Chapter II: Part 2

In the spring of 1758 the SEVENTH dragoons quitted Scotland, and were stationed in Yorkshire, the head-quarters being at York; from whence the light troop was detached to Portsmouth to take part in an expedition against the French coast, under the orders of Charles Duke of Marlborough. A brigade was formed of the light troops of nine regiments of dragoons, under the orders of Colonel Eliott, of the horse grenadier guards; and when a landing had been effected (6th June) on the coast of Brittany, the light horsemen gave signal proof of their activity and usefulness on several occasions. They took a distinguished part in the capture of the suburbs of _St. Maloes_, and in the destruction, by fire, of the privateers and other vessels, amounting to upwards of one hundred sail, in the harbour; also in the destruction of extensive magazines of maritime stores. The light cavalry subsequently advanced several miles up the country, and evinced zeal and activity in skirmishing with the French troops. The expedition not being of sufficient strength to undertake the siege of St. Maloes, the troops re-embarked and returned to England. The light cavalry subsequently took part in a second enterprise against the French coast, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Bligh, when CHERBOURG was captured, and the works, with the shipping in the harbour and iron ordnance were destroyed, and the brass ordnance sent as trophies to London. A second landing was also effected near St. Maloes; but no advantage resulted, and considerable loss was sustained on re-embarking.

[Sidenote: 1759]

After landing at Portsmouth in September, the light troop of the QUEEN'S OWN proceeded to Hackney, and afterwards to Romford; the remainder of the regiment occupying cantonments in Essex and Middlesex, from whence it marched, in November, 1759, to Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.

[Sidenote: 1760]

In the mean time Hanover and the adjoining states had become the theatre of war, and a British force, commanded by the gallant Marquis of Granby, was serving with the troops of Hanover, Hesse, and Brunswick, the whole commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick; and in March, 1760, the six heavy troops of the SEVENTH dragoons received orders to proceed to Germany.

The QUEEN'S OWN dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel George Lawson Hall, embarked on the river Thames, and sailed for Germany in the beginning of April: having a quick passage, they arrived in the river Weser, landed above Bremen, the capital of a duchy of the same name in Lower Saxony, and joined the allied army commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, at the camp on the heights of Fritzlar, in the principality of Lower Hesse, on the 21st of April. They were formed in brigade with the dragoons of Price-schenik, under the orders of Colonel Bremar.

Being opposed by a French army of very superior numbers, the allies were restricted to defensive operations, and the SEVENTH took part in several toilsome marches and skirmishes. At length thirty thousand French troops crossed the river Dymel to cut off the communication of the allies with Westphalia, and a favourable opportunity occurring to attack this detached force, the QUEEN'S OWN dragoons, with several other corps, under the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, advanced to Liebenau, where they passed the Dymel, and making a detour of many miles, gained the left flank of the enemy's position at _Warbourg_, on the 31st of July. Prince Ferdinand was advancing with the main body against the enemy's front; but before his arrival, the enemy had been attacked in flank and rear, and were retiring. The cavalry under the Marquis of Granby and Lieut.-General Mostyn arrived at a favourable moment; a gallant charge of the British squadrons decided the fortune of the day, and the French made a precipitate retreat across the Dymel. The SEVENTH dragoons supported the infantry in the attack of the enemy's flank, and by a spirited charge towards the close of the action, contributed to the success of the day. The conduct of the British cavalry was commended by the Marquis of Granby, in his public despatch, and Prince Ferdinand declared in general orders, that "_all the British cavalry performed prodigies of valour_." The regiment being eager in the pursuit, had four men and horses captured by the enemy; three of the men, however, escaped and rejoined the regiment.

Lieut.-General Sir John Cope, K.B., died on the 28th of July, 1760; and King George II. conferred the colonelcy on Lieut.-General Mostyn, from the fifth, royal Irish, regiment of dragoons.

The SEVENTH dragoons were encamped near the banks of the Dymel, until winter, when the soldiers were directed to build huts to protect themselves and horses from severe weather. They subsequently went into cantonments in the villages in that part of the bishopric of Paderborn.

[Sidenote: 1761]

The army was suddenly called from its winter quarters in February, 1761, and penetrating, during a heavy snow, into the enemy's cantonments, captured several towns and extensive magazines of forage and provision; but afterwards returned to its former quarters, and the SEVENTH were again quartered in villages in the bishopric of Paderborn.

On taking the field in the beginning of May, 1761, the SEVENTH were formed in brigade with the Scots greys and Ancram's (eleventh) dragoons, commanded by Colonel Harvey. After much manœuvring, some skirmishing, and many long and toilsome marches, they were encamped on the heights of Denkernberg, between the rivers Asse and Lippe, and formed part of the Marquis Granby's corps, which had its right in front of the village of _Kirch-Denkern_. This post was attacked on the 15th, and again on the 16th of July; the SEVENTH were formed in column behind the centre of this part of the position, and supported the infantry; the enemy was repulsed; the cavalry dashed forward, but were prevented charging by the nature of the ground.

The regiment was subsequently employed in operations which brought on slight skirmishes; but no general engagement occurred. In August it was employed on the Dymel. In the early part of November it was engaged in dislodging a French corps from a strong camp near _Escherhausen_, in the duchy of Brunswick; and afterwards marched to _Eimbeck_, where another skirmish occurred. These movements were designed to surprise the French army in dispersed quarters; but the enemy having gained time to assemble his forces, this regiment, with several other corps, marched during the night of the 7th of November, through a heavy snow to _Foorwohle_, where another skirmish occurred, and the British dragoons evinced signal gallantry. The SEVENTH were encamped in the snow until the following morning, when the British had another skirmish with their opponents; and they subsequently marched to the heights between Mackensen and Lithorst. When the army went into winter quarters, the regiment was cantoned in East Friesland.

[Sidenote: 1762]

The season for military operations having arrived, the QUEEN'S OWN dragoons again took the field, and were encamped at Brackel, and subsequently on the heights of Tissel: they were formed in brigade with the Eleventh dragoons, under Lieut.-Colonel George Lawson Hall, of the SEVENTH. They left their camp before day-break on the morning of the 24th of June, 1762, and having crossed the Dymel, advanced against the French camp at _Groebenstein_. The enemy was surprised, and made a precipitate retreat upon Cassel, with the loss of their tents and baggage; and one division being surrounded in the woods of Wilhelmsthal, surrendered. The SEVENTH pursued the French in the direction of Cassel, and took several prisoners; they subsequently encamped near Holtzhausen.

During the remainder of the campaign, the regiment continued actively employed, and was frequently engaged in detached services; the enemy was forced to abandon several important positions, and Cassel was captured by the allies. Preliminary articles for a treaty of peace having been agreed upon, a suspension of hostilities took place, and the QUEEN'S OWN dragoons, and other British cavalry, went into quarters in the bishopric of Munster.

[Sidenote: 1763]

Peace having been concluded, the thanks of Parliament were communicated to the army, and in February, 1763, the SEVENTH commenced their march from Germany, through Holland, to Williamstadt, where they embarked for England. After landing at Harwich they were stationed at Chelmsford, Springfield, and Colchester. The light troop, which had not been on foreign service with the other troops of the regiment, was disbanded; and the establishment was reduced to six troops of three officers, one quarter-master, two serjeants, two corporals, one drummer, and twenty-eight private men each; eight men per troop were equipped as light dragoons, and the remainder as heavy dragoons.

In May, 1763, Lieut.-General Mostyn was removed to the First dragoon guards; and Major-General Sir George Howard, K.B., was appointed colonel of the SEVENTH dragoons, from the third foot, or buffs.

[Sidenote: 1764]

In January, 1764, a squadron was employed on revenue duty on the Suffolk coast. On the 9th of April following, King George III. reviewed the regiment in Hyde Park, and expressed his high approbation of its appearance and discipline. In the same year, orders were received for the regiment to be mounted on long-tailed horses;--for epaulettes to be worn on the left shoulder instead of aiguillettes, and for the men's boots to be of a lighter description than formerly.

[Sidenote: 1765]

[Sidenote: 1766]

The regiment occupied quarters in Sussex, in 1765, and was removed to Northampton and Leicestershire in 1766; at the same time, the DRUMMERS on the establishment were directed to be replaced by TRUMPETERS.

[Sidenote: 1767]

[Sidenote: 1768]

[Sidenote: 1769]

From Leicestershire, &c., the regiment was removed to York in May, 1767, and to Scotland in the spring of 1768, but returned to England in the early part of 1769, and was quartered in Warwickshire.

[Sidenote: 1770]

[Sidenote: 1771]

[Sidenote: 1772]

[Sidenote: 1773]

In April, 1770, the regiment marched into Dorsetshire and Somersetshire; in June, 1771, it was removed to Canterbury, and employed on coast duty until April, 1772, when it marched into Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. In the spring of 1773 it commenced its march for Scotland, where it was stationed during the succeeding twelve months.

[Sidenote: 1774]

[Sidenote: 1775]

[Sidenote: 1776]

[Sidenote: 1777]

Returning to England in the summer of 1774, the regiment was stationed in Lancashire; in 1775 it was removed into Worcestershire and Staffordshire; in 1776 it was employed on revenue duty on the Sussex coast; and in 1777 it was engaged in similar duties on the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk.

[Sidenote: 1778]

In the summer of 1778 the QUEEN'S OWN dragoons were encamped near Bury St. Edmunds, together with three other regiments of dragoons and two battalions of militia, under the command of Major-General Warde.

[Sidenote: 1779]

Lieut.-General Sir George Howard, C.B., was removed in April, 1779, to the first dragoon guards, and King George III. conferred the command of the QUEEN'S OWN dragoons on Major-general Sir Henry Clinton, K.B.

An augmentation had, in the mean time, been made to the strength of the regiment, in consequence of the American war; and in April, 1779, the men, equipped as light dragoons, were incorporated, with detachments from the second, third, fifteenth, and sixteenth, into a regiment, which was numbered the twenty-first light dragoons.

[Sidenote: 1780]

[Sidenote: 1781]

[Sidenote: 1782]

[Sidenote: 1783]

Soon after this event the SEVENTH dragoons marched to Scotland, where they remained two years, and on their arrival in England, in May, 1781, they were quartered at Durham. In the summer of 1782 they were removed to Salisbury, and in 1783 to Newbury.

The great usefulness of light cavalry had been fully proved during the reign of King George II., and also during the American war; and after the conclusion of a treaty of peace in 1783, the QUEEN'S OWN dragoons underwent a change of clothing and equipment;--the cocked hats were replaced by helmets; boots, saddles, belts, and other articles of equipment, of a light construction, were adopted; carbines of a smaller size than those before used, were received; the standard height for men and horses was reduced; and the regiment was constituted a corps of LIGHT DRAGOONS.

[Sidenote: 1784]

The change of equipment having taken place, the regiment was employed in the travelling escort duty for the royal family; it was quartered at Hounslow, and other villages, on the road from London to Windsor; and during the summer of 1784 it was reviewed, on Hounslow heath, by His Majesty, when its appearance and discipline procured the expression of his royal approbation.

REGULATIONS FOR THE CLOTHING OF THE LIGHT DRAGOONS.--_April, 1784._

The clothing of a private light dragoon to consist of a jacket and shell, under-waistcoat, and leather breeches.

The jacket and shell to be of _blue_ cloth, the collars and cuffs of the royal regiments to be red, and those of the other regiments to be of the colour of the facing of the regiment, looped upon the breast, and edged with white _thread_ cord, and to be lined with white, the Eleventh and Thirteenth regiments excepted, which are to be lined with buff.

The under-waistcoat to be of flannel, with sleeves, and made so as to be buttoned within the waistband of the breeches.

The breeches to be of buckskin.

N.B.--The make of the dress, and method of placing the cord upon the breast of the jacket, to be exactly conformable to the pattern approved of by His Majesty.

OFFICERS AND QUARTER-MASTERS,--The dress uniform of the officers and quarter-masters of the light dragoons to be made according to the King's regulation of the 19th of December, 1768, excepting that the coats are to be blue, and faced with the same colour as the private men, and that the royal regiments are to be faced with scarlet.

FIELD UNIFORM OF THE OFFICERS AND QUARTER-MASTERS,--The jacket and shell to be made up in the same manner as those of the men, excepting that the shell is to have sleeves, and that the looping is to be of silver, the Thirteenth regiment excepted, which is to be of gold.

SERJEANTS,--To be distinguished by gold or silver looping.

CORPORALS,--To be distinguished by a gold or silver cord round the collar and cuff.

TRUMPETERS,--To have a jacket and shell the colour of the facing of the regiment, with lace instead of looping in front and down the seams.

N.B.--A pattern suit of clothing, made up according to these regulations, will be deposited at the Army-Comptroller's Office, Horse Guards.

[Sidenote: 1785]

The SEVENTH Light Dragoons marched, in the summer of 1785, into quarters in Sussex, where the following order, dated Horse Guards, February 6, 1786, was received:--

SIR,--His Majesty has been pleased to order, that the colonels
commanding regiments of Light Dragoons shall, for the future,
supply them with _blue_ cloaks, instead of red, in proportion as
the red ones, now in use, wear out, and that new cloaks shall
become necessary.

I have, &c.,
(Signed) WILLIAM FAWCETT,
_Adjutant-General_.

[Sidenote: 1786]

[Sidenote: 1787]

[Sidenote: 1788]

[Sidenote: 1789]

In May, 1786, the SEVENTH dragoons were removed to Guildford, and in July to Maidstone; in 1787 they marched to Canterbury; and afterwards to Greenwich and adjacent villages, from whence they proceeded to Norwich; they passed the summer of 1788 in Nottinghamshire; in the following winter they proceeded to the vicinity of London, and after occupying cantonments at Staines a few months, resumed their former quarters at Hounslow, &c., in April, 1789, and took part in the escort duty for the royal family.

[Sidenote: 1790]

[Sidenote: 1791]

[Sidenote: 1792]

Having been relieved from escort duty, the regiment marched, in June, 1790, into cantonments in Sussex, the head-quarters being established at Lewes, from whence they were removed, in April, 1791, to Brighton, and in June of the same year to Canterbury. In the summer of 1792 the regiment marched to Nottingham.

[Sidenote: 1793]

A revolution had in the mean time taken place in France, and the tyrannical and barbarous proceedings of the republicans, who had seized on the powers of the government in that kingdom, filled Europe with wonder and with abhorrence of the ruthless perpetrators of the numerous tragedies which took place; their crimes were increased by the execution of their sovereign Louis XVI.; the British ambassador consequently received instructions to quit Paris, and active preparations were made for war. Two troops were added to the QUEEN'S OWN light dragoons, and in the spring of 1793 four troops, under the command of Major Osborne, embarked for the Netherlands, to form part of the army under His Royal Highness the duke of York, designed to co-operate with the allies in repelling the aggressions of the French republic on Holland and the Austrian Netherlands. The depôt troops were stationed at Manchester.

Having joined the forces commanded by the duke of York, the two squadrons of the SEVENTH took part in the operations of the army. After retiring from before Dunkirk, the troops re-assembled at Furnes and Dixmude, and were stationed for some time on the frontier of West Flanders. His royal highness having resolved to make every possible effort for the protection of the Austrian Netherlands, determined to re-capture Menin, and, as a diversion to favour this design, Major-General Abercromby was directed to attack _Lannoy_ with a body of troops, of which a squadron of the SEVENTH formed a part. The attack was made on the 28th of October: the French having been driven from the town by the artillery, the light dragoons galloped forward in pursuit with distinguished gallantry, overtook their opponents, cut down one hundred with their sabres, took fifty-nine prisoners, and captured five pieces of artillery, besides tumbrils and baggage waggons, for which they were honoured with the approbation of Major-General Abercromby and of His Royal Highness the duke of York. The only loss sustained by the SEVENTH, on this occasion, was two men wounded.

The regiment performed much hard service on out-post duty during the following winter.

[Sidenote: 1794]

On the 16th of April, 1794, the regiment advanced to the heights above Cateau, where it was reviewed by the emperor of Germany, and on the succeeding day, supported the attack of the infantry and artillery on _Prémont_, _Vaux_, &c.

When the siege of _Landrécies_ was undertaken, the QUEEN'S OWN formed part of the covering army encamped at _Cateau_. At day-break, on the 26th of April, while a thick fog covered the fields and villages near the British camp, a few pistol-shots in front gave indication that the advance-posts were engaged, and soon afterwards the piquets were seen retiring before crowds of French, whose movements were partly concealed by the fog. The SEVENTH were speedily mounted and formed in front of their camp-ground; the cannonade became louder and louder, and the fog clearing, the duke of York detached the cavalry of the right wing to turn the enemy's left flank, while the SEVENTH and Eleventh light dragoons' and two squadrons of Archduke Ferdinand's hussars, supported by several other corps, moved forward to reconnoitre the French column advancing from Prémont and Marets. Encountering their opponents in the plain of St. Celian, the SEVENTH and Eleventh light dragoons raised a loud shout and dashed furiously against the adverse ranks of war, while the German hussars joined gallantly in the charge, and the enemy was overthrown and pursued with dreadful carnage. The SEVENTH were distinguished for their heroic ardour and contempt of danger, and Lieutenant O'Laughlin eminently signalized himself. Twelve hundred Frenchmen fell in the charge and pursuit, and ten pieces of cannon, with eleven tumbrils filled with ammunition, were captured, exclusive of those taken by the remainder of the army. A writer who was present at this engagement (Robert Brown of the Coldstream guards), states in his Journal, published in 1795, "_the_ SEVENTH _and Eleventh light dragoons performed prodigies of valour on our left_." The Duke of York observed in general orders, after complimenting several other corps, "_Nor is the determined gallantry with which the_ SEVENTH _and Eleventh light dragoons attacked the enemy on the left (notwithstanding their numbers), less worthy of every commendation_." The loss of the regiment on this occasion was one man and seven horses killed, nineteen men and six horses wounded.

After the fall of Landrécies, the regiment proceeded by forced marches to the vicinity of _Tournay_; and on the 10th of May, when the French attacked the British position with thirty thousand men, it had another opportunity of signalizing itself. The enemy having failed in his attempt to turn the British left, directed his efforts against the centre. A favourable opportunity presenting itself, sixteen British and two Austrian squadrons were detached, under Lieut.-General Harcourt, against the enemy's right, and by a determined charge broke the French columns. A second charge proved decisive; the French were defeated, and the British troops were thanked in general orders for their excellent conduct. The SEVENTH had six horses killed; four men and four horses wounded; and two horses missing.

A general attack having been resolved upon, with the view of compelling the French to evacuate Flanders, the QUEEN'S OWN light dragoons were selected to take part in this enterprise, and were attached to one of the columns, under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, which advanced at an early hour on the morning of the 17th of May, to the vicinity of Lannoy, where the troops halted a short period, until a thick fog cleared off, when they resumed their march. Arriving at _Roubaix_, the place was gallantly captured, and the troops reposed a few hours in the town. As the sun was declining in the western horizon, and the shades of evening were gathering over the provinces of Flanders, Lieut.-General Abercromby received orders to attack a village two miles distant, called _Mouvaux_, which was situated on a rising ground, surrounded by palisades and entrenchments, protected by flanking redoubts, and defended by a strong body of republican troops. This enterprise was undertaken with cheerful alacrity; the flank battalion of the foot guards stormed the works, and the SEVENTH light dragoons, led by Lieut.-Colonel William Osborne, (a most gallant officer, who had been twenty years in the regiment[6]), made a detour round the village, followed by the Fifteenth light dragoons, under Lieut.-Colonel Churchill. As the French soldiers began to give way before the furious onset of the foot guards, and issuing from among the houses, attempted to escape by the rear of the village, they were charged by the two cavalry regiments with the most distinguished bravery. The SEVENTH were in front on this occasion; arriving at a _chevaux-de-frise_, a few men of the regiment dismounted, and, though exposed to a sharp fire of musketry, cleared a space for the troops to pass, when the two regiments rushed with terrific violence upon the French infantry, broke their ranks, and cut them down with a dreadful slaughter, capturing three guns. When the two regiments returned from the pursuit, the evening was far advanced, and they passed the night in the village.

The Austrians having failed in several of their points of attack, the enemy was enabled to bring nearly his whole force against the daring Britons who had thus attacked his position; and the morning of the 18th of May was ushered in by a tremendous cannonade. Multitudes of French cavalry, infantry, and artillery, appeared advancing in every direction; and by nine o'clock, Lieut.-General Abercromby found the few men he had with him nearly surrounded by crowds of opponents; at the same time he received orders from the Duke of York to retire to the heights behind Roubaix. He fell back fighting; and as he passed through the town, his rear was pressed by hosts of enemies, who followed, shouting and assailing the British with grape and musketry. From Roubaix the division proceeded towards Lannoy; being beset by superior numbers, the soldiers had to dispute every foot of ground, and to keep up a running fight. The SEVENTH and Fifteenth light dragoons were constantly engaged on the flanks and in the rear. _Lannoy_ being found occupied by the French, the British division took to the fields, passing over hedges and ditches, constantly fighting crowds of opponents, the light cavalry evincing the most noble ardour and intrepidity; and the SEVENTH thus exhibiting, under accumulated disasters and difficulties, the innate bravery of Britons, and the great value of light cavalry. One of the foot guards who was present (Browne), observes in his Journal, "Our British light cavalry which were with us (the Seventh, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth) performed wonders of valour, charging the enemy with unexampled courage whenever they approached; it was no uncommon thing to see _one_ of them attack _three_ of the French dragoons at once, in order to rescue the prisoners they were carrying off. It was owing to their bravery that so few prisoners were taken; they also retook numbers from the enemy. As soon as we reached the village of Templeuve, we halted and formed; and from thence marched to our former position, behind the village of Blandin. Our loss proved to be very inconsiderable to what might have been expected, for it was rather to be wondered at that one of us escaped." The loss of the SEVENTH was, four horses killed; six men and ten horses wounded; and fifteen men and thirty-two horses prisoners of war and missing. The conduct of the British on this trying occasion was highly commended by the Emperor of Germany; and the Duke of York expressed his approbation of the valour and firmness of the corps engaged.

The troops returned to their former position in front of _Tournay_, where the British were attacked on the 22nd of May; they repulsed their opponents, who were forced to retire with the loss of seven pieces of artillery. The loss of the SEVENTH on this occasion was limited to one troop horse.

The immense numbers which the enemy was enabled to bring forward, at length forced the allies to retreat from the Austrian Netherlands to the United Provinces; and during this retrograde movement the SEVENTH were frequently engaged in out-post duty, in covering the retiring army, and in numerous rencounters with detachments of French cavalry.

Tn August the army was encamped near _Breda_, on a large plain bestrewed with the vestiges of war, to give the Dutch an opportunity of putting the fortress in a state of defence. While at this camp, a piquet of the SEVENTH and Sixteenth light dragoons surprised one of the enemy's out-guards. The French dragoons fled at the first onset; and many of them forsook their horses to escape across walls and other fences where mounted troopers could not pursue them; seven men were, however, made prisoners, and forty horses were captured.

One hundred thousand French advanced to attack thirty-five thousand British, and the Duke of York made a further retrograde movement. In October the army defended the passage of the Waal from the island of Bommel until it communicated with the Austrians on the left. The enemy constructed batteries before _Nimeguen_; a sortie was made on the 4th of November, in order to destroy the French works, and the QUEEN'S OWN light dragoons formed part of the force employed on this service. The infantry led on by Major-General De Burgh (afterwards Earl of Clanricarde), stormed the enemy's entrenchments in gallant style, when a dreadful carnage ensued, the French fighting with resolution, but the British proved irresistible with the bayonet: as the enemy fled from their works, the SEVENTH and other cavalry charged them in the rear and cut them down with great slaughter. "Here" (Captain Jones states in the Historical Journal) "the British performed prodigies of valour": a thousand opponents lay weltering on the plain and among the works; the troops were thanked in general orders for their services on this occasion.

[Sidenote: 1795]

At length a severe frost enabled the enemy to advance in the beginning of 1795, across the rivers on the ice, and the British, being no longer capable of resisting the very superior numbers of their opponents, retired through Holland to Germany. During this retreat the troops endured very great hardship and privation from severe weather, and from the hostile spirit manifested by the Dutch, who had imbibed principles favourable to the French interest. The SEVENTH light dragoons were employed in covering the retrograde movements, and had occasional skirmishes with the enemy's leading corps. After their arrival in Germany, they occupied quarters of refreshment for several weeks; during the summer they were encamped on one of the plains of Westphalia; and in November returned to England.

On the decease of General Sir Henry Clinton, K.B., his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Major-General David Dundas, by commission dated the 26th of December, 1795.

[Sidenote: 1796]

[Sidenote: 1797]

[Sidenote: 1798]

[Sidenote: 1799]

The QUEEN'S OWN light dragoons occupied various quarters in England until the summer of 1799, when they were encamped near Windsor, and were reviewed by the King, who was pleased to express, in very gracious terms, his royal approbation of their appearance and field movements. In the mean time the British government had resolved to make, in connection with the Russians, an attempt to deliver Holland from the power of the French republic; and the SEVENTH embarked for this service at Ramsgate, in the beginning of September, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel HENRY LORD PAGET, who was appointed to the command of the cavalry employed in this expedition, consisting of the SEVENTH, Eleventh, Fifteenth, and part of the Eighteenth light dragoons; the whole being under the orders of His Royal Highness the Duke of York.

On the advance of the army on the 19th of September, the SEVENTH were attached to the column under Lieut.-General de Hermann, which attacked the enemy at half-past three in the morning, and by eight gained possession of _Bergen_, a large village surrounded by extensive woods; but the Russians, overlooking the formidable resistance they were to meet with, had not preserved the necessary order, and they were driven back with the loss of many men, and Lieut.-Generals de Hermann and Tchertchekoff taken prisoners.

In the attack of the enemy's position on the 2nd of October, the SEVENTH formed part of the cavalry attached to the column commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Ralph Abercromby, which advanced along the beach to within a mile of _Egmont-op-Zee_, where a corps of French infantry was posted among the sand-hills, with a numerous body of cavalry and artillery on the beach. A sanguinary contest ensued, in which the heroic perseverance of the British was conspicuous. Late in the evening the enemy's cavalry made an attempt on the British horse artillery on the beach: but were charged with signal intrepidity by the light dragoons under Colonel LORD PAGET, and driven with considerable loss nearly to the town. The British established themselves among the sand-hills, where they passed the night, and on the following day gained possession of Egmont-op-Zee[7]. The SEVENTH had two men and four horses killed on this occasion, and eleven men and twenty-five horses wounded.

Part of the regiment was engaged on the 6th of October, in driving the enemy from his position between _Beverwyck_ and _Wyck-op-Zee_, which proved a sanguinary service; but the SEVENTH did not sustain any loss.

These gallant efforts were not seconded by the Dutch, and severe weather, with other causes, having rendered a retreat necessary, the SEVENTH under LORD PAGET, covered the movement. Some skirmishing took place, and several pieces of cannon fell into the hands of the enemy, when his lordship led one squadron on to the charge with signal gallantry, and breaking in upon and repulsing a force six times more numerous than his own, retook the cannon and with them several pieces belonging to the enemy.

Circumstances having occurred to induce the Duke of York to vacate Holland, the regiment returned to England in December, and was stationed at Canterbury.

[Sidenote: 1800]

[Sidenote: 1801]

In the year 1800 the QUEEN'S OWN light dragoons were stationed at Windsor and Hounslow, to perform the escort duty for the royal family; in 1801 they were quartered at Reading, with detached troops in Sussex, from whence they were removed to Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

Lieut.-General Sir David Dundas was removed to the Scots Greys in May, 1801, and the lieut.-colonel of the SEVENTH, Colonel HENRY W. LORD PAGET (now MARQUIS OF ANGLESEY), was advanced by King George III. to the colonelcy of the regiment, as a special mark of royal favour and approbation for his personal merit, and for the excellent state of discipline and efficiency manifested on all occasions by the corps under his orders.

[Sidenote: 1802]

[Sidenote: 1803]

Peace having been concluded with the French republic, in 1802, the establishment of the regiment was reduced; but in 1803, the treacherous conduct of Napoleon Bonaparte gave rise to another war, and the establishment was again augmented. When Bonaparte made his ostentatious, but vain, preparations for the invasion of Great Britain, the SEVENTH were stationed at Ipswich and Norwich, and were held in readiness to repel the invaders, should they venture to approach the shores of Britain.

[Sidenote: 1804]

In 1804 the establishment was augmented to ten troops.

[Sidenote: 1805]

[Sidenote: 1807]

In 1805 directions were received for the light dragoon appointments and clothing to be changed for those of HUSSARS; the alteration took place on the 25th of December, 1807; and the regiment subsequently obtained the designation of "SEVENTH, OR QUEEN'S OWN, REGIMENT OF HUSSARS."

[Sidenote: 1808]

After passing six years at Ipswich and Norwich, the SEVENTH HUSSARS proceeded to Guildford in July, 1808; and when on their march they were reviewed by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, on Hounslow-heath. Important events had, in the mean time, transpired on the continent and in the peninsula, and Portugal and Spain had become subject to the tyrannical sway of Bonaparte, who had nearly attained the zenith of his power. Portugal was delivered during the summer of 1808, by British skill and valour; and a powerful effort in aid of the Spaniards, who were endeavouring to free themselves of the French yoke, having been resolved upon by the British government, the SEVENTH HUSSARS were selected to take part in this enterprise.

Eight troops, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Vivian, and consisting of two lieut.-colonels (Vivian and Kerrison), two majors (Hon. Berkeley Paget and Hon. G. H. C. Cavendish), eight captains, six lieutenants, four cornets, four staff-officers, six quarter-masters, 717 non-commissioned officers, trumpeters, and privates, and 677 troop-horses, embarked at Portsmouth in October; on arriving at Corunna, in November, the horses were slung overboard, and they swam to the shore. The regiment marched by squadrons to Astorga, from whence it proceeded, with the Tenth and Fifteenth hussars, towards Salamanca, to join the troops advancing from Portugal under Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, K.B. The British commander had been promised that his advance should be covered by a powerful and victorious Spanish army, and that numerous and enthusiastic legions of patriots were ready to co-operate with him; but not a Spanish soldier was in his front;--the enemy was at hand;--those armies with which he had been ordered to co-operate had been routed and dispersed, and Bonaparte was approaching the capital of Spain in triumph. Twenty-three thousand Britons were not able to cope with three hundred thousand French; but Sir John Moore resolved to push boldly forward, and menace the French lines, that he might thus draw Bonaparte with a powerful army from the capital, which would give time for the southern provinces of Spain to organize their means of resistance, and for the discomfited Spanish armies to re-assemble. The boldness and ability with which this resolution was executed, surprised Napoleon, and deserve the commendation of posterity. The SEVENTH HUSSARS were employed in this enterprise, and a piquet of the regiment was engaged on the 21st of December, with the Tenth and Fifteenth hussars, commanded by Lieut.-General LORD PAGET, in driving a body of French dragoons from _Sahagun_, when about twenty of the enemy were killed, and thirteen officers and one hundred and fifty-four men taken prisoners, in a sharp sword-fight which lasted about twenty minutes.

The approach of Bonaparte with an immense army rendered it necessary for the British to withdraw, and the heavy baggage, with several brigades of infantry, commenced retiring; at the same time the cavalry patroles advanced up to the French lines and skirmished, to conceal the retrograde movement. On the morning of the 25th of December a squadron of the SEVENTH HUSSARS, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Kerrison, advanced towards _Carrion_, and encountering a French detachment of about equal numbers, made them all prisoners except the officer, who wounded Lieut.-Colonel Kerrison in the arm, and escaped.

The regiment commenced its retreat a few hours after this affair; and the army rested two days at _Benevente_, a rich open town situate in a plain extending from the Gallician mountains to the neighbourhood of Burgos. The infantry afterwards continued the retreat, while the cavalry remained in the town, and had parties watching the fords of the little river Esla. Soon after day-break on the 29th of December, six hundred cavalry of the French imperial guard crossed the stream and advanced into the plain; the British detachments retired fighting, and a piquet of the SEVENTH HUSSARS, under Lieutenant Lowther, was sharply engaged. Being joined by part of the Third German hussars, the piquets charged the French leading squadrons with signal gallantry, the ground was obstinately disputed, and a particularly animating scene presented itself. Baggage mules and followers of the army were scattered over the plain, the town was filled with tumult, the distant piquets and videts were galloping in from right and left; the French were pressing forward, and every appearance indicated that the enemy's whole army was come up and passing the river. Suddenly LORD PAGET led the Tenth hussars at speed into the plain; the piquets that were engaged united, and the whole charged. In an instant the scene changed, the French were seen galloping back, with the British at their heels; they plunged into the stream without breaking their ranks, and having gained the opposite heights, they wheeled round and appeared inclined to come forward a second time; but the British horse artillery opening upon them, they retired. Fifty-five killed and wounded Frenchmen lay on the plain, their general, Lefebre Desnouettes, and several other officers, were taken prisoners, and many of those who escaped across the river, were wounded. The piquet of the SEVENTH HUSSARS suffered severely, nearly every man being either killed or wounded.

[Sidenote: 1809]

[Sidenote: 1810]

The enemy planted heavy cannon on the bank of the river, and made a show of re-crossing; but LORD PAGET guarded the fords all the day, and at night withdrew with the cavalry. The SEVENTH were constantly in the rear of the army, with the other hussar regiments, during the remainder of the retreat; they, however, suffered little from the swords of the enemy; but the effects of frost, snow, and of a deficiency in the supplies of provision and forage, were severely felt. The want of horse-shoes was a serious evil, which was owing to the impracticability of the forge carts accompanying the regiment. When the army withdrew from the position at Lugo, during the night of the 8th of January, 1809, the SEVENTH HUSSARS were left behind to keep up the bivouac fires, and to cover the retreat, and they were in the rear of the army until it arrived within three leagues of Corunna.

On arriving at Corunna, the regiment mounted two hundred and fifty horses only, out of six hundred and eighty which had marched from that port about two months before, and many of those which remained, were destroyed for the want of transport, which could be obtained only for the officers' horses and for about ninety troop-horses.

The French were defeated in a general action fought on the 16th of January, when SIR JOHN MOORE fell mortally wounded. The army afterwards embarked and returned to England. Thus the British had intercepted the blow which was descending to crush Spain; time had been given to enable the patriots to re-organize their armies; and Bonaparte being recalled to France, by the news that Austria and Russia were arming to oppose him, the war was protracted in Spain. On the passage to England the Despatch transport, having on board Major the Hon. G. C. Cavendish, Captain G. Dukinfield, and Lieutenant the Hon. Edward Waldegrave, with one hundred and thirteen men, and forty-four horses, was wrecked near the Lizard, on the coast of Cornwall, and only seven men escaped.

After its arrival from Spain, the regiment was quartered at Guildford, from whence it proceeded to Weymouth; in May, 1810, it embarked at Liverpool for Ireland, and was stationed at Dublin, with detached troops at Athy and Carlow.

[Sidenote: 1811]

[Sidenote: 1812]

[Sidenote: 1813]

In 1811 the head-quarters were removed to Dundalk, where they remained during the year 1812; and in 1813 the regiment embarked at Dublin for England.

Having landed at Liverpool, the regiment proceeded to London; it was stationed at Hyde Park barracks, Hampton Court, and Hounslow, and performed the king's duty during the absence of the household cavalry on foreign service.

The glorious victories gained by the allied army under Field Marshal the Marquis of Wellington had, in the mean time, accomplished the deliverance of Portugal, and of nearly all Spain, from the despotic sway of Bonaparte, and the SEVENTH HUSSARS were selected to take part in completing the overthrow of the tyrannical power of Napoleon. Eight troops, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel R. Hussey Vivian, embarked at Portsmouth on the 15th of August, and landed at Bilboa, the capital of Biscay, in Spain, on the 1st of September; and two additional troops joined from England in October. The regiment was formed in brigade with the Tenth and Fifteenth hussars, commanded by Major-General Lord Edward Somerset.

After the surrender of the castle of St. Sebastian the regiment advanced, and having joined the army, supported the infantry at the passage of the _Bidassoa_, and advanced as far as Vera on the borders of France. The SEVENTH HUSSARS subsequently retired through the Pyrenean mountains to the vicinity of Pampeluna, which fortress surrendered on the 31st of October.

Colonel Richard Hussey Vivian having been appointed to the command of a brigade of cavalry, the command of the regiment devolved on Lieut.-Colonel Edward Kerrison.

[Sidenote: 1814]

After occupying village cantonments near Pampeluna for several weeks, the SEVENTH HUSSARS marched through the Pyrenees and joined the army in France. On the 18th of December they took the out-post duty at Cambo, a town eight miles from Bayonne, where the French army, under Marshal Soult, lay in a fortified camp. On the 31st of December, the regiment took the out-post duty on the road leading to St. Jean Pied de Port, where a French division was stationed. The weather becoming very severe, the regiment went into cantonments in the beginning of 1814, near Hasparan, in Gascony, thirteen miles from Bayonne: in these quarters forage was particularly scarce, and the horses suffered in condition from being fed on chopped gorse and about three pounds of oats a day. The foraging parties sent towards the French lines, had frequent skirmishes, and on one of these occasions, Captain Peter Augustus Heyliger was wounded.

The weather having become more clear, the army advanced in the middle of February, and on the 24th the hussar brigade proceeded to the bank of the Gave d'Oléron, in the expectation of being engaged. Captain Fraser and twelve men of the SEVENTH passed the river under a heavy fire, and were followed by Captain Verner's squadron, for the purpose of supporting a body of infantry which had crossed the stream and were seriously engaged; but the enemy being in force, and the ground such that cavalry could not act, the squadron was re-called. The enemy abandoning his position, the regiment crossed the river in pursuit, and halted at the village of Boren.

Marshal Soult concentrated his forces behind the Pau at _Orthes_; the allies advanced to attack him; and the SEVENTH HUSSARS, having crossed the river, were engaged in driving the enemy from his position on the 27th of February. About 10 o'clock the regiment was ordered to cover the sixth division and the guns; and when the French gave way, it dashed forward in pursuit, and by a brilliant charge it overthrew a body of opponents, and took sixty prisoners: this occurred about 3 o'clock. Shortly afterwards the regiment was again ordered to charge, and being led forward by Colonel Kerrison with signal gallantry, it was once more successful, and sixteen officers, with about seven hundred men, were made prisoners. The Marquis of Wellington observed in his public despatch: "Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton took advantage of the only opportunity which occurred, to charge with Major-General Lord Edward Somerset's brigade in the neighbourhood of _Sault de Navailles_, where the enemy had been driven from the high road by Lieutenant-General Sir Rowland Hill. _The_ SEVENTH HUSSARS _distinguished themselves upon this occasion, and made many prisoners_."

The regiment had four men and five horses killed; Major William Thornhill, Captain P. A. Heyliger, Lieutenant Robert Douglas, nine men, and eleven horses wounded.

After the battle of Orthes the SEVENTH HUSSARS were employed a short time at Villeneuve de Marsan, in the department of the Landes; also at Roquefort and Captieux, in protecting the rear of the army from the depredations of parties of brigands. From these quarters the regiment advanced, and rejoining the army near _Toulouse_, supported the infantry in the action at that place on the 10th of April.

When the French withdrew from Toulouse, the regiment moved forward and was employed in the out-post duty.

At length hostilities were terminated by the abdication of Bonaparte and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty. Thus a war of unprincipled aggression, begun in acts of fraud and perfidy, and carried on with treachery, cruelty, and rapine, ended with the downfall of its author, and the humiliation and dispersion of his boasted invincible legions.

After the termination of hostilities, the regiment reposed a month in village cantonments; and on the 1st of June commenced its march for Boulogne, where it embarked for England, and, after landing, it marched to Romford, and in September to Brighton. Its services were subsequently rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "PENINSULA" upon its appointments.

[Sidenote: 1815]

Riots having occurred in London towards the end of February and in the beginning of March, 1815, in consequence of the introduction into Parliament of a bill to regulate the importation of grain, the SEVENTH HUSSARS were suddenly ordered to proceed thither from Brighton.

The return of Bonaparte to France, the sudden defection of the forces of Louis XVIII., and the elevation of the usurper to the throne, filled Europe with astonishment. War was resolved upon, and on the 25th of March three squadrons of the QUEEN'S OWN HUSSARS, commanded by Col. Sir Edward Kerrison, marched from London for foreign service; they embarked at Dover, landed at Ostend, and, after marching a few stages up the country, went into cantonments, and were formed in brigade with the Fifteenth hussars, and Second hussars of the King's German legion, under the orders of Major-General Sir Colquhoun Grant, K.C.B. On the 29th of May they were reviewed, with other brigades of the cavalry, by Field-Marshal his Grace the Duke of Wellington, accompanied by Marshal Von Blucher, the commander of the Prussian army.

Bonaparte, endeavouring, by one of those rapid movements for which he had been so famous, to interpose between the British and Prussian armies, and beat them in detail, suddenly attacked and drove in the out-posts, and early on the morning of the 16th of June the SEVENTH HUSSARS advanced to support the troops engaged at _Quatre Bras_. After a march of many miles, they arrived at the scene of conflict; the French were repulsed, and the troops bivouacked in the fields.

The Prussians having been defeated and forced to retreat, the Duke of Wellington made a corresponding movement on the 17th of June, to preserve his communication with them, and the SEVENTH HUSSARS were engaged, with other corps, in covering this retrograde movement. On passing through the village of _Genappe_, the French lancers began to press upon the rear of the retiring army, and the SEVENTH were directed by their colonel, Lieutenant-General the Earl of Uxbridge, to charge. This order was executed with signal bravery; but the lancers, being sustained by a great mass of cavalry, and having their flanks secure, presented an almost impenetrable row of pikes, through which the hussars were unable to break. The regiment rallied and charged a second time; but the lancers, being well supported and advantageously posted, were enabled to maintain their ground. Some impression had, however, been made, and two squadrons of the first regiment of life guards coming up at speed, the weight and power of their charge broke the lancers, who were pursued through the village with great slaughter. The retreat was afterwards continued with skirmishing and cannonading to the position in front of the village of _Waterloo_, where the army passed the night exposed to a heavy rain.

On the following day the hard contested and sanguinary battle of _Waterloo_ was fought,--a battle memorable in the annals of Europe,--where the fate of empires was decided by the sword, and the British troops acquired immortal honour! During the early part of the action the SEVENTH HUSSARS supported the infantry, and towards the evening they were ordered forward. Moving from Hugomont, they acted nearly on the reverse of the enemy, and by a series of brilliant charges, most nobly executed, contributed to the final overthrow of the French army. On this occasion the officers and men proved their resolution to support the high character which the regiment had so long borne; and their conduct was publicly noticed and attested in the strongest and most unequivocal terms by the commander of the cavalry, Lieutenant-General the Earl of Uxbridge, who, after having gone through this arduous day, received a wound at the close of the action by which he lost his right leg.

The loss of the regiment on the 17th and 18th of June was, one serjeant, fifty-five rank and file, and eighty-four horses killed; Captains J. W. Robins, W. Vernor, and P. A. Heyliger; Lieutenants R. Douglas, E. Peters, and R. Beattie; with nine serjeants, one trumpeter, eighty-three rank and file, and one hundred and sixteen horses wounded.

The gallant conduct of the regiment on this occasion, was subsequently rewarded with the honour of bearing the word "WATERLOO" on its appointments; the officers and men received each a silver medal; and the privilege of reckoning two years' service for that day, was conferred on the subaltern officers, and also on the non-commissioned officers and private men.

On the 19th of June, the regiment advanced in pursuit of the French, who fled in dismay towards Paris; on the evening of the 24th, it was at the capture of _Cambray_ by escalade, by Lieut.-General Sir Charles Colville's division. On arriving at the vicinity of Paris, the war was terminated, by the surrender of the capital, and the restoration of Louis XVIII. to the throne of his ancestors.

After occupying village cantonments near Paris for several months, and taking part in several grand reviews, at which the Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the Kings of Prussia and France, were present, the SEVENTH HUSSARS were selected to form part of the army of occupation in France, and they proceeded to Estaples and neighbouring villages.

[Sidenote: 1816]

In the summer of 1816, the SEVENTH marched to quarters between St. Omer and Dunkirk, for the purpose of field exercise and review, and were joined by a squadron from England. On the 22nd of October, the Duke of Wellington reviewed the army on the plains of St. Denain, and witnessed the troops go through the formula of a mock engagement. The SEVENTH afterwards returned to their former quarters.

[Sidenote: 1817]

In February, 1817, the regiment was again quartered near St. Omer, for the convenience of field exercise; it was subsequently stationed between Cambray and Valenciennes, and was again reviewed in October, by the Duke of Wellington, together with the remainder of British troops, and the Saxons, Danes, and Hanoverians. The regiment was afterwards stationed at Cassel and adjacent villages.

[Sidenote: 1818]

Several changes of quarters took place in 1818; and the regiment was at the grand military spectacles, when the army was seen by their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Kent and Cumberland, and when the Russians, British, Saxons, Danes, and Hanoverians were reviewed, by the Emperor of Russia, King of Prussia, Prince of Orange, Grand Dukes Constantine and Michael, &c., &c. After these reviews, the army of occupation quitted France: the SEVENTH HUSSARS embarked at Calais, landed at Dover and Ramsgate, and marched to Chertsey, &c.

On the night of the 1st of December the regiment attended the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Charlotte.

[Sidenote: 1819]

[Sidenote: 1820]

In 1819, the regiment marched to Scotland; in August, 1820, it embarked at Port Patrick for Ireland; and the head-quarters were stationed twelve months at Dundalk.

[Sidenote: 1821]

In August, 1821, the regiment marched to Dublin, on the occasion of the visit of His Majesty King George IV. to the capital of Ireland. On the 18th of August, the king reviewed the SEVENTH HUSSARS, with the other troops in garrison at Dublin, on which occasion the regiment was commanded by its colonel, the Marquis of Anglesey. In September the establishment was reduced from eight to six troops.

[Sidenote: 1822]

[Sidenote: 1823]

Leaving Dublin in December, 1822, the regiment proceeded to Newbridge; in June, 1823, it embarked at Waterford, and landing at Bristol, proceeded to Richmond and other villages in the neighbourhood of Hounslow.