Royal Dragoons

“ After their return from Germany the Royal Dragoons were ordered to proceed to Scotland; at the same time the light troop was disbanded, and the establishment was reduced to two hundred and thirty-one officers and soldiers. Eight men per troop were equipped as light dragoons, and mounted on small horses for skirmishing and other light services; the remainder of the regiment was mounted on large horses of superior weight and power. ”

“ During the remainder of the campaign the Royal Dragoons were employed in operations on the Fulde, the Eder, and the Lahn, which were attended with such signal success, that a considerable portion of territory was wrested from the power of the enemy, and the allies took Cassel.
These successes were followed by a treaty of peace, and the Royal Dragoons proceeded into quarters in the bishopric of Munster. ”

“ One hundred and twenty men of the Royal Dragoons formed part of a body of cavalry, which crossed the frontiers and made a successful incursion into the Spanish territory. Extraordinary measures were adopted to procure horses, and at the close of the summer the regiment had upwards of three hundred mounted men in the field. ”

“ The regiment occupied extensive quarters in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1724; in the following year it furnished detachments to assist the revenue officers in their duties on the coast; and in October, 1726, it was stationed in Sussex and Essex.
England having agreed to furnish ten thousand men to assist the States-General in their war with the Emperor of Germany, the Royal Dragoons were augmented to nine troops, of five hundred and fifty-two officers and men, and selected to form part of this force. ”

“ The English dragoons advanced boldly to the charge, defeated their opponents, killed twenty men upon the spot, and pursued the remainder to Newmarket, where the Irish, being reinforced, made another stand. The Royal Dragoons, however, attacked them again with great bravery, and having sabred fifteen, the remainder fled in disorder, leaving a quantity of provision and some cattle behind. ”

“ On the 11th of November King Charles withdrew from the army, taking with him the Royal Dragoons and Staremberg's Imperialists, and proceeded to Cienpoznelos. The Royal Dragoons appear to have become a favourite corps with his Majesty, and when he retired to Barcelona he took with him two squadrons of the regiment as a body-guard. The other squadron remained with the army, and during the retreat it formed part of the rear column on the left commanded by Lieut.-General Stanhope. ”

“ The British again moved forward in pursuit, and on the 14th of March the Royal Dragoons supported a successful attack of the infantry on a French force posted in the mountains at Casal Nova: they also supported the attack on the French position at Foz d'Aronce on the 15th; and on the 18th they encountered a party of the enemy near Sernadilla, when they took a serjeant and twelve men prisoners, and captured twelve mules: the Royals had only one man wounded on this occasion. They continued hovering near the French army ”

“ A party of the enemy's cavalry made a gallant charge, and captured two guns belonging to Captain Bull's troop of horse artillery; when a squadron of the Royals dashed forward, routed the enemy, and retook the guns, which they brought back to the British line, with several French prisoners. Finally, the French were repulsed at every point of attack, and forced to relinquish their design of relieving Almeida. The Royal Dragoons had four men and nineteen horses killed; also two serjeants, thirty-four men, and twenty-four horses wounded ”

“ A powerful French army was in the field menacing the frontiers of Holland. The Earl of Marlborough assembled the forces under his orders towards the end of June, and in July the Royal Dragoons joined the army with the train of artillery. By a daring advance the British commander disconcerted the designs of his opponents, who retired without venturing an engagement. ”

“ At daybreak on the morning of the 31st of July the Royal Dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel James Johnston, left their camp on the heights of Corbeke, and making a detour through several villages gained the left flank of the French army. Several other corps having arrived at the same point, the attack was immediately commenced, and after a sharp dispute the enemy gave way and retired upon Warbourg, where he was again attacked and driven across the Dymel with great loss. ”

“ When any Discovery is made from which there is reason to belive the Enemy is on the Coast A Patrole to be sent both ways along the Coast with all Expedition with a Report and to be Communicated from Seaford to the Party of the King's Light Dragoones at Newhaven to be forwarded to the Officer commanding that Regiment.
A patrole of a Dragoon Mounted to set out every Morning soon after Sun Rise from Dover and Seaford to the next Post on the Road to Hastings—they are to have a sealed card on which is written the time the patrole left each Station. ”

“ On this occasion the cavalry supported the attacks of the infantry, and when the enemy was forced from the entrenchments, the brilliant charge of the English horse, and Royal Scots Dragoons (the Greys) completed the overthrow; the hostile army lost its colours, cannon, and baggage, and numbers of French and Bavarians fell beneath the conquering sabres of the British horsemen, who chased their adversaries to the banks of the Danube, and captured many prisoners. ”

“ A Prussian General expressed a wish to see an English Dragoon Regiment, the Greys were immediately brought forward as a specimen. In fact we have every compliment paid us.
"A few years ago the Regiment behaved most gallantly in this country in several actions and I think it is probable they will distinguish themselves in this campaign, for I never saw men more anxious for an opportunity. You may perhaps think I speak with partiality, but I assure you what I have expressed is the real matter of fact. We are within about 35 miles of the French army—a day's march. ”

“ Some, despairing to escape, abandoned their arms, and threw themselves on the ground, and the Royals, Greys, and Inniskillen dragoons were seen trampling down and sabring the French infantry with uncontrollable power. Crowds of French soldiers appeared at different points, surrendering as prisoners: many, however, defended themselves to the last; and others again, rising up, after being ridden over or passed by the dragoons, were observed firing on their rear, the slope of the position being left literally covered with dead. ”

“ The ranks of the Troops of Horse were at this period composed of men of some property—generally the sons of substantial yeomen: the young men received as recruits provided their own horses, [iv] and they were placed on a rate of pay sufficient to give them a respectable station in society.
On the breaking out of the war with Holland, in the spring of 1672, a Regiment of Dragoons was raised [3] ”

“ On page 133, Dragoons are recorded. There is no mention of a gunsmith. There is one "Hoboy" 2s. per diem.
Then on page 161 we reach the Establishment of Guards and Garrisons, 25th April, 1700.
The Dragoon Regiments, as detailed on page 168, had only 40 private soldiers to each troop.
The 1st of June (1702) Establishment gives the Dragoons 54 private soldiers to a company.
The following relates to the title of the Regiment:—
William and Mary, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, &c., &c. ”

“ The first muster of every Troope of Dragoones, is to be upon the officers produceing twenty-five good men suitably mounted, and the officers then are to be allowed, and the following musters shall be of eight men with their Horses till the troope be compleated. ”

“ A cordial unanimity has likewise subsisted between the officers and men of the regiment, and their brethren-in-arms of the Honourable East India Company’s service, who, doubtless, will long cherish the remembrance of a corps as much distinguished for their social qualities and orderly conduct, as for that high principle of military feeling which has so decidedly marked the character of the King’s Royal Irish Light Dragoons. ”

“ North British Dragoons Col. Prestons Troop With the Grand Alied Army—Germany. And Remember me earnestly to all my Worthy Friends that are your Hearers.
"N.B.—I had this By me since the 17th and has had no opertune of sending it away before this Date. We are now just by the French and its Beleved that we wont seperate Before we engadge again, we having been close to them these 7 days. A small River only parts us. The French head quarters is at Geeshen and ours at Stroffsdorf. Their Campment is strong and ours is the same. ”

“ The regiment left Dublin in the autumn of 1837, and was stationed during the following year at Cork; from whence it embarked, in May, 1839, for Liverpool; and, after landing at that port, was removed to Sheffield, where it has remained until the conclusion of this memoir.
In taking a retrospective view of the services of the Royal Regiment of Dragoons, its conduct cannot fail to excite admiration. The details given in the preceding pages afford numerous instances of determined bravery, steady discipline, and constant efficiency. ”

“ The British loss amounted to 515 killed, wounded, and missing, which fell principally on the Royal Scots and 100th, who lost 422 officers and men out of a total of 950 engaged. [199] The 19th Light Dragoons had one sergeant and five men wounded. General Riall, in his dispatch after the battle, says:—
“I am particularly obliged to Major Lisle of the 19th Light Dragoons for the manner in which he covered and protected one of the 24-pounders which had been disabled. ”

“ At the close of the eighteenth century it was known as the “Royal English Dragoons.”
[21]
SECOND DRAGOONS.
The Regiment was raised in Scotland from three Troops of “Scots Dragoons” and Independent Troops of Dragoons, and is the oldest Regiment of Dragoons in the British Army.
It is said= by some authors that its uniform when raised was stone-grey.
It bears the Thistle within the Circle and motto of St. Andrew “Nemo me impune lacessit,”—also “Second to None.”
It also bears an Eagle in commemoration of its capture of the Eagle of the 45th French Regiment at the battle of Waterloo. ”

“ Everywhere cavalry came trampling and crowding out of the woods and cantering away toward the north, hussars mostly, at first, then chasseurs-à-cheval, an entire brigade of these splendid lancers, pouring out into the road and taking the Ausone route at a gallop.
More motor cycles flashed past; then half a dozen automobiles, in which officers were seated examining maps; then up the road galloped dragoon lancers, wearing grey helmet slips and escorting three light field guns, the drivers of which were also dragoons—a sight Warner had never before seen. ”

“ The cavalry were ordered to the rear, and Picton’s Division, throwing themselves into squares, covered the retreating movement.
The French dragoons bore down upon every face of those devoted battalions; the shouts of triumph cheered them as the earth trembled beneath their charge,—but the British infantry, reserving their fire until the sabres clanked with the bayonet, poured in a shattering volley, and the cry of the wounded and the groans of the dying rose from the smoke around them. ”

“ The Thirteenth regiment of Light Dragoons, during its long and faithful services to its sovereign and country in various quarters of the globe, has, in peace and in war, under every circumstance of service, vicissitude of climate, and the trials incident thereto, distinguished itself by the display of those qualities which ever acquire unfading laurels in the field of action, and gain respect and esteem for the British soldier. ”

“ Several regiments of Horse and Dragoons were raised in the first year of the reign of King James II.; and the horsemen carried a short carbine [6] in addition to the sword and pair of pistols: and in a Regulation dated the 21st of February, 1687, the arms of the Dragoons at that period are commanded to be as follow:—
"The Dragoons to have snaphanse musquets, strapt, with bright barrels of three foote eight inches long, cartouch-boxes, bayonetts, granado pouches, bucketts, and hammer-hatchetts." ”

“ How the smaller and youngest recruits appear to be poking fun at the passers by! How the two governesses behind—one probably a French lady (accompanied by a more favoured parlour-boarder, who seems old enough and imposing enough to have an affair of the heart upon her hands already) —cast glances of mild reproof at the horrid Light Dragoons, who allow their incendiary glances to fall for a moment upon their timid flock! How strong they are in their weakness—and what a lot they always seem to have to talk about! ”

“ Major-General Sir Robert Dick was much gratified this morning to find Her Majesty's Thirteenth Light Dragoons in such high order. The major-general will not fail to report to the general commanding-in-chief the soldier-like appearance and steadiness of the men, and the serviceable condition of the horses; the movements were made with precision and celerity, notwithstanding the heavy sandy ground the regiment moved over ”

“ Our flank is turned, and on our left their cannon thundering.
Now, good Artillery! bold Dragoons! Steady, brave hearts, be calm!
Through rain, cold hail, and thunder, now nerve each gallant arm!
What though their shot fall round us here, yet thicker than the hail?
We'll stand against them, as the rock stands firm against the gale.
Lo! their battery is silenced! but our iron sleet still showers:
They falter, halt, retreat,—Hurrah! the glorious day is ours! ”