The Nineteenth and Their Times. J. Biddulph
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From Salisbury the 19th Light Dragoons were moved to Shropshire, and were quartered at Ludlow and Bridgenorth during the summer of 1780, with three troops at each place. The declaration of war by Holland, in January 1781, caused their transfer to Norwich, and, during the summer of that year, they were distributed between Saxmundham, Bungay, Beccles, Yarmouth, Halesworth, and Woodbridge, with a troop at each place. In October, the Regiment was inspected at Yarmouth by Major-General Tryon, who reported “This Regiment is a good corps, and fitt for any Service.” Each Dragoon was armed with a sword, a pair of pistols, carbine and bayonet.
In the following spring, the Regiment was at Bury St. Edmunds and Sudbury, three troops at each place. Soon afterwards they were moved to the neighbourhood of London, for employment on revenue duties, and, in August, we find the Head quarters of the Regiment with three Troops at Epsom; the other three troops being quartered at Croydon, Mitcham, and Horsham. Soon afterwards, a Troop was sent to Bromley, and another to Ewell, one Troop being withdrawn from Epsom.
But the Regiment was not destined to see active service. In November 1782, the preliminary articles of peace had been signed, by which England recognised the independence of the United States, and the usual reduction of military establishments took place. In June 1783, the Regiment was disbanded under the following order—
Orders and Instructions for Disbanding the 19th Regiment of Light Dragoons.
1783.
Whereas We have thought fit to Order that Our 19th Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, under your Command be forthwith disbanded, Our Will and Pleasure is, that you, or such person or persons as you shall appoint for this Service, do immediately repair to the respective Quarters of the Troops of Our Said Regiment, and disband them accordingly and that in the disbanding of them the following Rules be observed—
1st.
Before such disbanding You are to cause an exact Muster to be taken of the several Troops of the said Regiment, which You may draw together at some convenient place and You are to transmit to Our Secretary at War, for Our Information, an Account of their Condition and Numbers at the time of Disbanding, together with an exact List of the Names and Rank of the Officers, specifying also if any of them holds their Commissions to which Pay is annexed.
2nd.
It being Our Intention only to pay off at present, and clear the Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men of Our Said Regiments, (and give an allowance of Half Pay to the Commissioned Officers entitled thereto, from the time of their Disbanding), You are to take care before their Disbanding, that the Quarters of each Troop be duly satisfied, that the Accounts between the Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men hereby disbanded, and their Officers, be made up, and that they be fully satisfied, and paid their Arrears, Grass Money, and all other just pretentions, to the day of their being disbanded, whereof the said Officers, are to take Acquittances, and Discharges from them respectively, distinguishing each head of Payment.
3rd.
That care be taken, that the Arms delivered out of Our Stores of Ordnance, and indented for, be returned into Our said Stores again, and Acquittances taken for the same, from such persons as shall be appointed to receive them.
4th.
That care be taken that each Non Commissioned Officer and Private Man hereby to be disbanded be permitted to carry away with him his Cloak and Clothes which he now wears, and that their Horses be disposed of according to the regulation following.
5th.
Where any Dragoon who shall be discharged in pursuance hereof, hath served Us, One whole year, He shall be entitled to Three Pounds in lieu of His Horse, and all the Horses of the disbanded Men are to be Sold, and an account kept, in order to the disposal of the Surplus Money in such Manner as We shall direct.
6th.
That the Dragoons who in pursuance of the above Regulation are entitled to £3 as aforesaid, be paid six days full pay, and those who are not so entitled, be paid Eighteen days full pay, from the day of Disbanding, exclusive; which We are pleased to give them, as of Our Royal Bounty, to carry them to the places of their former Residence: You are therefore to cause payment thereof to be made to each of them respectively and to take Receipts for the same from each Non Commissioned Officer, and Private Dragoon, And all such Acquittances, Discharges, and Receipts, are to be transmitted to the Agent of the Regiment, to be produced to Our Secretary at War, as Vouchers for the several Payments herein directed, and for which You are to draw Bills on the said Agent.
7th.
You are also to send to Our Secretary at War, an Authentic List, attested in the best manner by Yourself, or Officer performing this Service; of the names of the Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men, so disbanded, and to give them passes in case they shall desire the same, to the places of their former Residence, allowing them a convenient time to repair thither, and giving them a strict charge that they do not presume to travel with Arms, nor more than three in Company together, upon pain of the severest punishment, And to the end that the said Non Commissioned Officers and Private Dragoons may be sensible of the care We have taken of them upon their dismission, You are to cause these Our directions to be read at the head of each Troop, for a more ready compliance with Our Pleasure hereby signified, and see the same put into Execution—Given at Our Court at St. James’s, this 12th day of June, 1783, in the twenty third Year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty’s Command,
R. Fitz Patrick.
To Our Trusty and Welbeloved Russell Manners Esq. Lt. Gen. Commandant of our 19th Regt, of (Light) Dragoons or to the Officer Commanding in Chief of our said Regt.
In a “Report of the Lt. Generals Johnston, Mocher and Sloper, relative to the appointments of the 19th, 20th and 21st Regts. of Light Dragoons &c.,” it is stated that the appointments are little better than lumber. The following paragraph refers to the 19th Light Dragoons—
“In regard to the seventh regiment, no report having been sent us with your letter, and no officer having appeared before us to give us any insight into the transaction between the Colonels of that and the 19th Regiment of Light Dragoons, we can only say, that as the 19th light Regt. was raised at the same time, and has had pretty near the same duty, we imagine the same objections will lay against the appointments of that regiment, as to the others.
To Lt. Gen. Fawcett,
Adjt. Gen. &c.”
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.
Alarming as was the state of our affairs in 1779, it was much worse in 1781. In January, a rupture occurred with Holland, so that Great Britain found herself simultaneously at war with France, Spain and Holland, while engaged at the same time with her revolted Colonies in America. The navy was overtaxed and inadequate to the demands made on it, and the command of the sea had passed into the hands of our enemies.