Chapter I: Preface

Four cavalry regiments in the British Army have borne the number Nineteen.

The first was raised in Ireland, in 1759, during the Seven Years’ War, and was known as Drogheda’s Horse. In 1763, its number was changed to Eighteen, which number it bore till it was disbanded in 1821. The history of its achievements has been written by Captain H. Malet.

The second regiment that bore the number was raised at a critical period in our history, in 1779. It had but a brief and uneventful existence, and was disbanded in 1783.

The third regiment was raised as the Twenty-Third Light Dragoons in 1781, for service in India, where it was immediately sent; the first British cavalry regiment that went to India. On the disbandment of the second regiment, in 1783, the Twenty-third was re-numbered the Nineteenth, and, for fourteen years, it continued to be the only British cavalry regiment in India. During the twenty-four years of its sojourn in the East it bore a conspicuous share in every important military undertaking of the time, with the exception of the campaign against Holkar when it was too far distant from the scene of action to take part. Those twenty-four years, from Warren Hastings to Wellesley, mark the turning point of our power in India. When the Nineteenth landed at Madras our very existence in Southern India hung in the balance. The gallantry of our army was paralysed by the feebleness of the administration that directed their efforts. When the regiment re-embarked for England, the supremacy of our military power had been fully established. Under their distinguished leader, John Floyd, the Nineteenth played no small part in the campaigns of 1790, ’91, and ’92, against Tippoo, attracting to themselves an amount of interest in Southern India that no other regiment did. They assisted at the capture of Pondicherry, and the crowning victory of Seringapatam. It was their good fortune to serve under the Duke of Wellington in the first independent commands he held in the field. They took part in the destruction of the noted freebooter Dhoondia Wao; a short but stirring campaign that deserves more notice than it generally receives. At Assaye, the charge of the Nineteenth and the native cavalry brigaded with them restored the fortunes of the fight at a critical moment. They played their part at Argaum, and, a few months before sailing from India, were actors with Gillespie in his remarkable feat at Vellore. Soon after the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain, in 1812, they were sent to Canada. The conditions of that war afforded little scope for cavalry action, so that the share of the Nineteenth in the various operations was a subordinate one. The campaigns on the Canadian frontier have been so completely eclipsed by our struggles against Napoleon in Europe, that the arduous nature of the lake and forest warfare carried on by a mere handful of British troops and Canadian militia is hardly known. A squadron of the Nineteenth, under an officer whose whole career was identified with the regiment, formed for eighteen months part of the small band that upheld the honour of the British arms under Sir Gordon Drummond, at Lundy’s Lane and other actions on the Niagara frontier. In the course of the wholesale reductions that took place after Waterloo this fine regiment ceased to exist, and its place in the Army List knew it no more.

The fourth regiment, the one that now bears the title of the Nineteenth Princess of Wales’ Own Hussars, was originally raised by the East India Company on the outbreak of the Mutiny of the Bengal Army, and received its present number on the transfer of its services to the Crown. In 1882, they formed part of the expedition to Egypt under Lord Wolseley, to put down the rebellion of Arabi Pasha. In 1884, they formed part of the expedition to Suakin under Sir Gerald Graham, and fought at El-Teb and Tamai, suffering severe losses in the first of the two actions. In 1885, they were selected by Lord Wolseley to form part of the expedition to Khartoum; the only horsemen that accompanied the force. The Head Quarters of the regiment formed part of the Desert Column, under Sir Herbert Stewart, and fought at Abu Klea and Abu Krou, while a squadron of the regiment accompanied the River Column, under General Earle, and were present at the action at Kirbekan. A third portion of the regiment was at the same time employed at Suakin, where it experienced serious losses. For its services in 1885 the regiment was granted the distinctive title it now bears; a proof that it is no unworthy successor of the regiment that helped to strengthen the foundations of our power in India, under Cornwallis, Harris and Wellington, and whose honourable badges it wears, in addition to those it has won for itself.

The history of a regiment of the British Army is part of the history of the Empire at some of its most momentous epochs. To understand it properly, requires a setting of general history that cannot be dispensed with. In compiling these annals I have chiefly aimed at providing a work that shall be of interest and use to those who have served, or, in the future may serve, in the regiment. At the same time there is much which will, I believe, be of interest to the student of Indian Military History, and will not be unacceptable to the general reader.

The bones of British soldiers lie scattered far and wide. In every portion of the globe, their unmarked graves are strewed on mountain and plain, by stream and forest, by swamp and desert; silent witnesses of their devotion to their Sovereign and country. But they have not died in vain, if the remembrance of their achievements survives, to swell the hearts and nerve the arms of their successors, and to remind their countrymen what they owe to their sufferings and their valour.

In compiling these Annals I have received assistance from many unexpected sources. To Mr W. C. L. Floyd I am indebted for much assistance from the papers of his grandfather, under whom the 19th Light Dragoons won their spurs in the Mysore campaigns; to Major General Gillespie, who has kindly placed at my disposal the only authentic portrait of his celebrated grandfather; and to Lieut. General Sir Francis Norman, who collected notes of the career of the old 19th Light Dragoons, many years ago. My thanks are also due to Mr James Wilson and Major Ernest Cruikshank of the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, who have done so much to rescue from oblivion the details of the war on the Niagara frontier, and to Mr Douglas Brymner, the Dominion Government Archivist at Ottawa. I am also indebted to Mr S. M. Milne for the kindly interest he has taken in my work; to Lt. Colonel Frank Barrow who placed at my disposal the letters written by his distinguished brother during the Soudan campaigns of 1884 and 1885, to Colonel K. J. W. Coghill, C.B., who commanded the regiment at Tel-el-Kebir, and to Colonel J. C. Hanford, C.B. (formerly Hanford-Flood) who commanded the squadron with the River Column, without whose encouragement and aid this work would not have been undertaken. I refrain from adding more names, but the list of those to whom my thanks are due is not exhausted.

CONTENTS

PART I

THE NINETEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS

DROGHEDA’S HORSE--1759-1763

PAGE

State of affairs in Europe in 1756--Declaration of War against
France--Increase of the Army--Early Years of the War--Invasion
expected--Orders for raising the 19th Light Dragoons--Death of
George II.--End of the Seven Years’ War--Reduction of Military
Establishments--19th Light Dragoons become the 18th--Uniform of
the Regiment 1

PART II

THE NINETEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS

1779-1783

War in America--Declaration of War by France--Increase
of the Army--Orders for raising the 19th Light
Dragoons--Uniform--Peace proclaimed--Reduction of Military
Establishments--Regiment disbanded 10

PART III

THE TWENTY-THIRD, AFTERWARDS THE NINETEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS

(1781-1822)

CHAPTER I.--1781-1782

THE TWENTY-THIRD LIGHT DRAGOONS.

Alarming state of Public Affairs--Want of Cavalry in
India--Orders for raising the 23rd Light Dragoons--Colonel
Sir John Burgoyne--Regiment embark for India--Arrive
in Madras--Desperate State of Affairs--Madras
Misgovernment--Horses for the Regiment 19

CHAPTER II

TROUBLES AT MADRAS--1783-1785

Sultan Tippoo Sahib of Mysore--Operations in Southern
India--Death of Sir Eyre Coote--Attack on Cuddalore--Peace
with France--Tippoo makes Peace--Strained relations between
civil and military in India--The E.I. Company’s military
establishment--The King’s troops in India--Misconduct of
Madras Government--Quarrel between Council and General
Stuart--Complaints of Council against Burgoyne--Arrest of
Stuart--Council appoint Lang to supersede Bourgoyne--Burgoyne
refuses to give over command of the King’s troops--Strange
delusions of the Council--Imminent Conflict between King’s
and Company’s troops--Unworkable arrangement--Fresh
quarrel--Burgoyne arrested--Mutiny of native cavalry--Court
Martial on Burgoyne--His acquittal--His death--End of the
quarrel--Burgoyne justified 35

CHAPTER III

CHANGE OF NUMBER--1786-1789

Regiment moved to Shevtamodoo--John Floyd--Number of regiment
changed to 19th--Uniform--Sir William Howe appointed
Colonel--Foundation of Indian native cavalry system laid by
Floyd and the 19th Light Dragoons 58

CHAPTER IV

WAR WITH TIPPOO--1790

War with Tippoo--19th take the field--Advance on
Coimbatore--Division under Floyd detached towards Guzzulhutti
Pass--Frequent skirmishes--Satyamunglum--Dispersion
of the Army--Advance of Tippoo--19th hotly
engaged--Tippoo’s Body-Guard destroyed--Retreat from
Satyamunglum--Casualties--March in pursuit of Tippoo--Private
Parkes--The Tapoor Pass--Tippoo eludes pursuit, and ravages the
Carnatic--Army returns to Madras 66

CHAPTER V

CORNWALLIS’ CAMPAIGNS--1791-1792

Cornwallis takes command of the Army--Advance on
Bangalore--Order of March--Floyd’s reconnoissance--Imprudent
advance--Floyd badly wounded--Casualties--Capture of
Bangalore--Advance on Seringapatam--Battle of Arikera--Army
in great straits--Forced to retreat--Junction of Mahratta
contingent--19th sent to Madras--Rejoin Cornwallis--Advance
on Seringapatam--Night attack--Floyd detached to meet
Abercromby--Seringapatam invested--Peace made--Tippoo’s
hostages--19th return to Shevtamodoo 81

CHAPTER VI

FALL OF MYSORE--1793-1799

France declares War--Expedition against Pondicherry--Surrender
of Pondicherry--Peace reigns in India--Lunkia Naik--Floyd’s
large allowances--French adventurers in India--Tippoo’s
growing hostility--Disarmament of Nizam’s force under
French officers--Army formed under General Harris--Tippoo’s
intrigues--Galloper Guns--Advance on Mysore--Battle of
Mallavelly--Seringapatam invested--The Bombay Army--The Rajah
of Coorg--Signal guns--Seringapatam taken--Tardy recognition in
England of services performed in India--Badge of “Seringapatam” 99

CHAPTER VII

DHOONDIA WAO--1800-1802

Floyd leaves 19th--Dhoondia Wao--Force formed under Colonel
Wellesley to capture him--Advance on Ranee Bednore--Capture
of Koondgul, Dummul, Gudduck--Division of Dhoondia’s force
destroyed at Manoli--Dhoondia doubles back--Again hemmed
in--Dhoondia crosses Malpurba river--Pursuit drawing to a
close--Dhoondia caught at Conaghul--Dhoondia killed, and
his force destroyed--19th return to Mysore--The Rajah of
Bullum--Regiment ordered to Arcot 114

CHAPTER VIII

INDIA IN 1803

State of affairs in India in 1803--The Mahratta
Confederacy--The Peishwa--Scindia--European Adventurers in
India--Scindia’s disciplined forces--Perron--Quarrels among
the Mahratta Chiefs--Peishwa takes refuge in Bombay--Places
himself under protection of the British--Scindia’s hostility
aroused--Mahratta combination against the British--Peishwa
restored to Poona--Preparations for hostilities--Summary of
campaign that followed 125

CHAPTER IX

ASSAYE AND ARGAUM--1803-1804

Capture of Ahmednuggur--Battle of Assaye--Death of Lieut.
Colonel Maxwell--Honorary Colour granted to 19th--Battle of
Argaum--Capture of Gawilghur--Berar Rajah makes peace--Scindia
makes peace--March against banditti--Their dispersal--Grant of
badges for Assaye 136

CHAPTER X

THE VELLORE MUTINY--1805-1807

Lieut. Colonel Gillespie--19th at Arcot--Mutiny of Vellore--A
military wonder--19th ordered to England--A quarter of a
century’s changes--The “Terrors of the East”--Farewell
orders--19th land in England 157

CHAPTER XI

WAR WITH UNITED STATES--1808-1813

19th in Ireland--United States declare War--19th
ordered to Canada--United States’ plans--Operations of
1812--Mackinaw--Detroit--Armistice--Battle of Queenston
Heights--General Brock killed--Montreal threatened--Operations
of 1813--Proctor’s victory at Frenchtown--Fort Meigs--United
States’ victory on Lake Erie--Battle of the Thames; Proctor’s
defeat--York captured--Fort George and Erie evacuated--Stoney
Creek: Harvey’s brilliant exploit--Fitzgibbon’s success
at Beaver Dam--Arrival of squadron of 19th on Niagara
frontier--Engagement on Lake Ontario--Fort George
re-occupied--Fort Niagara surprised--Black Rock and Buffalo
captured--Abortive attack on Sackett’s Harbour--United States’
operations against Montreal--Battle of Chateaugay--Battle of
Chrystler’s Farm--Importance of Kingston and Sackett’s Harbour 172

CHAPTER XII

THE NIAGARA FRONTIER--1814-1821

United States’ plans--Attempt on Mackinaw--La
Colle--State of affairs on Niagara frontier--Drummond’s
raid on Oswego-Dover--Advance of U.S. force--Capture
of Fort Erie--Battle of Chippewa--Critical position of
British force--Battle of Lundy’s Lane--Retreat of U.S.
forces--Fort Erie invested--Assault on Fort Erie--Sergeant
Powell--Conclusion of operations on Niagara frontier--Prevost’s
abortive attack on Plattsburgh--Defeat of British squadron
on Lake Champlain--Other operations--Bladensberg--Capture
of Washington--General Ross killed--Victory at
Baltimore--Expedition against New Orleans--Its defeat--Fort
Bowyer captured--Treaty of Ghent--Sir William Payne--Sir
John Vandeleur--Badge “Niagara” granted--Regiment returns to
England--Equipped as Lancers--Embark for Ireland--Disbanded 193

PART IV

THE NINETEENTH “PRINCESS OF WALES’ OWN” HUSSARS

1858-1899

CHAPTER I

RAISING OF THE REGIMENT--1858-1882

The East India Company raises European Cavalry regiments--Their
formation--The Bengal 1st European Light Cavalry--Services
transferred to the Crown--The “White Mutiny”--Made 19th Light
Dragoons, afterwards Hussars--General Pattle--Regiment at
Meerut--General Hall--Regiment ordered to England--Badges
of old 19th Light Dragoons granted--Regiment ordered to
Ireland--Guidons of old 19th Light Dragoons presented to the
regiment--Regiment returns to England--Ordered on active
service 220

CHAPTER II

TROUBLES IN EGYPT--1882-1884

Troubles in Egypt--Arabi’s rebellion--Capture of
Ismailia--Kassassin--Tel-el-Kebir--End of the War--19th at
Cairo--Badges granted--Troubles in Eastern Soudan--Osman
Digna--Regiment ordered to Suakin--Wreck of the _Neera_--Battle
of El Teb--Heavy losses of the 19th--Battle of Tamai--Osman
Digna’s camp burned--Regiment returns to Cairo--Badges granted 233

CHAPTER III

CAMPAIGN ON THE NILE--1884-1899

Troubles in the Western Soudan--Expedition to relieve
Khartoum--19th ordered up the Nile--Korti--The Desert
Column--Action at Abu Klea--Action at Abu Krou--Quartermaster
Lima killed--The horses--Metemmeh--Fall of Khartoum--Return
of the Column--The River Column--Action at Kirbekan--Return
of the Column--Summer Quarters--Regiment returns to
Cairo--Squadron sent to Suakin--Serious losses--Returns to
Cairo--Designation granted of “Princess of Wales’ Own”--Death
of Colonel Barrow--19th returns to England--Badge of “Mysore”
granted--19th embarks for India--Bangalore--Secunderabad 246

APPENDIX A.

Yearly Lists of the Officers of the Nineteenth 271

APPENDIX B.

Casualties in the Nineteenth Hussars during the Egyptian
Campaign of 1882 304

APPENDIX C.

Special Honours granted to Nineteenth Hussars for Egyptian
Campaign of 1882 305

APPENDIX D.

Casualties in the Nineteenth Hussars during the Campaign near
Suakin, 1884 306

APPENDIX E.

Special Honours granted to Nineteenth Hussars for Campaign near
Suakin, 1884 307

APPENDIX F.

Addresses to Nineteenth Hussars by Major General G. Graham,
C.B., V.C., and Brigadier General H. Stewart. Trinkitat, 5th
March 1884 308

APPENDIX G.

Casualties in the Nineteenth Hussars during the Soudan Campaign
of 1885 310

APPENDIX H.

Special Honours granted to Nineteenth Hussars for Soudan
Campaign, 1885 311

APPENDIX I.

Address to Nineteenth Hussars by General Lord Wolseley, G.C.B.
Korti, 23rd March 1885 312