Historical Record of the Third or Prince of Wales' Regiment of Dragoon Guards: From Its Formation in 1685 to 1838. Cannon Richard

1

In the 14th year of the reign of Edward IV. a small force was established in Ireland by Parliament, consisting of 120 Archers on horseback, 40 Horsemen, and 40 Pages.

2

Military Papers, State Paper Office.

3

This Regiment was disbanded after the Peace in 1674.

4

This appears to be the first introduction of bayonets into the English Army.

5

State Paper Office.

6

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.'

7

See a brief memoir of this nobleman in the succession of Colonels at page 113.

8

'JAMES, R.

'These are to authorize you to raise volunteers with able horses for one troop of Horse, which you are commissioned to raise and command for Our Service, consisting of threescore soldiers, three corporals, and two trumpeters, besides Commissioned Officers. And as you shall raise the said Volunteers and Non-commissioned Officers of Our said troop, you are to give notice thereof to our Commissary General when and where you shall have twenty soldiers ready, with their horses, together, besides officers; that he, or his deputy, may muster them accordingly, and from such muster those soldiers, with all the officers of the said troop, are to commence and be in our pay; and from thenceforth as you shall, from time to time, entertain any more soldiers with their horses fit for Our Service, and shall produce them to muster, they shall be respectively mustered thereupon, until you shall have threescore soldiers, besides officers; and when that number shall be fully, or nearly, completed, they are to be sent under the command of a Commissioned Officer to Worcester and Droytwich, (appointed for the quarters of Our said troop,) where they are also to be mustered, and soe remain until further orders. You are likewise to send a trusty person to Our Tower of London to receive arms for Our said troop.

'Wherein, all Magistrates, Justices of the Peace, and Constables, whom it may concern, are required to be assisting; and the Officers are to be careful that the soldiers behave themselves civilly, and duly pay their landlords.

'Given at Our Court at Whitehall, this 23rd day of June, 1685, in the first year of Our Reign.

'By His Majesty's Command,

'WILLIAM BLATHWAYTE.'

'To Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Councillor, Thomas Earl of Plymouth, &c.'

A similar warrant was issued for raising each of the other five troops. —War-Office Records.

9

The cuirass was not peculiar to this regiment, there being, in the autumn of 1685, ten regiments of Cuirassiers in the English army, besides the Life Guards, who were also Cuirassiers.

10

War-Office Records.

11

The Marquis de Miremont was a French nobleman, and cousin to Louis Earl of Feversham.

12

The three regiments were Colonel John Butler's Dragoons, Colonel Anthony Hamilton's Foot Guards, and Colonel Roger McElligot's Regiment of Foot – 1500 men. —War-Office Records.

13

Memoirs of General Mackay.

14

War-Office Records.

15

D'Auvergne's History of the Campaigns in Flanders, &c.

16

No record appears to have been preserved of the number killed and wounded of the Fourth Horse; but according to the London Gazette, No. 2895, the English cavalry lost 59 officers and 472 men.

17

D'Auvergne's History of the Campaigns in Flanders; Boyer's Life of King William III.; the London Gazette, &c.

18

The present Second and Sixth Dragoon Guards: – Galway's Horse was disbanded after the Peace of Ryswick in 1697.

19

'The Queen's Horse, now 1st Dragoon Guards; Carabiniers, now 6th Dragoon Guards; a squadron of Schomberg's Horse, now 7th Dragoon Guards; with Stewart's and Stanley's Foot.' —London Gazette and Millner's Journal.

20

'On the 31st of October the garrison marched out of the place, being upwards of 1500 men, besides nearly 300 that deserted before the capitulation. The troops of Liege came out first, and immediately quitted the French service, marching off in a body. Of the Swiss there deserted likewise above 400 as soon as they came out; so that this garrison will be very much lessened before they get to Antwerp, whither they are marching, being conducted by a squadron of Brigadier-General Wood's regiment.' —London Gazette, No. 3857.

21

'We generally began our march about three in the morning, proceeded about four leagues, or four and a half, each day, and reached our ground about nine. As we marched through the countries of our Allies, commissaries were appointed, to furnish us with all manner of necessaries for man and horse; these were brought to the ground before we arrived, and the soldiers had nothing to do but to pitch their tents, boil their kettles, and lie down to rest. Surely never was such a march carried on with more regularity, and with less fatigue both to man and horse.' —Parker's Memoirs.

22

'All the troops in general behaved with the greatest bravery, but none distinguished themselves more than Her Majesty of Great Britain's subjects, who in this engagement had the post of honour, which they sustained with the universal applause and approbation of all the Generals of the several nations who were eye-witnesses of their courage and resolution.' —London Gazette, No. 4033.

23

Annals of Queen Anne; Millner's Journal; Military History of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, &c. &c.

24

Parker's Memoirs.

25

'Here was a fine plain, without hedge or ditch, for the Cavalry on both sides to show their bravery; for there were but few Foot to interpose, these being mostly engaged at the villages.

'And now our squadrons charged in their turn, and thus for some hours they charged each other with various success, all sword in hand. At length the French courage began to abate, and our squadrons gained upon them.' —Parker's Memoirs.