The Nineteenth and Their Times. J. Biddulph
of 20th Dragoons.
Lieutenant John Beckwith of 15th Dragoons to be Captain Lieutenant.
To be Lieutenants.
Lieutenant William Gilbert Child of 21st Dragoons.
Lieutenant William Walton of 21st Dragoons.
Cornet John Fullerton of 21st Dragoons.
Cornet Guy Henry Crawford of 21st Dragoons.
Cornet T. J. Venables Hinde of 16th Dragoons.
The roll of officers was completed in subsequent Gazettes, but several changes took place before the embarkation of the Regiment.
Colonel Sir John Burgoyne, Bart, of Sutton Park in Bedfordshire, was an officer who had served in several Regiments, the 7th Royal Fusiliers, the 52nd Foot, the 58th Foot, and was Lieutenant Colonel of the 14th Light Dragoons at the time of his appointment as Colonel of the 23rd Light Dragoons. He also held the offices of Comptroller of the Port of Chester, and Muster Master of foreign troops serving in North America. On being appointed to serve in India, he was granted local rank as Major General in the East Indies from 1st June 1781, and was subsequently made Major General in the Army, 20th November 1782.[4] It is probable that the regiment was largely composed of drafts from the regiments that furnished it with officers, viz.: the 8th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 20th, and 21st Light Dragoons. The Regiment was first brought together in the vicinity of his home, and, under order dated 28th December, marched from Bedford to Portsmouth to embark for India. The following orders and instructions had previously been issued, and subsequent events were to show how much the admonition as to disputes with the officers of the East India Company were needed.
Orders and Instructions to Sir John Burgoyne Colonel of the 23rd Regiment of (Light) Dragoons for the Conduct of his Regiment on their passage to the East Indies dated 29th November 1781.
George R.
You will before embarking call together the Officers of the Regiment under Your Command, and recommend to them in a particular manner the avoiding all manner of disputes with the Officers of the East India Company, and that they use their utmost Endeavours to live with them in the greatest harmony, as the contrary behaviour will be very displeasing unto Us, as well as detrimental to the Service they are jointly to be employed in;—the respective Officers of Companies are to recommend the same to the Non Commissioned Officers and Soldiers under their Command; The Officers of the East India Company having the same orders, as to their behaviour to Our Land Forces.
You will give the strictest orders for keeping up good discipline and regularity both whilst the Troops are on board the East India Companie’s Ships, and on Shore, and if any Commissioned, Non Commissioned Officer or Soldier shall be guilty of any Crime or disorder whilst on board the said Ships, he shall be immediately confined, and you will order Courts Martial to be held and the delinquent to be punished there.
The Officers of our said Forces on board the said Ships, shall give the necessary orders for the Men under their Command, consulting with the Commanders of the said Ships, in every thing relating to their Service on board, dividing the Men into Watches, with a proportionable Number of Commissioned and Non Commissioned Officers.
The necessary Orders shall likewise be given for airing the bedding daily, for keeping the births (sic) clean and sweet, for preventing gaming, and selling Drams or spirituous liquors and putting out the Lights between Decks with all which Commissioned Officers shall be chargeable.
No Officers or Soldiers shall go on Shore out of any of the said Ships, without the Consent of the Captain of the Ship as well as ye Commanding Officer of the Land Forces, and whenever any men are allowed to go on Shore, Commissioned or Non Commissioned Officers are to be sent with them, who are to be answerable for their Conduct whilst on Shore, and are to make a report thereof upon their return on board.
Weekly returns of the Officers and Men of Our said Forces, on board each Ship, shall be constantly made out, and sent to You, as often as opportunity offers, and Monthly returns of Our said Forces under your Command shall be transmitted by You for Us, to Our Secretary at War, as also a Report of every thing that happens when you have an opportunity of sending them.
You will transmit with as much expedition as the opportunity of time, distance and place can admit, the original proceedings and Sentences of every General Court Martial, to the Commander in Chief in the East Indies who is to send the same to the Judge Advocate General in London.
In every thing you will consider the honour of Our Forces, the good of Our Service, and the Interest of the East India Company whose Territories and Commerce You are sent to protect and establish, You will therefore chearfully (sic) concur in all things which the principal Officers of the East India Company shall judge conducive thereto, and for that purpose you will use your utmost endeavours to preserve a good harmony and understanding betwixt Our Land Forces and those of the East India Company.
Given at Our Court at St. James’s this 29th day of November 1781, in the Twenty first Year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty’s Command
Barrington.
In a letter, dated London 25th January 1782, from the East India Directors to the President and Council at Fort St. George, the Madras authorities were thus advised of the dispatch of the Regiment to India—
“His Majesty having been graciously pleased to order a Regiment of Light Dragoons, dismounted, and two Regiments of Foot[5] to proceed to the East Indies for the protection and defence of the Company’s possessions, we hereby inform you that they embark on board the ships now under dispatch for India. Instructions have been given by our Chairman and Depy. Chairman to provide horses to be in readiness for the Dragoons, in order to render them fit for immediate service upon their arrival: and we rely upon these instructions having been duly complied with. The strength of the Regiments and Lists of the Officers are as follows—
Establishment of a Regiment of Light Dragoons commanded by Colonel Sir John Burgoyne, Bart.
| 1 | Colonel and Captain. |
| 1 | Lt.-Colonel and Captain. |
| 1 | Major and Captain. |
| 3 | Captains more. |
| 6 | Lieutenants. |
| 6 | Cornets. |
| 6 | Quarter Masters. |
| 1 | Chaplain. |
| 1 | Adjutant. |
| 1 | Surgeon. |
| 1 | Surgeon’s Mate. |
| 24 | Serjeants. |
| 24 | Corporals. |
| 6 | Trumpeters. |
| 6 | Hautbois. |
| 324 | Private men. |
| —— | |
| 412 | |
| —— |
List of the Officers of the Twenty Third Regiment of Light Dragoons.