Mar- shal Boufflers, — was besieged by tue allies under the Duke of Marlborough, and a body of Germans under Prince Eugene of Savoy. I'he Carabi- neers, after escorting » convoy of mi' . i/y stores 48 HISTORICAL RECORD OP M si i^h 1^« III; P^ >: ■■■('■ 'ill 1 Oil 1708 formed part of the covering army before Lisle, and were in position wlien the concentrated forces of Louis XIV. advanced to raise the siege, but the adverse legions were intinuii. 'd by the skilful disposition and determined countenance of the allied army. The Carabineers also formed part of the army which forced th«; passage of the Scheldt '^^ No- vember, and compelled the Elector of Bavaria to retire from before Brussels ; and they remained in the field until the citadel of Lisle surrendered on the 9tii oi' December ; which was followed by the re-ca| .are of Ghent and Bruges. 1709 Having reposed a few months in quarters, the regiment advanced up the country to the plain of Lisle, and subsequently encamped on the Upper Dyle. After menacing the enemy'.s lines, the army marched to its left, and invested the strong fortress of T /, and the Carabineers were one of the first corps which appeared before the town. This fortress being captured, the army traversed the country in the direction ol Mons, the capital of the province of Hainault, and this movement brought on the sanguinary battle of Malplaquet, which was fought on the 11th of September, 1709, between the allies under Marlborough and Prince Engene, and the French, commanded by Marshals Villiers and Boufflers. At three o'clock on the niorninf r>f this eventful day, the Carabine^!:* s appeared ( parade on the grassy meadow, where they had parssed the pre- ceding night, and divine service was performed I !!■'■' THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUAKDR. 49 by the chaplain. A thick fog, which lingered on 1709 the ground until half past seven, having cleared away, they moved forward with the rnniainder of their brigade under Brigadier-General Kellinn, to sustain the infantry in the attack of the treble; intrenchments, abbatis de bois, and other d<'fences, which covered the enemy's front ; and while the storm of battle raged with terrific violence, and the allied battalions fought with the most distin- guished valour, — struggling with sanguinary ob- stinacy to overcome the numerous difticulticjs which opposed them, — the English troopers under Gtuieral Wood stood in column panting for an opportunity to signalize their prowess against the adverse legions. The position having been forced, the cavalry was brought forward, but several brigades of foreign horse were put to flight by the gens- d'nrme^, and forced to seek protection under the fire of lie infantry. The British find Prussian horse were led over ground covered with heaps of dead and ' . succeeded in the colo- nelcy by Sir Jlooert Rich, Bart., by commission 1731 datedittof Ja.iuary, 1731 ; and on the promotion of this officer to the colonelcy of the first troop of 1733 horse grenadier guards in 1733, thecomi.iind of the Carabineers was conferred on Charles Lord Cathcart from the eighth dragoons. 1740 In 1740 Lord Cathcart was appointed com- mander-in-chief in America, and to the command of an armament designed for the attack of the Spanish possessions in that quarter ;but he died on his passage ; and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the regiment by Major-General Phineas Bowles from the twelfth dragoons. Meanwhile war having been rekindled on the continent, an augmentation of ten men and ten horses per troop was made to the establishment ; and a further addition of nine men and horses per 1741 troop was made in 1741. 1742 A British army proceeded to Flanders in 1742, 1743 and in the following year the regiment sent a detachment of ten men and horses per troop to the continent to complete an augmentation ordered to the establishment of the reojiments of horse on foreign service. A similar detachment was also il THE '■IXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 57 sent abroad in 1744* to replace the losses at the 1744 battle of Dettingen. On the breaking out of the rebellion in Scotland, 1745 in 1745, the regiment was again held in readiness for active service; but it remained in Ireland: 1746 and after the suppression of this commotion. King George II. having reduced the three regiments of horse in England to the quality of dragoons, with the title of Dragoon Guards, this regiment obtained rank as Third Irish Horse ; but retained also its honorary title of "The Carabineers. " Peace was concluded in 1748, and the establish- 1748 ment was reduced to twenty-one private men per troop. General Bowles, after commanding the regiment 1749 nearly nine years, died in October, 1749 ; and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Major-General the Honorable James Cholmondeley from the twelfth dragoons. In the following year General Cholmondeley 1750 was removed to the sixth dragoons, and was suc- ceeded in the command of the Third Irish Horse, or the Carabineers, by Lord George Sackville from the twelfth dragoons. On the 1st of July, 1751, a warrant was issued 1751 regulating the clothing, standards, colours, and appointments of the several regiments, from which the following particulars have been extracted * The arrival of this detachment in England on its way to Flan- ders was announced in the Gentleman's Magazine as the arrival of the regiment ; which gave rise to the idea that the regiment quitted Ireland in 1744. ■I>-Hr 58 HISTORICAL RECORD OF S 1 ,f-K 1751 relating to the Third Irish Horse, or the Cara- bineers. Coats. — Scarlet, the facings and lapells of pale-yellow ; the button-holes worked with white ; the buttons of white metal, set on two and two ; and a long slash pocket in each skirt. WaistcoatsI p^,^ „„^ Breeches J Hats. — ^Three-cornered cocked hats, bound with silvei iace, and ornamented with a white metal loop and 3 black cockade. Boors. — Made of jacked leather. Cloaks. — Of scarlet cloth with a pale-yellow €f aar, and lined with pale-yellow shalloon : the buttoi- ;et on two and two ^'pon white frogs, or loops, with a red stripe down the centre. Horse Furniture. — Of pale yellow cloth ; the holster caps and housings having a border of broad white lace with a red stripe down the centre ; B? embroidered on a red ground within a wreath of roses and thistles on each corner of the housings ; and on the holster caps the King's cypher and crown with h^ underneath. Trumpeters. — Clothed in pale-yellow coats, faced and lapelled with red, and ornamented with white lace with a red stripe down the centre ; with long hanging sleeves, fastened at the waist : their waistcoats and breeches of red cloth. Standards. — The first, or King's, standard to be crimson damask embroidered and fringed with gold and silver ; in the centre the rose and thistle con- joined and crown over them, with the motto Dieu et mon Droit underneath : the white horse in a ;:» THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. &$ compartment in the first and fourth corners, and 1751 h' in gold characters on a pale yellow ground in a compartment in the second and third corners. The second and third standards to be of pale-yellow '^^ mask, in the centre the rank of the regiment in ^,v/id Roman characters on a crimson ground,withina wreath of roses and thistles : the white horse on a scarlet ground in the first and fourth compartments, and the rose and thistle conjoined upon a scarlet ground in the second and third compartments. Officers distinguished by silver lace, thc'.r coats bound with silver embroidery, the button holes worked with silver; and a crimson silk sash worn over the left shoulder. Quarter Masters to wear a crimson sash round the waist. Corporals to have narrow silver lace on the lapells, cuffs, pockets, and shoulder straps. During the summer of this year (1751) the Carabineers were on Dublin duty, and were reviewed by General Lord Viscount Molesworth ; in June, 1753, they were reviewed at Thurles by 1753 Lieut. -General the Earl of Rothes ; and in June, 1754, at Kilkenny by Lieut.-General Bragg. They 1754 were encamped near Kilkenny in the summer of 1756, and exercised with the second horse, (now 1756 fifth dragoon guards^) and a regiment formed of detachments from the other cavalry corps in Ireland, for the purpose of establishing an uniform system of drill and manoeuvre. In 1757 Colonel Lord George Sackville was 1757 removed to the second dragoon guards, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the Carabineer"* by 60 HISTORICAL RECORD OF ,1 < ■ V 1757 Major-General Lewis Dejean, from the fourteenth dragoons. 1758 The regiment marched in the summer of 1758 1759 to Athy, TuUow, and Carlow ; and in 1759 to Dublin, where it was reviewed in June, by Lieut. - General the Earl of Rothes, and on the 22d of Oc- tober by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland ; it sub- sequently marched to TuUamore arti Philipstown. War having been commenced with France in 1756, a British force had been sent to Germany, and was serving in conjunction with a body of Hanoverian, Hessian, and Brunswick troops in British pay, under the orders of Ferdinand Duke of Brunswick. King George IL having resolved 1760 to reinforce his army in Germany, the Carabineers were directed in the beginning of 1760 to recruit their numbers to three corporals and forty-nine private men per troop, and a number of officers were sent to England to procure men and horses. On the 2'2d of February the regiment marched to Dublm, and having received a draft of men and horses from the cavalry regiments which were to remain in Ireland, it embarked for England and landed at Highlake in Cheshire towards the end of March. After remaining a few weeks in England it embarked for Germany, and joined the allied army commanded by the Duke of Brunswick, on the 30th of June, at the camp on the heights between Ziegenhayn and Freysa in the landgraviate of Hesse : and was formed in brigade with the royal horse guards, and fourth horse (now seventh dra- goon guards) commanded by Major-General Honey wood. The French army, commanded by 1 THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 61 the Duke of Broglio, said to amount to one hun- 1760 dred thousand men, was encamped at Neustadt, in Hesse Cassel ; and another army commanded by the Count de St. Germain, was a^utioned on the Lower Rhine. The enemy having a great superiority of numbers, the allied army was forced to act upon the defen- sive. The Carabineers, commanded by Lieut.- Colonel Napier, were employed in the operntiors which led to the action at Corbach on the 10th of July ; where the first and third dragoon guards highly distinguished th' mselves. When the movi -lents of the adverse forces in- dicated a design to cut off the communication with Cassel, the army qvitted its post at Saxenhausen, and while on the march a detachment of the Carabineers evinced their innate courage and resolution in a sharp skirmish with a division of the enemy near Wolfshagen, on the 25th of Jujy: on the 27th the regiment was in position at Kalle. A French force passed the Dymel, and extended along the bank of that river to cut off the commM- nication of the allies with Westphalia; and '.he Duke of Brunswick, leaving a body of troop.; to protect Cassel, advanced upon Libenau, and atler- wards availed himself of a favourable opportunity to attack this portion of the French army. The Carabineers, having quitted their camp at eleven o'clock on the night of the 30th of J ■?/, crossed the Dymel, and at five on the following morning they were in position on the heights of Corbeke, from whence they advanced to a wc(,'l near the barony of Denenberg, and about five miles [t ■I'- B!' ' 62 HISTORICAL RECORD OF [*' I-. \\ i I , 1760 from PVarhourg, where upwards of thirty thousand French troops were encam^ ed under the orders of the Chevalier de Muy. Ten regiments of British horse and dragoons halted on the border of the wood, anxiously awaiting the moment when two columns of the allied army, commanded by the hereditary Prince of Brunswick, should have gained the enemy's left flank ; this movement having taken effect, the French, after a sharp resistance, fell back upon Warbourg, and the British cavalry were ordered fom'ard. After traversing five miles of rugged ground with an eagerness which indicated the glowing ardour of the officers and men, the Carabineers, and other heavy cavalry corps, arrived at the field of battle, and instantly charged their adversaries with the same intrepidity and zeal for which their predecessors were disti.itnrished in the reign of Queen Anne. The Duk'.! of Brunswick witnessed their arrival at the ?>' cne of conflict in less time than he had deemed it possible for them to advance so great a distance, and he saw them charge, over- throw, and cut down the opposing ranks with such spirit and energy as excited his admiration. Among the foremost in the fight was the gallant Major- General Honeywood at the head of the tliree regi- ments of English horse, and the troopers, emulating so distinguished an example, performed astonishing feats of valour: having overcome the enemy's cavalry, they rushed upon the infantry, and cut down the discomfited musketeers with irresistible power. Pressing forward in pursuit, the brigade m \ 7) U O 8 '3 O H y, Is .s Li o 11 i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /, O ^ .^^ ^.f" *^^^-^^ << 4^ 4^ %^ 1.0 I.I 11.25 £ li£ 12.0 1.4 11.6 Photographic .Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WIBSTN.N.Y. USIO (716)t72-4S03 ^\ SV <> '^ .. • ■ 4* • . ,f Dublin, and that it " is his Majesty's pleasure, that the good beha- " viour of that regiment be particularly noted in " the orders which were directed to be given out " in every quarter in Ireland relative to the said " garrison ; it is therefore the Earl of Drogheda's " orders that the same be read at the head of •* every regiment, troop, company, and detach- " ment." (( « 70 HISTORICAL RECORD OP 176ft Towardi the end of August the regiment marched to TuUamore and Philipstown; — in 1766 February, 1766, its ertablishment was reduced to 10 private men per troop ; and in the summer of the same year the head quarters were removed to Maryborough. In the early part of the following year a new scale of prices for regimental commissions was established ; and the corps in Ireland being upon a lower rate of pay than those in England, a dif- ference was made in the price of the commissions in the two countries: the following rates were established for the regiments of horse. 1767 In Great In Britain. Ireland. Lieut^^oloiMl £5200 £4940 Mtjor and Ctptoin . 4250 3931 Captain 3100 2731 Captain Li«utanant . 2000 1593 Liautonaot . 1750 1322 Conwt 1600 1067 The head quarters were stationed in the summer 1768 of 1767 at Kilkenny ; and in 1768 the regiment was removed to Carlow, Hacketstown, Athy, and TuUow. The King's warrant, dated 19th December, 1768, was issued, in which the distinguishing colour, or facing of the Carabineers was directed to be white f and the lace yellow ; the second and third standard^/ to be of white damask ; and the horse furniture of the same colour ; the trumpeters to be clothed in white faced with scarlet : the officers were directed to wear their sashes round the waist, their sword belts over the right shoulder, and an epaulette on the left shoulder. THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 71 111 the spring of 1769 the regiment marched to 1769 Dublin, where it remained until January 1770, 1770 when it again proceeded to Philipstown and Tul- lamore ; after a stay of four months in these quarters it proceeded to Carlow, Athy, and Tul- low ; in July 1771, the head quarters were re- ^771 moved to Kilkenny, in 177*2 to Mountmellick, in 1772 June 1773 to Maryborough, and soon afterwards 1773 to Philipstown*. The regiment again proceeded to Dublin in 1774 July 1774 ; was reviewed by the Lord-Lieutenant on the Idth of that month, and after performing duty there one year, marched to Belturbet. Lieut.-General Harvey was removed to the 1775 sixth dragoons in October 1775, and was suc- ceeded in the command of the regiment by Major- General William Augustus Pitt from the twelfth dragoons. In May, 1776, the regiment marched to Tulla- 1776 more, and in July to Carlow. A war having broken out between Great Britain and her North American colonies, an increase was made to the strength of the regular army, and the establish- ment of the regiment was augmented one corporal and ten private men per troop. The head quarters were established in July 1777 at Kilkenny : during the summer of the fol- 1777 lowing year the regiment was encamped near 1778 * In 1773, Major Ralph Abercromby wag appointed lieut- colonel of the third horse. The re(;iment was nine years under the command of this distinguished officer, who, afterwards, as Sir Ralph Abercromby, closed his brilliant career while leading the British army to victory on the shores of Egypt. 7ji HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1779 Clonniel; und in 1779 near Ardfinnair, where it was formed in brigade with the second horse and fifth dragoons. In October the camp broke up, and the regiment was stationed at Clonniel ; a 1780 change of quarters took place in January, 1780, avA in September of the same year it proceeded to Dublin. Lieut. -General William Augustus Pitt was re- moved in November, 1780, to the tenth dra- goons, and he was succeeded in the colonelcy of the Carabineers by Lieut.-General Sir John Irwine, from the fifty-seventh foot. 1781 Remaining at Dublin until the summer of 1782, 1782 the regiment was reviewed with the thirty-sixth and seventy-seventh regiments on the 24th of June by the Commander-in-chief, and on the 27th by the Lord Lieutenant * ; in July the head quar- 1783 ters were removed to Carlow ; — and in July, 1783, to TuUamore. After a contest of seven years, Great Britain ceded the independence of the revolted provinces in North America ; and after the restoration of * Adjutant Oeneral's Office, t>ublin. 24th June, 1782. " The Commander-in-ohief is happy to express his entire satis- faction at the appearance of the troops this day, and at the at- tention of the corps in the performance of every part of their exercise." 27th June, 1782. " His Grace the Lord Lieutenant has been pleased to direct the Commander-in-chief to return the officers and soldiers of the Third Horsb, the thirty-sixth and seventy-seventh rtflfiments, his Grace's thanks for their attention, steadiness anu singular good behaviour at the review this day." (Signed) H. Bowykr, D. A. G. THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 73 peace tlie estahliRhment of the regiment was re- 1783 duced to itfi former numbers. In July, 1784, the head quarters were removed 178-1 to Longford ; in July, 1785, toSligo; in May, J78.') 1786, to Ballinrobe, and in July to Belturbet ; and ^j^j in August, 1787, to Carlo w. On the Ist of April, 1788, the four regiments of 1788 HORSE on the Irish establishment were reduced to the pay and quality of dragoons, with the title of Dragoon Guards, and the regiment which is the subject of this memoir was nunibered the Sixth Regiment of Dragoon Guards ; its former title of Carabineers was also retained. The pay of each rank being reduced by this alteration, the colonel received a compensation of £150 per annum, with £172 19«. for the expense of alteiing the appointments, &c. : the lieut.-colonel received a gratuity of £575, the major £5'25, captains £475 each, the lieutenants £350 each; and the cornets £250 each. The private men had the option of their discharge, or a bounty of two guineas if they continued to serve. The officers were directed to wear an epaulette on each shoulder ; the ilask string was removed from the pouch belt, the width of the belts was reduced, and the equipment was assimilated to the regiments of dragoons. The establishment was fixed at one colonel and captain, one lieut.-colonel and captain, one major and captain, three captains, six lieutenants, six cornets, one chaplain, one adjutant, one surgeon, six troop quartermasters, six Serjeants, twelve cor- porals, six trumpeters, one hundred and fourteen private men, and six dismounted men. \s 74 HISTORICAL RECORD OF ^1 1788 In June of the same year General Sir John Irwine, K. B. died at Brussels, and he was suc- ceeded in the colonelcy of the Sixth Dragoon Guards by Major*General the Earl of Carhamp- ton. The alterations having been completed, the re- giment marched in July to Longford : where it 1790 rc"™*i"cd until the summer of 1790, when it pro- 1792 ^^^^^^ **^ TuUamore, and, in August 1792, to Dublin, where it was reviewed in September by Major-General White. 1793 During the winter and succeeding spring, the troubled state of France, arising from the san- guinary proceedings of the men who had taken the lead in the revolution of that kingdom, gave in- dication of an approaching war; preparations were consequently made to meet the danger, the military establishments were augmented, and the nunibers of the Sixth Dragoon Ctuards were fixed at three hundred and seventy two non-com- missioned officers and private troopers. At the same time men were enlisted as low as five feet six inches, and horses purchased of fourteen hands three inches, with the view of forming a light TROOP, which was to be clothed and equipped the same as the remainder of the regiment. During the summer they were ordered to hold themselves in readiness for foreign service, and the establishment was completed by drafts from other corps. The French republic having attacked Holland, a British force was sent to the assistance of the Dutch. By the success of the allies the scene of conflict was removed to Flanders, where a British THE 6IXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 75 army was assembled wider the command of the 1793 Duke of York, and the Carabineers were ordered to proceed to the Netherlands, to serve under his royal highness's orders. The light men and small horses were formed into two light troops*, and instructed in the services of light dragoons, and the regiment embarked from Ireland on the 20th of September under the com- mand of Colonel Ormsby ; it landed at Ostend on the 5th of November, and, proceeding from thence to Ghent, was reviewed near that city by His Royal Highness i.:e Duke of York on the 23d of Oiicember. Advancing up the country in the spring of 1794, 1794 the regiment proceeded to the plains of Cateau, and formed part of the covering army during the siege of Landrdcies. It was in reserve during the action at Cateau, on the 26th of April ; on the re- duction of Landr^cies it proceeded to Tournay, and was in position with the army in front of that fortress. At day-break on the morning of the 10th of May a few pistol shots were heard faintly from the advance posts ; soon thirty thousand republican troops were seen through the misty dawn advanc- ing in broad dark columns against the British position, when the soldiers stood to their arms, and the Carabineers prepared for the combat. The report of musketry and the deep tones of the m * One of the light troops of the Sixth Dragoon Guards was commanded by Captain Stapleton Cotton, now Viscount Comber- mere. 76 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1794 artillery succeeded, and the enemy's attempt to turn the left flank was repulsed. A shower of bullets from the French batteries assaulted the British centre, and through the curling smoke, dark masses of republican troops rushed to battle with ferocious shouts ; but the British regiments assailed the advancing columns with a storm of fire, broke their front, and drove them back with a terrible carnage. Fresh corps continued the combat, and while the result was doubtful, the Duke of York directed Lieut.-General Harcourt to attack the enemy's right flank with sixteen British, and two Austrian squadrons, and the Sixth Dragoon Guards were among the corps selected for this service. Having gained the flank, dark lines gleaming with bayonets and sabres, and emitting streams of fire, opposed a formidable resistance, and many troopers and horses were soon stretched on the dusty field ; but the heroic squadrons rushed forward, breathing vengeance and slaughter, and the fury of their charge broke a French corps into fragments. The British troopers plunging their horses among the oppo- sing ranks, trampled and cut down their adver- saries with terrific violence; and the French army being thus attacked in flank, commenced its retreat, in the course of which it was broken by a second charge of the cavalry. The Hanoverians, who occupied a position on the right of the British, had in the mean time repulsed an attack which was made upon them, and the discomfiture of the French army Avas complete. The pursuing squadrons chased their antagonists across tlie ?..'45 THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 77 *'^. Marque, and thirteen guns were captured. The Sixth Dragoon Guards were thanked for their gallant conduct, with the other corps, in the general orders issued on the following day. Their loss was one serjeant, six private men, and forty- four horses killed ; with Cornet Bond, nineteen private men, and thirty-four horses wounded. The regiment was in reserve during the general attack on the enemy's positions on the 17th of May ; and was formed up on its camp ground during the action on the 22d of that month ; but the enemy did not attack the post the Carabi- neers were destined to defend. At length the retreat of the Austrians and the immense superiority of numbers which the enemy was enabled to bring forward, rendered it impos- sible for the Duke of York, with the few troops under his command, to maintain his ground. His Royal Highness therefore retired ; and the Sixth Dragoon Guards suffered, in common with the other corps, great fatigue, privations, and exposure to the most severe weather, during the retreat through Flanders and Holland, in the depth of a particularly sharp winter. After several months of intense suffering, in which the troops dis- played astonishing fortitude, frequently facing the enemy and punishing his temerity with distinguishing courage, the British arrived in the duchy of Bremen, and were placed in can- tonments. During the summer of 1795 the Sixth Dragoon Guards were encamped on one of the plains of Germany ; in November they embarked 1794 78 HISTORICAL RECORD OF H' 1795 for England, and after landing at Ramsgate marched to Egham, Staines, and Chertsey. 1796 King George III. took an early opportunity of reviewing the Sixth Dragoon Guards, after their return from foreign service, on Englefield Green, and of expressing his approbation of their conduct during the recent struggles on the continent. In April 1796 they marched to Sheffield, in consequence of riots in that town ; subsequently to Sunderland and Shields ; and in September of the same year, Ireland being in a state bordering on rebellion, they embarked at Liverpool for Dublin. The establishment at this period was nine troops of four Serjeants and sixty- seven rank and file each. 1797 After their arrival in Ireland the Sixth Dragoon Guards marched to Athlone ; m September, 1797, they were encamped on the Curragh of Kildare, with the fourth, fifth, and seventh dragoon guards, and fifth and ninth dragoons, and in November returned to Athlone. The pay of the serjeants of dragoon guards and dragoons was this year increased to 2«. 2d.i the corporals to 1*. 7irf., trumpeters to 1*. Id., and privates to \s, Sd. per day, exclusive of the allow- ance for clothing, &c., formerly deducted from the soldier's pay. 1798 In 1798 the disaffected Irish Catholics broke out into open rebellion, and perpetrated the most atrocious acts of cruelty on many unoffending Protestants. Frequent skirmishes and sharp en- gagements occurred between the insurgents and the King's troops, in which the former were de- THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 79 feated with dreadful slaughter, and the rebellion 1798 was nearly suppressed, when the French endea- voured to re-kindle the conflict, and sent General Humbert with a thousand men to assist the rebels. The Sixth Dragoon Guards were stationed at Ballinrobe, Castlebar, and Ballina : the French landed at Killala on the 22d of August, when Major Kerr of the regiment (who commanded the squadron at Castlebar) posted strong piquets to cover the quarters, and sent out patroles to observe the enemy ; at the same time the squadron of the regiment, with the Frazer fencibles, and the Longford, Kilkenny, and Kerry militia, were held in readiness to oppose the progress of General Humbert and his corps. The French advanced on the following day by the mountain road, which appears not to have been expected, and Lieutenant de Passey, who commanded the piquet of the Sixth Dragoon Guards, fled at the first fire, taking the men under his orders with him to Athlone, a distance of sixty miles.* The enemy continued his advance, — a sharp action followed, in which the fencibles behaved well, but the militia retired in confusion after one fire, and a retreat was ordered. In this affair the Sixth Dragoon Guards had three men killed and five wounded, and sustained the loss of their troop baggage. The French pene- trated boldly into the country, but were eventually * Lieutenant de Passey afterwards resigned his commission to avoid a court martial. The bad conduct of this officer occasioned, in a great measure, the disaster which followed ; — of course his resignation was not regretted by the corps. 80 HISTORICAL RECORD OF h- 1798 surrounded and taken prisoners ; and the rebellion was finally suppressed. 1799 In August, 1799, the regiment marched to Tul- lamore ; in October to Newry ; and in November, 1800 1800, to Dundalk ; where it remained two years : and after the conclusion of the peace of Amiens, the establishment was reduced to four hundred and eighty private men and four hundred and 1802 thirty-six troop horses. In September, 1802, the regiment marched to Dublin. The war with France having been resumed, the 180^ establishment was augmented in March, 1803, to five hundred and sixty private men. In April the regiment embarked from Dublin, and after its arrival in England^ it was stationed at Gloucester, and subsequently at Manchester : and the esta- blishment was further augmented to eight troops amounting to six hundred and forty rank and file. 1804 In January, 1804, the regiment marched to Lincoln, where the establishment was augmented to ten troops, amounting to near eleven hundred 1805 men and horses : in May, 1805, the regiment proceeded to Exeter barracks, and in March, 1806, into quarters in Sussex. 1806 In tlie mean time the King of Spain, having concluded a treaty with Napoleon Bonaparte, declared war against Great Britain. The Spanish possessions in South America were subsequently attacked, and Buenos Ayres was captured in the summer of 1806 ; but was retaken by the Spaniards shortly afterwards. A reinforcement was subsequently sent to the British troops in South America, and in October, four troops of the Sixth Dragoon Guards commanded by THE SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS. 81 Major Kingston (brevet lieut.-colonel) was em- jgOG barked for the same destination. In the early part of 1807 Monte Video was 1807 taken by storm ; and in May Lieut.-General Whitelocke arrived at Rio-de-la-Plata with addi- tional forces, and took command of the whole of the troops, when a second attempt was made on Buenos Ayres. The army under Lieut.-General Whitelocke, which amounted nearly to eight thousand men, effected a landing at Ensenada de Baragon on the 26th of June, with little opposition : the four troops of the Sixth Dragoon Guards were dis- mounted, and foiTTied in brigade Avith a detachment of the ninth light dragoons and the fortieth and forty-fifth regiments of foot, under the command of Colonel the Hon. Thomas Mahon. After some fatiguing marches through a country much inter- sected by swamps and deep muddy rivulets, the army arrived at the village of Reduction ; mean- while the enemy had constructed batteries, and established a formidable line of defence beyond the Chuelo. This position was, however, turned by a combined movement, and the troops re-united in the suburbs of the City of Buenos Ayres, when the Sixth Dragoon Guards, ninth dragoons, and forty-fifth regiment took post on the right of the central avenue extending towards the Residencia. Arrangements were made for attacking the place on the 5th of July, and to the Sixth Dragoon Guards and ninth dragoons was allotted the task of forcing one of the central streets with two six-pounders. At half past six o'clock in the morning the British troops, moved forward along the several G ';'l / 82 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1807 avenues of the city ; for some time no signs of resistance were manifested; but the valour and constancy of the troops were soon put to a severe test. The doors of the houses were barri- caded ; at a given signal the owners appeared in arms with their servants and slaves, on the flat roofs and at the windows, and opened a destructive fire on the British troops as they passed along the streets ; every house was in itself a fortress, and bullets, hand-grenades, bricks, and stones fell in showers upon the soldiers ; yet they fiercely braved this tempest of war, and Buenos Ayres resounded to the roar of musketry and cannon. In the midst of this scene of uproar, carnage, and confusion, the Sixth Dragoon Guards pressed boldly forward ; at length a deep ditch, and a battery across the street, opposed their advance and threatened their destruction ; but undaunted by such appalling danger, they rushed forward in the very teeth of the cannon, when a volley of grape shot met them in mid-onset ; Lieut.-Colonel Kingston fell mor- tally wounded. Captain Burrell, next in command, met the same fate, and many troopers were stretched lifeless in the street ; at the same time the fire from the houses increased, and the men were ordered to desist. They accordingly retired a short distance, and took post in front of one of the enemy's principal defences, and considerably in advance of the ground which they occupied in the morning. This post they maintained throughout the day. In the mean time some of the other columns of attack had succeeded ; but several had failed ; considerable advantage had, however, been gained, though with a loss of about two thousand I i ■ THE SIXTH DRAOOON UUARDS. 83 ,nd five hundred men, in which number thirty-nine of 1807 the Sixth Dragoon Guards were included. On the following morning Lieut.-General Whitelocke, imagining little advantage would accrue from the possession of a country, the in- habitants of which appeared ho absolutely hostile, resolved to relinquish the advantages he had obtained, and he accordingly acceded to a treaty and vacated the place ; for which he was after- wards brought to trial and cashiered. Several charges were brought againnt him, one of which was, — having ordered the troops to attack with unloaded arms ; but the court-martial exonerated him from blame in regard to the precautions taken to prevent unnecessary firing. The Sixth Draooon GuARm having embarked from Buenos Ayrea, proceeded to Mnnte VideOy which place Lieut.-General Whitelocke had also agreed to give up to the enemy, although it was not so much as menaced with an attack, and after remaining there about six weeks returned to England. In May of this year the head quarters of the regiment proceeded to HastittgM, in July to Nor- wich, and in October to Peterborough ; from whence they proceeded, in February, 1808, to 1808 Derby, in March to Nottingham, and subsequently to Manchester, where a reduction was made in the establishment. During the summer of 1809 the regiment pro- 1809 ceeded to York ; and in 1810 to Scotland, where igio it remained nearly three years: in this period orders were received for an alteration to be made 1812 in the uniform ; the cocked hats were to be re- placed by helmets; and the length of the n^en's g2 ! ID S4 HISTORICAL RECORD OF 1812 coats WUM reduced. A regimental school was also eHtabl'iMluMl fur the educiition of goidiers' children. 1813 III April, 1H13, the regiment embarked at Portpiitrick lor Irehind, and after its arrival was Btutiuned ui Dundalk, I^ndonderry, Sligo, Mona- ghan, Nuvan, Lishurn, and Man of War ; and in May of the winie year, ont: corporal and fifteen private troopers embarked for Spain in order to form part of the cavalry staff corps to the army commanded by the Duke of Wellington. 1814 In April, 1814, a change of quarters took place, and the neveral troops occupied TuUamore, Long- ford, and Philip«town, and after the conclusion of the peace of Paris, the establishment, which had previou(«ly undergone several alterations, was re- duced to eight troops, and the total numbers to thirty-five officers, five hundred and forty-nine non-coininiftMoned officers and soldiers, and four hundred and fiffy«thr<'»' troop horses. 1815 The regiment marched to Dublin in May, 1815 ; and the return of Bonaparte to France having produced another war, in the following month its establitdmient was augmented sixty-four men. In July the regiment proceeded to Scotland : and in the subsequent issue of clothing the jacked leather boots and breeches were replaced by blue-grey cloth trowsers and Mhort boots ; the men had com- menced wearing girdles in the preceding year. 1816 After the return of peace the strength of the army was again decreased ; and the establishment of the HiXTH Dragoon Guards was fixed at thirty-five officers, five hundred and nine soldiers, and three hundred and thirty-three troop horses. ^ 1817 In the summer of 1817 the regiment left Scotland, and was stationed in Lancashire ; and THE SIXTH DKAOOON GirARm. Bd in the folluwing summer at Birminghiini, Netting- ^817 hum, Abergavenny, Brecon, Shrewsbury, Leices- ter, and Wolverhanjpton ; in autumn the t'stal>lis]i- ment was reduced to lour hundred and live men and two hundred and seventy-three horses. During the summer of 1819, the Sixth Dha- 1819 GOON Guards proceeded to the north of England, and were stationed at Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle : when on the march four troops were halted in Lancashire until September, on account of the riotous conduct of the weavers. In this assignment the regiment received clothing M'ith long skirts, and lace across the breast and arm : and the officers were directed to wear an aigui- lette on the right shoulder. The decease of King George IIL occurred on 1820 the 29th of January, 1820, and on the 3d of Fe- bruary Lieut. -Colonel French, with the \\ hole of the officers, the band, and a squadron of the regiment attended the proclamation of King George IV., at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In August, . the regiment marched to Birmingham and Coventry. In April, 1821, the regiment embarked at 1821 Bristol, for Ireland, and after its arrival in that country, occupied quarters at Cork, Limerick, Bandon, and Fermoy : owing to the smallness of some of the transports, the length of time during which part of the regiment was on the passage, and the order to march immediately on landing, many of the horses were seized with fever in the feet, of which thirteen died, and four were sold on account of lameness. 86 HIHTURICAL RECORD OF 1821 On the 30th of April, 1821, General the Ho- nourable Robert Taylor was appointed colonel of the Sixth Dragoon Guards, in succession to General the Earl of Carhampton deceased. In August, the establishment was reduced to six troops, total twenty-nine officers, three- hundred and thirty-four men, and two huri(1ri>il and fifty -three horses. 1823 In March, 1823, helmets with bear-Nkin crests were issued to the regiment. On the l<-ith of June it was assembled at Dublin, where it was reviewed on the 21st of tliat month, by Lieut.- General Lord Combermore, commander-in-chief in Ireland : and on the 7th of August by General the Honourable Robert Taylor, colonel of the regiment. Lieut. -Colonel Edward Wildman was promoted to the Lieut.- Colonelcy on the 25th September, 1 823, in succession to Lieut.-Colonel French, who retired from the service. 1824 The regiment was again reviewed by Lieut.- General Lord Combermere, on the 22d of March, 1824 ; when his lordship was pleased to express his approbation of its appearance and movements in the field, and of its general conduct since its arrival in Dublin. On the 24th of June it em- barked for LivP'-'K)oL and after its arrival at that place, mar^l ' < Scotla-T^ and occupied quarters at Gla. go\^ , iriuinilton, and Irvine ; from 1825 M^hence it proceeded, in the spring of 1825, to Piershill barracks, Edinburgh. 1826 The regiment left Scotland in the spring of 1 826 ; when four troops proceeded to Canterbury, and after halting there two nights, marched to Shef- THE SIXTH DRAOOON GUARDS. 87 field ; the other two troops had, in the mean tinie, 1826 marchod to Wakefield. In Junr the re^-itnent again commenced its march for Canterbury' ; hut its destination was aftcrwardH chan;:;ed to Htirnley, Preston, and Bhickburn , and in April. 182?, the IH27 whole assembled at Manchester. This year the lace on the front of the men% coats, and the girdles, were discontinued ; and the officers were ordered to wear epaulettes, aiu' a crimson and gold sash. In the spring of 1828, the regiment prs-eedt ' 1^21N to Nottingham and Shetfteld ; but retui iied to Manchester in October, and occupied quartern m the town, with detached troops at Burnley and Rochdale. In December tht3 regiment resumed wearing gauntlet gloves, which had been laid aside about half a century. On the 6th of April, 1829, the regiment com- ist menced its march for Dorchester, Christ's Church, Dursley, Wotton, and Trowbridge ; and in April and May, 1830, it embarked at Bristol for Ire- 183u land, and landed at Cork. The regiment remained in Ireland until the spring of 1834 ; having embarked from Dublin 1834 on the 11th of March, it landed at Liverpool on the following day, and during th*^ summer marched to Scotland, and was stationed at Glasgow. In 1835, the regiment returned to England, and 1335 was stationed at York : in the summer of 1836 it i836 proceeded to Nottingham ; and in 1837 to 1837 Brighton. Three troops marched to the vicinity of London, and were on duty on the 28th of June, 1 838, on the 1838 occasion of the coronation of Her Majesty Queen il 88 HISTORICAL RECORD &C. •A I Is';'', u m I i fli- ps'; 3. ' S^ 1838 Victoria. Tliey were also employed on the 8th of July in keeping the ground in Hyde Park, during tlie review of tive regiments of cavalry, six battiilio IS of infantry, three troops of horse artil- lery, and three batteries of field artillery, by Her Majesty. In July, the regiment proceeded to Dorchester ; where it has remained until the beginning of the 1839 y^^^ 1839, which brings this record to a conclu- sion. Soon after its formation, this regiment had fa- vourable opportunities of acquiring distinction, and its career was signalized by valiant achieve- ments which raised it high in the estimation of King William HI., who conferred upon it the designation of Carabineers. In the reign of Queen Anne it acquired new honours under the great Duke of Marlborough. At Blenheim it overthrew the celebrated gens dtarmes of France ; — at RamiUes it fought and conquered the Spanish horse guards, and captured the colours of the French royal regiment of bombardiers ; — and at Malplaquet it engaged the renowned household cavalry of Louis XIV., and was again victorious. In the reigns of King George II. and George III., it acquired fresh laurels in Germany under the Duke of Brunswick, particularly at TVarbourg. — It evinced signal gallantry at the commencement of the French revolutionary war, under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, especially at Tournay ; and its conduct on home service has at all times been meritorious, and valuable to the nation. 1839. SUCCESSION OF COLONELS I op THE SIXTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS, OR THE CARABINEERS. Richard, Lord Lumley. Appointed ^\st July, 1685. Richard Lumley descended from a noble family of the name of Lulph, in the time of Edward the Confessor, and obtained the designation of Lumley from the castle of that name situate on the bank of the Weare, in the bishopric of Durham. Possessing all the advantages of education at home and abroad, he was, on his first setting out in the world, distinguished among the most polite men of the age ; and his ardent mind leading him to aspire to military fame, he purposed to have made his first essay in arms against the Moors in 1680, and he embarked on board the armament designed for the relief of Tangier, under the Earl of Mulgrave ; but this expe- dition being laid aside, he returned to court, and was constituted master of the horse to Queen Catherine, consort of Charles II. Having acquired the favour of the court, he was advanced, on the olst of May, 1681, to the peerage by the title of Baron of Lumley Castle. On the breaking out of the rebellion in the summer of IB 90 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 'i ". iJ m. 1685^ he raised an independent troop of horse for the service of King James II. ; and being in command of a party of militia, he was instrumental, after the battle of Sedgemoor, in the capture of the Duke of Monmouth. His troop of horse was afterwards incorporated into a regi- ment (now the Sixth Dragoon Guards), of which his lordship was appointed colonel. When the king's design to introduce papacy became apparent. Lord Lumley withdrew from the court and united with other noblemen in the invitation to the Prince of Orange; and when the arrangements were completed, his lordship proceeded to the north with the Duke of Devonshire, and Earl of Danby, and by his interest and friends secured the im- portant town of Newcastle, which declared for the Prince soon after his landing. Lord Lumley was also instru- mental, by his interest and arguments in the house of lords, in procuring the elevation of the Prince and Princess of Orange to the throne. Immediately after this event he was sworn of the privy council and declared one of the gentlemen of the king's bed-chamber ; he was also appointed to the command of his majesty's own troop (now first regiment) of life guards, which gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of gold stick ; and he was advanced to the dignity of Viscount Lumley, on the 10th of April, 1689: on the 15th of April he was further advanced to the dignity of Earl of Scarborough. He attended the king in Ireland, and was at the battle of the Boyne ; he also served under his majesty in the Nether- lands ; was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1692 ; and to that of lieut.- general in 1694. He was a member of the privy-council in the reign of Queen Anne, and one of the commissioners to treat of the union between the two kingdoms of England and Scotland. On the accession of King George I., he was one of the peers entrusted with the government of the kingdom until hie majesty arrived from Hanover. He died on the 17th of December, 1721. SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 91 Sir John Talbot. Appointed 29th January, 1687. On the breaking out of Monmouth's rebellion in 1685, Sir John Talbot raised a troop of horse for the service of King James II. ; which troop was afterwards disbanded, and he was appointed lieut.-colonel of the Earl of Peter- borough's regiment (now second dragoon guards). When Lord Lumley vacated his commission. King James con- ferred the colonelcy of the Queen Dowager's Horse on Sir John Talbot, who appears to have been a steady ad- herent to the interest of the court, and on the landing of the Prince of Orange, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. In December, 1688, he resigned his commissions, and he was not afterwards employed in a military capacity under the British crown. Sir George Hewytt. Appointed 3\st December, 1688. Sir George Hewytt was many years an officer of Queen Catherine's troop (now second regiment) of life guards, in which corps he rose to the rank of lieutenant- colonel. He also served in the life-guards in the reign of James II. ; but not approving of the proceedings of the court he joined the Prince of Orange in November, 1688, and in the following month his highness promoted him to the colonelcy of the Queen Dowager's Horse. On the 10th of April, 1689, he was advanced to the peerage of Ireland by the titles of Baron of James-Town and Viscount Hewytt of Goram. He proceeded, during the summer of the same year, with his regiment to Ireland; while at the camp neir Dundalk he was seized with a severe indisposition, and proceeding to Chester, died there on the 15th of December, 1689. 92 SUCCESSION OF C0L0NKL8. Robert Byerley. Appointed SOth December, 1689. This officer raised in June, 1685, an independent troop of horse for the service of the king, of which he was ap- pointed captain ; and in the following month his trcop was incorporated into the regiment which is now the Sixth Dragoon Guards. At the revolution in 1688, he was appointed lieut.-colonel, and after the decease of Viscount Hewytt, King William promoted him to the colonelcy of the corps. He served with distinction in Ireland; but having suffered in his health, and being more attached to agricultural pursuits than to the ad- venturous scenes of military life in time of war, he retired from the service. He died on the 2d of November, 1731. Hugh Wyndham. Appointed Slst January, 1692. Hugh Wyndham was an officer in the royal regiment of dragoons, when that corps was first embodied in 1683, and was formed of the four troops of Tangier horse, and two newly-raised troops of dragoons. On the 21st of July, 1685, he was appointed captain of the Princess Anne's (now fourth) dragoons, and on the 1st of July, 1689, he was promoted to the majority of the same corps. He served in Scotland under Major-General Mackay, against the insurgent Highland clans ; and on the 1st of March, 1690, he was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy of the Queen Dowager's Horse. He served at the battle of the Boyne, also at the first siegoof Limerick, where he highly distinguished himself in repulsing a sally of the garrison, and his conduct on all occasions was so truly excellent that King William promoted him to the colonelcy of the regiment. At the battle of Landen he acquired new laurels, as more partictdarly detailed in the f^. SUCCESSION OF COLON KLS. 93 Record of the regiment, and in 1697 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. On the breaking out of the war in 1702, lie was promoted to the rank of major-general, and in the following year he was placed on the staff of the army sent to Portugal under the Duke Schomberg. He also commanded a division of the army under the Earl of Galway in Portugal and Spain, and while engaged in the siege of Badajoz in October, 1705, he evinced great personal valour at the head of a regi- ment of horse (now second dragoon guards) in an en- counter witli some Spanish cavalry near the Chevora. In the following year he disposed of his regimental com- mission ; on the 10th of January, 1707, he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general ; and his decease occurred before he attained any higher rank. Francis Palmes. Appointed \st October, 1706. Francis Palmes was one of the gentlemen who ap- peared in arms with the Earl of Devonshire at the revo- lution in 1688, and was appointed captain in his lord- ship's regiment of horse, (now Seventh Dragoon Guards) with which corps he served in Ireland and Flanders. He was subsequently promoted to the lieutenant-colo- nelcy of the Carabineers; with which regiment he proceeded to the continent in 1702, and obtained the brevet rank of colonel on the 1st of July in the same year. His distinguished services, particularly at the battle of Blenheim in 1704, are set forth in the Record of the Sixth Dragoon Guards. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-gene/al immediately after the battle ; to that of major-general on the 1st of June, 1706 ; and on the 1st of October following he obtained the colonelcy of the regiment, from which he was re- moved when the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough was deprived of his commissions. On the accession of King George I., Lieut. -General M SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. t Palmes was received into royal favour, and in July, 1715, he was commissioned to raise, form, and discipline a regiment of dragoons, which was disbanded on the 22d of October, 1718. He was employed in a diplomatic capacity, and died at Dresden on the 4th of January, 1719. Leigh Backwell. Appointed 2d April, 1712. No record has been found of the military services of this officer; his appointment appears to have arisen from political circumstances, and he was removed shortly after the accession of King George I. Colonel Backwell died on the 19th of January, 1737. i Richard Waring. Appointed I5th February, 1715. Richard Waring was many years an officer in the first troop of horse grenadier guards ; he obtained the rank of colonel in the army in 1/06, and that of brigadier- general in 1711. Being distinguished for his steady loyalty and attachment to the succession of the house of Hanover at the period when Jacobin principles were prevalent in the kingdom, he was promoted from the lieut.-colonelcy of the horse grenadier guards to the colonelcy of the Carabineers ; he, however, retired in 1721, and died on the 8th of December, 1737. Richard Viscount Shannon. Appointed 17 th June, 1721. Viscount Shannon, descended from the noble family of Boyle Earls of Cork and Orrery, and was the son of Francis first Viscount Shannon, at whose decease he succeeded to that title. After the revolution he SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 95 attached himself to the suite of James Duke of OrmonJ, and served as a volunteer at the battle of the Boyne in 1690, also at the battle of Landen in 1693, where his grace was wounded and taken prisoner. He was appointed sub-brigadier and cornet in the second troop (now second regiment) of life guards, on the 16th of February, 1694, and served the three succeeding campaigns under King William III. in the Netherlands. In 1697, he was promoted to the commission of cornet and major, and in February, 1702, he was removed from the life guards and promoted to the colonelcy of a newly- raised regiment of marines. He was appointed to the command of the grenadier brigade in the expedition to Cadiz under the Duke of Ormond ; he ditjtinguished him- self in the operations near that city, also evinced signal gallantry in storming the forts near Vigo, and his gallant behaviour induced the Duke of Ormond to send him to England with the welcome news of the capture and de- struction of the enemy's shipping. On the 25th of August, 1704, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, in 1707 to that of major-general, and in 1709 to that of lieut. -general ; and he was one of the commissioners appointed to inspect and regulate the clothing of the army. After the peace of Utrecht his regiment of marines was disbanded, and in January, 1715 he was appointed colonel of the twenty-fifth regiment of foot. In 1720 he was constituted commander-in-chief in Ireland; in 1721 he was one of the lords justices of that kingdom, and obtained the colonelcy of the Carabineers in the same year. On the 9th of March, 1727, he was removed to the colonelcy of the fourth, or Scots, troop of life guards, which gave him the privilege of taking the court duty of gold stick. In 1735 he was promoted to the rank of general, and on the 2d of January, 1739, to that of field- marshal. He was a member of the privy council in the reigns of George 1. and George II., was distinguished by a most aifable deportment, and being signally endowed with many amiable qualities and virtues, his decease. 96 SUCCESSION OF COLONKLS. m which occurred on the 20th of December, 1740, was generally lamented. George Macartney. Appointed 9th March, \727. George Macartney entered the army in the reign of William III.; and on the 23d of April, 1703, he was promoted to the colonelcy of a newly raised regiment of foot, with which he served three campaigns under the Duke of Marlborough on the continent ; he afterwards transferred his services to Spain, and commanded a brigade of infantry at the unfortunate battle of Almanza, where he highly distinguished himself and was taken prisoner. In 1709 he was promoted to the rank of major- general, and in 1710 to that of lieut.-general. At the peace of Utrecht his regiment was disbanded ; and in July, 1716, he obtained the colonelcy of the twenty- first foot, from which he was removed in 1727 to the Cara- bineers, and he retained this appointment until his decease on the 7th of July, 1730. Henry Earl of Deloraine. Appointed 9th July, 1730. Lord Henry Scott, third son of James Duke of Mon- mouth and Anne Duchess of Buccleuch, obtained a com- mission in the army in the reign of William III.; in 1704 he obtained the command of one of the newly raised regiments of foot; and on the 29th of March, 1706, he was created Baron Scott, of Goldielands, Viscount Hermitage, and Earl of Deloraine. He supported the treaty of union between England and Scotland and other measures of the court; in 1715 he was chosen one of the sixteen representatives of the Scottish peerage ; and was rechosen in 1722, and again in 1727. His regiment having been disbanded at the peace of Utrecht, he was appointed on the 1st of June, SUCCBASION OF "'♦LONiail. 97 1715, colonel of the second, or Scotfi, troop of horse grenadier guards, which ho held two years. In 1724 he obtained the colonelcy of the sixteenth foot ; he was invested with the Order of the Bath on its revival in 1725; and promoted to the rank of major-general in 1726. He was removed to the Cahabinrehs in July, 1730, and died on the 25th of December following. Sir Robert Rich, Baronrt. Appointed Xtt January, 1731. Sir Robert Rich entered the army in the summer of 1 700, and he gave such proof of his valour and skill in the wars of Queen Anne, that in October, 1709, he was promoted to the colonelcy of a newly-raised regiment of foot. At the peace of Utrecht his regiment was dis- banded, and he remained for some time unemployed; but being distinguished for hin loyalty and steady attach- ment to the Protestant succession, ho was commissioned to raise in the summer of 1715 a regiment of dragoons, which was instrumental in suppressing the rebellion which broke out that year ; but in 1718 it was disbanded. The services of Sir Robert Rich were, however, not forgotten ; he was appointed one of the grooms of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales (afterwards George II.) ; and on the 19th of November, 1722, King George I. appointed him colonel of the thirteenth dragoons ; from which he was removed, iu September, 1725, to the eighth dragoons; and on the 1st of January, 1731, to the Seventh Horse, now Sixth Dragoon Guards. He was again removfeu in 1733 to the first troop of horse grenadier guards, and in 1735 to the fourth dragoons ; he was a member of parliament^ and governor of Chelsea hospital ; and died in 1 768. Charles Loud Cathcart. Appointed 7th August, 1733. The Honorable Charles Cathcart, son of Alan^ u MUCL'KSSION OF COLONELS. Kevtinth liOrd Cathcart, appeared in arms when in the (Mght«&nth year of his age, and in 1704 he commanded a company in Colonel Macartney's regiment (since dis- banded) Korving against the French on the frontiers of Holland. In 1706 he commanded a troop in the royal Scot* dragoon** (Greys) which corps distinguished itself at the duciMVf) battle of Ramilies in the same year; and in 1707 he was brigade-major to the Earl of Stair. Continuing in active service, Captain Cathcart was at mo«t of the general actions fought by the army comman- ded by the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough. In 1709 he was appointed major of the Greys and shortly after- wards obtained the lieut.-ctlonelcy of the regiment. On the aceemion of King George I. he was appointed one of the groom» of His Mujesty's bedchamber : on the breaking out of the rebellion of the Earl of Mar, in 1715, he joined the Duke of Argyle at Stirling, and was detoehed by his grace on the 23d of October, with a party of dragoons, against a body of rebels consisting of one hundred hur«e and two hundred foot, with whom he came up at five o'clock on the following morning, and having attacked and defeated them, he captured seven- teen prisoners. He was also at the battle of Sherriff- muir on the 13th of November, in the same year, and by a prompt attack with the dragoons under his com- mand on the enemy's flank, contributed materially to the overthrow of the left wing of the rebel army. In 1717, Hi* Majesty promoted him to the colonelcy of the ninth foot; in August, 1728, he was appointed to the thirty-firit regiment; and on the 1st of Janmry, 1731, to the eighth dragoons. In the following year he suc- ceeded to the title of Lord Cathcart. In 1733 his lordihip obtained the appointment of lord of the bed- chamber to King George II. and the colonelcy of the Seventh HoRiftR now Sixth Dragoon Guards ; in 1735 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and in 1739 to that of major-general. His lordship was chosen one of the representatives of the Scottish pecrafjc in SUrCKSSlON OF rOLONKI.a. 19 several parliumeiits ; und was governor of Dtnicannoii Fort, and of Londonderry. In 1740, when it was resolved to attack the Spanish possessions in America, Lord Cathcart was selected to command the expedition, and he was appointed commander-in-chief in America ; but he died on his passage on the 20th of December, 1740, and was buried on the beach of Prince Rupert's bay, Dominica, where a monument was erected to his memory. Phineas Bowles. Appointed 20th December, 1740. Phineas Bowles was an officer in the army in tho reign of Queen Anne, and served the two last campaigns on the continent under the celebrated John Duke of Marlborough. He was also employed in suppressing the rebellion in the North in 1715 and 1716, and on the 23d of March, 1719, he was appointed colonel of the twelfth dragoons. In 1735 he was appointed brigadier- general, and on the 2d of July, 1739, he was promoted to the rank of major-general. He was removed from the twelfth dragoons to the Seventh Horse (now Sixth Dragoon Guards) in 1740; and died in October, 1749. The Honorable Jambs Cholmondeley. Appointed 1st November, 1749. The Honorable James Cholmondeley, third son of George, second Earl of Cholmondeley, obtained the com- mission of guidon and major in the first troop (now first regiment) of life guards on the 12th of May, 1725 ; in 1731 he was appointed lieutenant and lieut.-colonel of the third troop of life guards; and in January, 1741, he obtained the colonelcy of the forty-eighth regiment, (then first raised, and numbered the fifty-ninth,) from which he was removed, on the 18(h of December, 1742, to the colonelcy of the thirty-fourth regiment In H 2 100 SUCCESSION OF COLONELS. 1744 he proceeded with his regiment to Flanders, and served the campaign of that year with the allied army under Field*Marshal Wade. He was at the battle of Fontenoy on the 11th of May, 1745, and on the 8th of the following month he was appointed brigadier-general, in which capacity he served the remainder of that cam- paign. On the breaking out of the rebellion in Scotland, in the winter of the same year, he was ordered to Eng- land, with a brigade of infantry, and aiVer his arrival he was sent to Chester to take command of two battalions which had recently arrived from Ireland, with which he joined the army commanded by Field-Marshal Wade, in Yorkshire. After the flight of the rebels from Derby, he was detached to Scotland, where he served under Lieut.-General Hawley, and signalized himself in a most conspicuous manner at the battle of Falkirk, on the 17th of January, 1746; but the excessive fatigue he underwent, with continued exposure to severe weather, deprived him of the use of his limbs for some time. On the 23d of September, 1747, he was promoted to the rank of major-general; on the 24th of July, 1749, he was removed to the twelfth dragoons ; and in November of the same year to the Third Irish Horse, now Sixth Dragoon Guards. He was again removed on the 16th of January, 1750, to the sixth dragoons; and on the 2d of May, 1754, he was promoted to the rank of lieut.-general. He was many years lieut.-governor of Chester ; and died on the 13th of October, 1775. Lord George Sackville. Appointed \Sth January, 1750. Lord George Sackville, youngest son of his Grace the Duke of Dorset, choosing a military life, entered the army in 1737, and on the 19th of July, 1740, obtained the lieut.-colonelcy of the twenty-eighth regiment of foot. His distinguished behaviour at the head of his regiment at the battle of Dettingen recommended him to the SUCCIiSSlON .tb-LS. 101 notice of King George II. and his lordship was shortly afterwards promoted to the rank of colonel, and appointed one of His Majesty's aides-de-camp. He continued to serve on the continent, and distinguished himself at the battle of Fontenoy, where he was shot in the breast at the head of Barrell's regiment. His Lordship was also employed under the Duke of Cumberland, in suppressing the rebellion in Scotland : and on the 9th of April, 1746, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the twentieth regi- ment of foot. He served on the continent in the campaigns of 1747 and 1748, and on the 1st of November, 1749, he was removed to the colonelcy of the twelfth dragoons. In the following year he obtained the colonelcy of the Third Ihish Horse or Carabineers. In 1 750 he was appointed secretary of state in Ireland ; and on the 5th of April, 1757, he was removed to the second dragoon guards: he was also appointed lieut.-general of the Ordnance in the same year. In January, 1758, he was sworn of the privy council ; and during the summer his lordship was second in command in the expedition to