Chapter II: Part 2

In the mean time, the lord-lieutenant of Ireland (Earl Tyrconnel) had retained the greater part of that kingdom in the interest of King James. King William sent an army to that country under the veteran Duke Schomberg; and, immediately after the dispersion of the rebel Highlanders, the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered to proceed to Ireland. They embarked for this service in the early part of October, landed at Carlingford on the 9th of that month,[28] and were ordered to take post at Armagh and Clownish, from whence they were removed to the isle of Maghee.

[Sidenote: 1690]

Several skirmishes occurred during the winter; and in the spring of 1690 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were before _Charlemont_, which place was blockaded by the King's forces. _Charlemont_ was defended by a garrison of 500 men, commanded by Sir Teague O'Regan, a humorist, who returned the following laconic answer to the summons to surrender:--"Tell the General, from Teague O'Regan, that he's an old knave; and, by St. Patrick, he shall not have the town at all." He, however, surrendered on the 14th of May, and a detachment of the ROYAL DRAGOONS escorted the garrison towards Armagh.[29] Soon after the surrender of Charlemont Lieut.-Colonel Edward Matthews, from Leveson's (now third) dragoons, was appointed colonel of the regiment. In June it was encamped near Loughbritland, where it was joined by a remount from England. On the 22nd of June King William arrived at the camp, and "His Majesty was no sooner come than he was in amongst the throng of the troops, and observed every regiment very critically. This pleased the soldiers mightily, and every one was ready to give what demonstrations it was possible both of his courage and duty."[30]

The French and Irish, commanded by King James, took post on the banks of the _Boyne_, to dispute the passage of that river. King William marched to the opposite bank on the 30th of June, and, on the morning of the 1st of July, the army forded the river and drove the enemy from his position with great slaughter. The ROYAL DRAGOONS and other British troops engaged in forcing the passage of the _Boyne_ are reported to have "acquitted themselves well." King James fled from the field and proceeded to France; and the British army advanced on Dublin. A few days after the battle King William reviewed the ROYAL DRAGOONS at Finglass, on which occasion they brought 406 private troopers into the field.

On the 21st of July Major-General Kirke proceeded with the ROYAL DRAGOONS and Queen Dowager's and Colonel Cambron's regiments of foot to Waterford, and summoned the place, and on the 25th the governor capitulated.

At the moment when success attended the operations of the army in Ireland, the English and Dutch fleets, commanded by Lord Torrington and Admiral Evertsen, were defeated by the French fleet under the Count de Tourville, and the enemy afterwards menaced the descent of a formidable force on the British coast. King William commanded a troop of life guards, with Count Schomberg's horse (now seventh dragoon guards), the ROYAL DRAGOONS, and Trelawny's and Hastings' (fourth and thirteenth) foot to be immediately embarked for England.

The ROYAL DRAGOONS landed at Highlake, in Cheshire, in the early part of August. The alarm of invasion, however, soon subsided; and they were ordered to return to Ireland, in which country they again landed on the 20th of October, and proceeded into extended cantonments in the county of Cork. Many thousands of the Roman Catholic peasantry of Ireland were, at this period, in arms in behalf of King James: they were called _rapparees_, and being formed into bands they made frequent incursions into the cantonments of the English regiments. Several men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS were murdered in their quarters by these _rapparees_; and detachments of the regiment were frequently sent out to scour the country and chase these bands of marauders from the English cantonments.

[Sidenote: 1691]

Towards the end of December a detachment of the ROYAL DRAGOONS proceeded, with some other troops, on an expedition commanded by Major-General Tattea, and on the 1st of January, 1691, attacked an Irish fort near _Scronclaird_, which was taken in two hours, although the enemy had employed five hundred men during two months to build it.[31]

In the spring, when the army took the field, the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered to remain in the county of Cork to restrain the incursions of the _rapparees_, and to prevent the several forts and small garrisons from being attacked. In the early part of June Major Culliford, with a detachment of the ROYAL DRAGOONS and some militia, penetrated that part of the country from whence the enemy received their supplies, defeated the Irish troops, and captured several droves of cattle. At length General St. Ruth, who commanded the French and Irish forces, detached two thousand horse and foot to cover this part of the country. Major Culliford, however, continued to make inroads, and having advanced with one hundred and twenty men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS, and fifty militia foot, he encountered two troops of Irish cavalry. 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. Major Culliford despatched eleven dragoons and twenty-four of the militia to the rear with the booty, and then pursued the fugitives four miles farther, when he encountered five hundred of the enemy's horse commanded by Sir James Cotter. Notwithstanding their disparity of numbers, the ROYAL DRAGOONS boldly confronted their opponents, and made a gallant resistance, but were eventually overpowered; and forty men having fallen, Major Culliford made good his retreat with the remainder. In retiring, the dragoons,--chafed in spirit and burning with revenge,--often turned round upon their pursuers; and at length Captain Bower and twenty men boldly faced about and killed about twenty of the Irish horsemen, whose eagerness in the chase had caused them to advance in front of their main body. In the meantime the eleven dragoons and twenty-four of the militia, with the captured cattle and stores, arrived at _Drumaugh_, where they were attacked by a detachment of the enemy, but defended themselves with success until relieved by a body of troops under Colonels Hastings and Ogleby.

At the time the ROYAL DRAGOONS were making these diversions, the main army, commanded by Lieutenant-General De Ginkell, gained a decisive victory over the French and Irish at Aghrim; and on the 1st of August the regiment joined the army at Banagher-bridge. The enemy collected the remains of their defeated regiments at _Limerick_; and towards the end of August Lieutenant-General De Ginkell besieged that city, commencing his work on the right bank of the Shannon: the Irish army lay encamped at the same time on the opposite side of the river.

A pontoon bridge having been prepared, several regiments were ordered to cross the river at daybreak of the 16th of September. The ROYAL DRAGOONS took the lead; and Brigadier-General Clifford,[32] who commanded four regiments of King James's dragoons, being taken by surprise, made little opposition: some infantry, however, attempted to make a stand; but a squadron of the ROYAL DRAGOONS dashed forward and routed them in an instant. Two or three French and Irish battalions retired to a bog and wood in their rear, from whence they were driven with the loss of several men killed, and a French lieut.-colonel, a captain, and a number of men made prisoners. The regiments which had passed the river advanced upon the enemy's camp, where a curious spectacle presented itself:--many of the Irish were running about in their shirts, some were pulling down tents, others driving away cattle, many were making their escape into the town, and others hurrying towards the mountains; a regiment of dragoons, whose horses were two miles distance at grass, dispersed in confusion: at the same time a party of horse buckled on their arms and made a show of fighting; but they fled on the advance of the English, who took possession of the camp, where they found a quantity of beef, brandy, and corn, with the saddles and appointments of three hundred dragoons. The ROYAL DRAGOONS were commended by Lieut.-General De Ginkell for their gallant conduct, and they returned to the other side of the river on the same day.[33]

On the 22nd of September the regiment, with several other corps, crossed the Shannon into the county of Clare; when the advance-guard, which consisted of eighteen men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS, was attacked by a squadron of the Irish cavalry: this small party sustained the first onset with admirable firmness, but were forced to retire; part of the regiment, however, soon advanced to their assistance, when the enemy was defeated and chased under the range of their batteries, and three small pieces of brass ordnance were captured. Orders were then given for the infantry to attack the works which covered Thoumond bridge. These works were carried after a sharp struggle; when the troops which had defended them endeavoured to enter the town; but the drawbridge had been raised, and they were left to the mercy of the English, who slaughtered such numbers, that the dead bodies lay in heaps on the bridge higher than the parapet walls. Five colours were taken on this occasion, and so many men slain, drowned, and taken prisoners, that the enemy surrendered the place in a few days afterwards.

[Sidenote: 1692]

[Sidenote: 1693]

The conquest of Ireland having been effected, the ROYAL DRAGOONS returned to England, where they arrived in January, 1692, and marched into dispersed cantonments in Leicestershire; and during a part of the summer a detachment was stationed in garrison at Portsmouth. The regiment was subsequently stationed, on revenue duty, in the maritime towns on the southern coast of the kingdom; and in the autumn of 1693 it had the honour of furnishing a relay of escorts to attend King William from Margate to London, when His Majesty returned from Holland.

[Sidenote: 1694]

The war with France, which was commenced in 1689, had been continued with varied success; and in the spring of 1694 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered to proceed on foreign service. They left England in May; joined the army encamped near Tirlemont in South Brabant, on the 21st of June, and were reviewed by King William on the following day. On arriving at this camp they were ordered to take post in front of the village of Camtich, and this quarter being much exposed to attacks from the enemy, they were reinforced by two regiments of Dutch infantry. The army marched from Tirlemont on the 13th of July, and encamped at Mont St. André and Ramilies, where the regiment was formed in brigade with the royal Scots and Fairfax's (now second and third) dragoons, under the command of Brigadier-General Matthews, and this brigade was encamped on the left of the line. The French army encamped near Huy, with their left upon the Mehaine. On the 17th of July a foraging party of the allies crossed the river, and, meeting with several French squadrons, a skirmish ensued, when the ROYAL DRAGOONS lost eight horses and had three men wounded. On the 28th of the same month another foraging party encountered a detachment of the enemy, when the regiment had two men and several horses killed. The allied army was again in motion on the 8th of August: much manœuvring, and some skirmishing took place between the hostile squadrons, but no general engagement occurred. On the 29th of August the ROYAL DRAGOONS were stationed at Wacken--a post situate at the junction of the Mandel and the Scheldt; and in October they marched into cantonments in the villages between Ghent and Sans-van-Ghent.[34]

[Sidenote: 1695]

In the spring of 1695 the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched to Dixmude, forming part of a division of the army commanded by Major-General Ellenberg, and were brigaded with Lloyd's (now third) dragoons and a regiment of Danish cavalry. On the 7th of June the Duke of Wirtemberg took command of this division, and attacked the French forts at _Kenoque_ as a diversion to conceal King William's design upon the strong and almost impregnable fortress of _Namur_, which he commanded to be invested shortly afterwards. The ROYAL DRAGOONS joined the covering army towards the end of June; but were detached to Bruges in July: they were subsequently recalled from thence and joined the camp between Genappe and Waterloo, from whence they proceeded to the vicinity of _Namur_, to protect the troops employed in the siege from a threatened attack of the French army. After the surrender of the important fortress of _Namur_, the regiment marched into cantonments behind Ghent.

[Sidenote: 1696]

The French menaced an attack upon the quarters of the allied army in Flanders in the spring of 1696, when the ROYAL DRAGOONS were suddenly called from their cantonments to encamp on the banks of the canal between Ghent and Bruges, where they were reviewed by King William on the 29th of May. They served the campaign of this year with the army of Flanders, commanded by the Prince of Vandemont, and were brigaded with the royal Scots and royal Irish (second and fifth) dragoons, commanded by Brigadier-General Matthews. The object of this army was the protection of Ghent, Bruges, and the maritime towns of Flanders: no general action occurred; but a party of the ROYAL DRAGOONS, with a detachment of Langston's horse (now fourth dragoon guards), surprised one of the French out-guards on the night of the 20th of September and took thirty prisoners. This appears to be the only action in which the regiment took part during the campaign of this year; and on the 6th of October it marched into quarters in the villages behind the Bruges canal.

[Sidenote: 1697]

During the campaign of 1697 the regiment served under King William in the army of Brabant, and was brigaded with the royal Scots and Eppinger's dragoons.

On the 28th of May Brigadier-General Matthews died; and on the 30th His Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the ROYAL DRAGOONS on THOMAS LORD RABY, afterwards Earl of Strafford.

[Sidenote: 1698]

The enemy, having great superiority of numbers, besieged and took _Aeth_, and afterwards menaced Brussels; but were frustrated in their designs by King William. The ROYAL DRAGOONS were encamped before Brussels in June; and subsequently at Wavre. Hostilities were terminated in September by the treaty of Ryswick, and after the conclusion of peace, the regiment embarked from the Netherlands,--landed at the Red House in Southwark on the 21st of November, and, at the end of the same month, marched into extensive quarters in Yorkshire, where the establishment, which during the war had been eight troops, amounting to five hundred and ninety officers and men, was reduced to six troops of two hundred and ninety-four officers and men.

[Sidenote: 1699]

[Sidenote: 1700]

During the two succeeding years the ROYAL DRAGOONS occupied quarters in Lancashire and Leicestershire. In June, 1700, they assembled on Hounslow Heath and were reviewed by King William III., who was pleased to express his royal approbation of their appearance and discipline. Leaving the south of England in July, they proceeded into quarters in Yorkshire and Cumberland, with one troop stationed in garrison at Carlisle and another at Hull.

[Sidenote: 1701]

[Sidenote: 1702]

In 1701 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were stationed in Yorkshire, with three troops in garrison at Hull; at this period the ambitious Louis XIV. of France violated the treaties he had entered into, and procured the accession of his grandson, Philip, Duke of Anjou, to the throne of Spain. War was resolved upon, and the establishment of the regiment was augmented to eight troops amounting to five hundred and thirty-two officers and men; and it embarked for Holland in the beginning of March, 1702. Before the transports sailed, the death of King William occurred (8th March, 1702), when the regiment was disembarked and placed in cantonments in the villages in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis. In a few days afterwards, Her Majesty Queen Anne having resolved to pursue the foreign policy of her predecessor, the regiment re-embarked, and after landing at Williamstadt, went into quarters at Breda, where it was formed in brigade with the royal Scots and royal Irish (second and fifth) dragoons, under the command of that excellent officer, Brigadier-General Ross, and was placed as a guard to the English train of artillery.[35]

[Sidenote: 1703]

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. The ROYAL DRAGOONS were employed in covering the sieges of _Venloo_, _Ruremonde_, and _Stevenswaert_; and took part in the capture of the city of _Liege_: they afterwards marched back to Holland, and were quartered at Arnheim, the capital of the province of Guelderland, where they were reviewed in April, 1703, by their colonel, LORD RABY, who was passing through Holland on his way to Prussia, as envoy extraordinary to that court.[36]

At the commencement of the campaign of 1703 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were employed in covering the siege of _Bonn_, and afterwards joined the army near Maestricht, with six battalions of infantry commanded by the Prince of Hesse, and were formed in brigade with the same regiments as in the preceding year.

On the advance of the allied army commanded by the DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH, the French retreated, and took post behind their fortified lines.

On the 27th of July the British commander proceeded, with four thousand horse and dragoons, towards the enemy's intrenchments, and Lieutenant BENSON, with thirty men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS, who formed the advance-guard, charged and defeated a piquet of forty French horsemen, and chased them to the barriers of their intrenchments with signal gallantry, which gave his Grace an opportunity of advancing within musket-shot of the lines. He was desirous of attacking these formidable works, but was prevented by the timidity and pertinacity of the Dutch generals and field deputies. In August, when the siege of _Huy_ was undertaken, the ROYAL DRAGOONS were encamped on the banks of the river Maese, to secure the bridge, and to keep up the communication. They were subsequently engaged in the siege of _Limburg_, a city situated on a pleasant eminence among the woods near the banks of the little river Wesdet. Spanish Guelderland having been delivered from the power of France, and the Dutch freed from the dread of an invasion, the ROYAL DRAGOONS quitted the vicinity of Limburg and marched back to Holland. In the mean time circumstances had occurred which occasioned their removal from the army commanded by the celebrated DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH, to another theatre of war.

During the summer the Emperor of Germany and Prince Joseph renounced their pretensions to the Spanish monarchy in behalf of Archduke Charles, who was acknowledged as King of Spain by several of the states of Europe; and a treaty of alliance having been concluded with the King of Portugal, the ROYAL DRAGOONS were selected to accompany the Archduke to Lisbon, and to take part in the attempt to place him on the throne of Spain by force of arms.

[Sidenote: 1704]

The Portuguese monarch having engaged to provide horses for the English cavalry, the ROYAL DRAGOONS transferred their horses to the British regiments in Holland, and embarked, dismounted, in October; but were so long detained by contrary winds and severe weather, that they did not arrive at the capital of Portugal before March, 1704, when they landed with the remainder of the British and Dutch forces commanded by DUKE SCHOMBERG.

In consequence of the horses produced by the Portuguese authorities being of so inferior a description that the English officers rejected the greater part of them, only twenty men per troop of the ROYAL DRAGOONS were mounted; the dismounted men proceeded to Abrantes to await the arrival of horses, and the mounted men advanced to the frontiers of Portugal, and encamped on a pleasant plain near Estremos. Tardiness and inability were, however, manifested by the Portuguese authorities to such an extent, that the DUKE OF BERWICK, having arrived from France with eighteen battalions of infantry and nineteen squadrons of cavalry, and taken the command of the French and Spanish forces, attacked the frontiers of Portugal before the allies were prepared to take the field. The court of Lisbon was alarmed, the provinces were in consternation; the DUKE SCHOMBERG solicited to be recalled, and the EARL OF GALWAY was sent with reinforcements to Portugal, and appointed to the command of the British forces in that country.

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. In the autumn the army was enabled to act on the offensive, and the ROYAL DRAGOONS were among the forces which penetrated Spain; but on arriving at the vicinity of Ciudad Rodrigo, the enemy was found so advantageously posted on the opposite side of the Agueda, that the Portuguese generals would not venture the passage of the river; and, after reconnoitring the hostile army several times, the allies returned to Portugal, and the ROYAL DRAGOONS went into village cantonments in the Alentejo.[37]

[Sidenote: 1705]

During the winter and the spring of 1705 the regiment procured an additional supply of horses, and when it again took the field it was much better mounted than in the preceding year. It joined the army in April, and, advancing into Spanish Estremadura, formed part of the force which invested _Valencia de Alcantara_, which fortress was captured in the early part of May.

_Albuquerque_ was subsequently besieged and taken; and the capture of Badajoz was contemplated, but that undertaking was abandoned until the summer's heat was abated.

In the mean time an expedition had been fitted out in England, and a land force, commanded by Lieut.-General the Earl of Peterborough, embarked for the purpose of furthering the designs of the house of Austria. The fleet arrived at Lisbon in June, and, King Charles resolving to accompany the expedition, the ROYAL and Cunningham's (now eighth) dragoons, and four regiments of foot, were embarked to strengthen the land force. The fleet put to sea, and, after several consultations among the general and naval officers, an attack on _Barcelona_ was resolved upon. The fleet arrived before that fortress on the 22nd of August (N.S.), and on the 24th the ROYAL DRAGOONS landed near a river called Bassoz, on the east side of the city, and encamped about a mile from the walls, in a place well fortified by nature, where the army was joined by many of the country people, who were formed into bands, and acted as a guerilla force: "they were" (as Bishop Burnet observes) "good at plundering, but could not submit to regular discipline, nor were they willing to expose themselves to dangerous services."

The siege of _Barcelona_ was considered a romantic enterprise, and it excited a lively interest in every nation in Christendom. The garrison equalled in strength the besieging army within about two thousand men, and, according to the ordinary rules and chances of war, success appeared impossible. The siege was, however, commenced, and on the 14th of September an attack was made on the strong fortress of _Montjuich_, situate on an eminence overlooking the town, on which occasion a detachment of the ROYAL DRAGOONS was posted between this detached fortress and the city to prevent a sally of the Spanish cavalry. The garrison of Fort Montjuich held out three days, and then surrendered. During the remainder of the siege the ROYAL DRAGOONS were almost constantly on duty, the besieging army not having a sufficient number of men to form two reliefs of the ordinary guards in the trenches and on the batteries: the siege was, however, persisted in, and the governor capitulated on the 9th of October. The garrison was preparing to march out on the 14th, when numbers of the guerillas and armed peasantry, having entered by the breach in hopes of obtaining plunder, united with the inhabitants of the town, and attacked the houses of the French and other persons known to be in the interest of the Duke of Anjou; they also threatened to massacre the governor and garrison: but the Earl of Peterborough marched into the town at the head of a troop of the ROYAL DRAGOONS and a detachment of grenadiers, and restored order and tranquillity. On this occasion his lordship narrowly escaped falling a sacrifice to his humanity. A Spaniard having fired at the Duke of Popoli, the ball passed through the Earl of Peterborough's periwig. The valour and perseverance of the British and Dutch having achieved the conquest of Barcelona, at which (as Dr. Freind observes) "all Europe wondered," nearly every town in Catalonia declared for King Charles III., and the ROYAL DRAGOONS were placed in garrison at Tortosa, excepting a detachment which remained at Barcelona. Shortly afterwards Valencia declared in favour of the house of Austria.

A French and Spanish force, commanded by the Conde de las Torres, was detached to retake the revolted towns, and in December the enemy besieged _St. Mattheo_, which place was defended by a party of Spaniards, commanded by a stout-hearted Welshman, named JONES, who made a resolute defence. The Earl of Peterborough advanced with two hundred of the ROYAL DRAGOONS and a thousand British foot to relieve the place. This force was not more than one-fifth of the numbers of the besieging army: but, by night marches among the woods and mountains, and by circulating false reports, the British succeeded in surprising their opponents; and the Spanish commander, not knowing the numbers of his enemy, and being deceived by spies, made a precipitate retreat, and his rear-guard was pursued by the ROYAL DRAGOONS over the mountains to Albocazar.

[Sidenote: 1706]

The French and Spanish army continued to retire, and was pursued by the Earl of Peterborough with a force so much inferior in numbers, that the record of these events appears almost incredible,[38] and exhibits the native valour, spirit of enterprise, and temerity of the British commander, with the pusillanimity and credulity of the Spaniards, in a strong light. Four troops of the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed part of that small body of men with which the Earl of Peterborough pursued a numerous army. The services in which they were engaged partook of the nature of a guerilla warfare, and put to a severe test the discipline, bravery, and intelligence of the men. Being divided into small parties, and united with bands of armed peasantry, they were continually performing night marches among the woods and mountains, and, hovering about the rear and flanks of the Spanish army, keeping it in a state of alarm, which services were performed in concert with spies; and although, under these circumstances, it must have been difficult to preserve subordination and discipline, yet the ROYAL DRAGOONS performed these duties to the satisfaction of the commander-in-chief. On one occasion "the Spaniards employed by my lord Peterborough informed the Conde de las Torres of a considerable force that was upon his left, somewhat before him, and certainly designed, as they told him, to take some passes which might prevent his entrance into the plains leading to Valencia, and that there were English troops among them. This the Spanish general thinking impossible, one of the spies offered to give any two or three officers he pleased to appoint the satisfaction of seeing what he affirmed. Upon this two officers, in the country habit, went along with him to a place where, pretending to alight and refresh themselves, they were seized by ten English dragoons that were posted there on purpose, and had marched in the mountains all night with the spies. The Spaniards being thus surprised and seized, the spy pretended the guard was drunk, and the officers, seeing a couple of dragoons lying apparently in that condition, slipped into the stable and took three of the horses, and so returned to the Conde de las Torres. This was enough to confirm the intelligence and gain credit to the spy, as officers of that country never fail to magnify their dangers and escapes. Sometimes the dragoons were brought prisoners, by consent, into the Spanish camp, by country people, seeming in their interest. By such artful means, and by such diligent application, a little body of men, about twelve or thirteen hundred cavalry and two thousand infantry, were brought to join in the neighbourhood of Castillon de la Plana."[39] Such were the services in which the ROYAL DRAGOONS were engaged, and an immense tract of country was delivered from the power of the enemy. A most romantic part of the adventure was, that the Earl of Peterborough, being deficient in cavalry, procured eight hundred Spanish horses, and constituted Lord Barrymore's regiment (now thirteenth foot) a corps of dragoons, of which he appointed the lieut.-colonel, Edward Pearce, colonel.

The ROYAL DRAGOONS accompanied the Earl of Peterborough to _Valencia_. The enemy brought forward a numerous army to besiege this important place; but the British commander issued from the city with his gallant horsemen, and surprised and captured the Spanish battering-train; he also penetrated, by a night march, to the rear of their army, and attacked and defeated their reinforcements; and by these and other achievements of a similar character, which exhibit the valour and excellent conduct of the troops under his orders, he frustrated the designs of the enemy.

These brilliant successes alarmed the courts of France and Spain, and a powerful attempt to regain the possession of the towns which had acknowledged King Charles was determined upon. The Spaniards were desirous of commencing with Valencia, but they were overruled by orders from France; and, the English fleet having left _Barcelona_ in the autumn, the siege of that place was undertaken by a land force commanded by King Philip in person, and the French fleet under the Count de Toulouse.

The Earl of Peterborough hastened from Valencia with the ROYAL DRAGOONS and a select number of men from the other corps, and on his arrival at the vicinity of Barcelona he found the town invested by a numerous army and a fleet. He immediately took to the mountains with his hardy dragoons and about two thousand foot, and, being joined by numbers of the armed peasantry, he was constantly hovering near the besieging army with his detachments, interrupting the enemy's communications, cutting off their supplies, and attacking their out-guards; and on one occasion he succeeded in throwing a number of men into the town. At length the British fleet arrived with reinforcements; the French admiral withdrew with precipitation, and, Barcelona being thus relieved, the enemy raised the siege on the 12th of May, 1706, and retreated towards Roussillon, leaving behind his artillery, ammunition, stores, and sick and wounded men. A squadron of the ROYAL DRAGOONS and some other cavalry were ordered to pursue the retiring army, and, being joined by hundreds of armed peasantry, they attacked the enemy's rear-guard several times, and took a number of prisoners. The Spaniards killed every man who fell into their hands; but the prisoners taken by the English and Dutch met with good treatment.

After the flight of the enemy from before Barcelona, the ROYAL DRAGOONS returned to Valencia, from whence they expected to advance with King Charles immediately upon Madrid, to join the allied army commanded by the Marquis das Minas and the Earl of Galway, which being superior in numbers to the French and Spanish forces on the frontiers of Portugal, arrived at the capital of Spain towards the end of June. King Charles, however, delayed to proceed to Madrid, and being guided by pernicious councils, he eventually went round by way of Arragon. Meanwhile the French and Spanish forces which, after raising the siege of Barcelona, had retired to France, re-entered Spain, and uniting with the forces under the Duke of Berwick, compelled the army of Portugal to retire from Madrid. The ROYAL DRAGOONS marched from Valencia in July, together with Pearce's dragoons, a regiment of Castilian foot, and a regiment of Germans, and on the 8th of August joined the army of Portugal at Guadalaxara, from whence they marched to Chinchon, a town of Toledo, eighteen miles from Madrid, where they remained about a month.

The allied army, being unable to make head against the superior numbers of the enemy, retired, and having crossed the Tagus at Fuente Duennas, continued their march through the fine champaign country of La Mancha, and took up their winter quarters in Valencia, extending their cantonments from Requena to Denia.

[Sidenote: 1707]

In the spring of 1707 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered to take the field, and after a long and difficult march they joined the army in the beginning of April; but no expectation of a general engagement being entertained, and land carriage being difficult to procure, they were detached on the 9th of April as far as Denia, for their clothing, and to refresh their horses a short time in village cantonments. While they lay at Collera, a town situate at the mouth of the river Xucar, in the province of Valencia, the battle of Almanza was fought on the 25th of April, when the allied army, commanded by the Marquis das Minas and the Earl of Galway, was nearly annihilated by the French and Spaniards under the Duke of Berwick.

Soon after this disaster the ROYAL DRAGOONS joined the wreck of the allied army, which had been collected by the Earl of Galway, and were employed for three months in marches and countermarches, observing the motions of the opposing army and endeavouring to preserve the rich and extensive province of Catalonia from the power of the enemy. They afterwards formed part of the force assembled for the relief of Lerida, but the undertaking was found to be impracticable. The enemy gained possession of Arragon and Valencia, but were prevented acquiring all the advantages from the victory at Almanza which had been anticipated.

[Sidenote: 1708]

During the winter and succeeding spring exertions were made to bring the regiments in Catalonia into as efficient a state as possible; and when the ROYAL DRAGOONS took the field to serve the campaign of 1708, they were reported to be "in excellent condition."[40] The allied army in Catalonia was under the orders of Marshal Count Guido de Staremberg, an officer of reputation, who had commanded the Imperial troops in Hungary. The services of the ROYAL DRAGOONS were of a defensive character; sending out detachments to reconnoitre, furnishing piquets and patroles, and traversing the mountain districts of Catalonia in small parties, were the only duties they were called upon to perform. They were encamped a short time in a valley near Monblanco, subsequently on a fertile plain near Cervera, and they passed another winter in cantonments in Catalonia.

[Sidenote: 1709]

The early part of the campaign of 1709 was also passed in defensive movements: the ROYAL DRAGOONS were encamped with the army on the banks of the Segré, and having forded that river in August, the town of _Balaguer_, situate at the foot of a hill on the banks of that stream and in a district of uncommon fertility, was captured; also _Ager_, a place twelve miles from Balaguer. After placing garrisons in these towns the army repassed the river, and the regiments went into cantonments.

[Sidenote: 1710]

The campaign of 1710 was distinguished by more important events, the two claimants to the throne of Spain heading their armies in person. The enemy was first in the field, and commenced operations with the siege of Balaguer, but retired on the approach of the allied army. The ROYAL DRAGOONS were subsequently encamped on the banks of the Segré; and when King Charles joined the army, they were detached to meet his Majesty and to escort him to the camp.

After some manœuvring, Lieutenant-General STANHOPE (afterwards EARL STANHOPE), who commanded the British troops in Spain, being at the head of the leading column of the allied army on the march towards Alfaras, discovered, on the evening of the 27th of July, a body of the enemy's forces in front of the village of _Almanara_, and obtained the King's permission to attack them with the cavalry, of which the ROYAL DRAGOONS had the honour to form part.

The sun was declining from the horizon, and the shades of evening were gathering over the valleys of Catalonia, when the British commander led forward his warlike horsemen. Before him appeared twenty-two squadrons of Castilian cavalry, the pride and flower of the Spanish army, with King Philip's life guards on the right; a second line of the same numbers was seen in the rear, and nine battalions of infantry supported the cavalry. Against this force the gallant STANHOPE advanced at the head of Harvey's horse (now second dragoon guards); his front line consisted of sixteen squadrons, with a reserve of six squadrons. The Spaniards came forward to meet their opponents in all the pomp of war, and a noble spectacle presented itself. The foaming squadrons dashed upon each other, but the contest was of short duration. The enemy's left soon gave way,--the Spanish life guards were routed with the loss of a standard and a pair of kettle drums,--their second line fled in confusion,--the infantry were seized with a panic; and STANHOPE'S troopers chased the fugitives from the field with great slaughter, following them among the rocks and dells until the darkness rendered it impossible to distinguish friends from foes.

The result of this cavalry action disconcerted the plans of the enemy; King Philip called in his detachments and retired; and the allied army moved forward in pursuit. After following the retiring army many days, sometimes crossing valleys, and at other times traversing wild but beautiful regions among rocks and mountains, and obtaining possession of numerous towns in Arragon, the ROYAL DRAGOONS overtook the enemy's rear-guard in the pass of _Penalva_, on the 15th of August, when a sharp skirmish ensued, and Lieut.-Colonel COLBERG, who commanded the regiment, was wounded and taken prisoner.

Continuing the pursuit during the four succeeding days, the ROYAL DRAGOONS passed the Ebro with the leading column under Major-General Carpenter, and on the evening of the 19th of August the French and Spanish forces were discovered in order of battle on the right of _Saragossa_, a city pleasantly situated on the river Ebro, in a very plentiful country, abounding with every necessary for the support and convenience of life, and once the delight of Julius Cæsar, who erected a splendid palace there. Preparations were made to attack the enemy on the following day; the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed part of the cavalry of the left wing, commanded by Lieut.-General STANHOPE, and were opposed to the enemy's right on the brow of a steep hill.

Early on the morning of the 20th of August a heavy cannonade commenced; and as the mountains re-echoed the sound, and the smoke, tinged with the rays of the sun, rose in curling clouds and formed a glittering dome over the opposing armies, King Charles and his suite galloped along the line, and his Majesty's presence infused a glowing ardour into the troops. About mid-day Lieut.-General Stanhope led the ROYAL DRAGOONS and other British horsemen on the left against their adversaries, and a sharp cavalry action ensued, in which the French troopers (being superior in numbers) had the advantage; but Stanhope's second line of cavalry repulsed the enemy. The British dragoons rallied, and returning to the charge, a sanguinary sword-fight took place at the foot of the hill; but six squadrons of Portuguese dragoons on the extreme left fled before the troops advancing against them, without waiting to be attacked. The battle extended along the front to the banks of the Ebro, and the Imperial, Dutch, and Palatine troops vied with the British in feats of gallantry. The Royals, Pepper's (now eighth) and Stanhope's dragoons, continuing the fight, gained some advantage; Harvey's horse signalized themselves; and four English battalions, commanded by Major-General WADE, being mixed with the cavalry of the left wing, behaved with remarkable intrepidity and heroism. The British infantry, throwing off their knapsacks, sprang up the acclivity and attacked their opponents sword in hand: finally, the enemy was driven from the field with prodigious slaughter, and the loss of six thousand prisoners, twenty-two pieces of cannon, seventy-two standards and colours, the ammunition, baggage, and plate of King Philip; and the city of _Saragossa_ was captured, with its military stores of ammunition, provision and clothing. The ROYAL DRAGOONS passed the night in the fields near the town, and were thanked by King Charles for their distinguished gallantry.

After this victory the army once more advanced to Madrid, and King Charles made his public entry into the capital on the 28th of September; but the army of Portugal not advancing to sustain this forward movement, the most disastrous results followed. King Philip called to his aid troops from Estremadura,--reinforcements arrived from France,--the Castilian peasantry took arms in his behalf,--and the allied army was once more forced to retire.

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. This retrograde movement was performed under great difficulties from the hostile spirit of the Castilians, inclement weather, and a scarcity of forage and provision. On the 6th of December the column of which the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed part arrived at _Brihuega_, a village of about a thousand houses, situate in the mountains of Castile, near the river Tajuna, where they halted on the following day. While the troops were reposing in this rural seclusion, the town was suddenly surrounded by the French and Spanish forces commanded by the Duke of Vendosme. The British, though invested by a force of more than ten times their own numbers, resolved on a vigorous defence; but unfortunately they had no artillery, very little ammunition, and the wall round the village was in a ruinous condition. The enemy forced the gates, battered down part of the wall with their cannon, and assaulted the place by storm, but were repulsed with severe loss. A second assault was given, and the British troops, having spent all their ammunition, defended themselves a short time with stones and other missiles; but were eventually forced to surrender prisoners of war.[41]

[Sidenote: 1711]

The officers and men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS who were thus made prisoners were sent to France, and, after being exchanged, were removed to England, and subsequently to Scotland. The remainder of the regiment continued in Spain, where it served under Lieut.-General the Duke of Argyle.

[Sidenote: 1712]

In 1711 the Emperor Joseph died, King Charles proceeded from Spain to Germany, and was elected Emperor of the Romans. This event removed one of the competitors for the throne of Spain. King Philip made a formal renunciation of his claim to succeed to the throne of France, and the danger of an union of the kingdoms of France and Spain was thus removed. Negotiations for a general peace were commenced, and in the summer of 1712 the officers and men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS quitted Spain and returned to England. They were mounted on Spanish horses; but before they quitted Catalonia their horses were sold, and the men returned home dismounted.

[Sidenote: 1713]

After their arrival in England the ROYAL DRAGOONS were stationed in dispersed quarters in Yorkshire; and the establishment was fixed at twenty-seven officers, eight quarter-masters, and three hundred and twenty-eight non-commissioned officers and private men. During the summer of 1713 a detachment of the regiment proceeded to Dover, and received a draft of two hundred horses from Kerr's (now seventh) dragoons, which regiment was ordered to proceed, dismounted, to Ireland, where it was disbanded.

[Sidenote: 1714]

On the decease of Queen Anne on the 1st of August, 1714, the ROYAL DRAGOONS left Yorkshire, and marched into quarters in the villages near London; but after the arrival of King George I. from Hanover they returned to Yorkshire, and a reduction of fifty men was made in the establishment.[42]

[Sidenote: 1715]

In January, 1715, two troops of the ROYAL DRAGOONS, with three troops of the Scots greys, and a newly-raised troop of dragoons, were incorporated into a regiment--the present seventh hussars.[43] The establishment was thus reduced to six troops; and on the 13th of June in the same year the colonelcy was conferred on RICHARD LORD COBHAM, who was advanced to the dignity of Viscount three years afterwards.

At this period Jacobite principles were very prevalent in the United Kingdom; and in September, 1715, the Earl of Mar raised the standard of rebellion in Scotland, and excited the clans to take arms in favour of the Pretender. The ROYAL DRAGOONS were immediately ordered to the North; and in the early part of October they arrived at Edinburgh, from whence they marched immediately afterwards, and, being placed under the command of Lieutenant-General Carpenter, went in pursuit of a body of rebels.

[Sidenote: 1716]

After several marches and countermarches Lieutenant-General Carpenter arrived at Jedburgh on the 30th of October: three days afterwards he ascertained that a division of the rebel army had marched in the direction of Carlisle, and he instantly went in pursuit of them. The rebels, however, eluded his vigilance, and arrived without opposition at _Preston_, in Lancashire. Major-General Wills, who commanded in Cheshire, assembled several regiments, and marched towards Preston. In the mean time Lieutenant-General Carpenter, with the ROYAL, Molesworth's, and Churchill's dragoons,[44] were marching with all possible expedition from Scotland; and they arrived before Preston about mid-day on Sunday, the 13th of November, when they found the town surrounded by the troops under Major-General Wills: some sharp fighting had previously taken place, but on the arrival of the forces from Scotland, the rebels surrendered at discretion. On the same day another division of the rebel army was defeated at Sheriff-moor, near Dumblain; and in the early part of 1716 the Pretender and insurgent chiefs made their escape to France, and the common people retired to their homes.

[Sidenote: 1717]

After the suppression of this rebellion, the ROYAL DRAGOONS were stationed in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, from whence they marched, in February, 1717, to Newcastle upon Tyne, and were placed under the command of Major-General Wills. This march was occasioned by the preparations made by Charles XII., King of Sweden, for an expedition to England to place the Pretender on the throne; but the measures taken by the British government defeated the project. The journals of this period speak highly of the condition of the British army, particularly the _cavalry_, which they represent as the _best in the world_.[45]

[Sidenote: 1718]

In the spring of 1718 the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched into quarters in Yorkshire and Lancashire; and, the King of Sweden having been compelled to relinquish his projected expedition, the establishment was reduced to two hundred and seven officers and men.

[Sidenote: 1719]

The peace of Europe was disturbed in 1719 by Philip V. of Spain, who was desirous of recovering the places ceded by him in the treaty of Utrecht; and among the measures contemplated by the Spaniards was placing the Pretender on the throne of Great Britain, that the interest of this country might be insured in favour of the projected innovations. An expedition, commanded by the Duke of Ormond, was prepared in Spain for a descent on the British coast; but the fleet was dispersed and disabled by a storm: two ships, however, reached the coast of Scotland, and between three and four hundred Spaniards landed, and were joined by a number of Highlanders. When information of this event reached London, orders were issued for the ROYAL DRAGOONS to proceed with all possible expedition to Scotland, where they arrived in May. Major-General Wightman advanced with a body of foot and three troops of the Scots greys, and attacked the Spaniards and Highlanders on the 10th of June at the pass of _Glenshill_, and forced them to retire with considerable loss. On the following day the Highlanders dispersed, and the Spaniards surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The ROYAL DRAGOONS returned to England in July, and were quartered in Yorkshire; and a detachment was ordered to embark at Portsmouth and accompany the expedition commanded by their colonel, VISCOUNT COBHAM, intended to make an attack on Corunna. The design on that place was, however, abandoned; but the troops effected a landing on the coast of Spain, and took _Vigo_, where they obtained possession of several pieces of brass ordnance, with a magazine of muskets and other arms. _Rondendella_ and _Pont-a-Vedra_ were also taken, and additional captures of military stores effected. The Spanish court made overtures for a treaty of peace; and in November the expedition returned to England.

[Sidenote: 1720]

In February, 1720, His Majesty issued a regulation, fixing the amount of purchase-money to be paid for regimental commissions, and the following prices were established for the

ROYAL REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS.

Colonel and Captain £7000
Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain 3200
Major and Captain 2600
Captain 1800
Captain-Lieutenant[46] 1000
Lieutenant 800
Cornet 600
Adjutant 200

[Sidenote: 1721]

The ROYAL DRAGOONS left Yorkshire in April, 1721, and were stationed at Nottingham and Derby; and on the 10th of that month the colonelcy was conferred on SIR CHARLES HOTHAM, Baronet, Viscount Cobham having been removed to the second horse, now first dragoon guards.

[Sidenote: 1722]

[Sidenote: 1723]

During the summer of 1722 the ROYAL DRAGOONS were encamped near Durham; and on the 12th of January, 1723, the colonelcy, having become vacant by the decease of Sir Charles Hotham, was conferred on Brigadier-General HUMPHREY GORE, from the tenth dragoons.

[Sidenote: 1724]

[Sidenote: 1725]

[Sidenote: 1726]

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. No embarkation was, however, required.

[Sidenote: 1727]

[Sidenote: 1728]

The decease of King George I. took place on the 11th of June, 1727; and a few days previous to the coronation of his successor, George II., the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched into quarters near London, and were reviewed in brigade with Honeywood's (now eleventh) dragoons by his Majesty on Hounslow Heath, on the 17th of October. They subsequently proceeded into Leicestershire and Derbyshire; and in the beginning of the succeeding year the establishment was again reduced to six troops.

[Sidenote: 1730]

[Sidenote: 1731]

[Sidenote: 1732]

[Sidenote: 1733]

In the spring of 1730 the regiment marched into cantonments in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire; in 1731 it was stationed in Kent, with detachments on coast duty; and in the month of March in the following year proceeded into Somersetshire, from whence it detached, in the spring of 1733, several parties to the maritime towns and villages on the Suffolk coast, where frequent rencounters took place between the military and smugglers.

[Sidenote: 1734]

[Sidenote: 1735]

[Sidenote: 1737]

[Sidenote: 1738]

The several detachments were collected in May, 1734, and the six troops assembled at Taunton, where they were reviewed by their colonel, Major-General Gore. One troop was afterwards detached into Sussex; and in August another troop proceeded to Bath, and furnished a daily guard for the Princess Amelia during her Royal Highness's residence at that city. In August, 1735, the five troops in Somersetshire marched to the north, and were placed under the orders of Lieut.-General Wade, commander-in-chief in Scotland. They, however, returned to England in April, 1737, and were quartered in Lancashire; and during the summer of the following year the six troops were stationed in Essex and Kent, with detachments on coast duty.

[Sidenote: 1739]

In July, 1739, the ROYAL DRAGOONS were ordered to call in their detachments and march into quarters at Hounslow and its vicinity; and on the 28th of that month they were reviewed on Hounslow Heath by his Majesty. In the beginning of August they marched into quarters in Worcestershire; and their colonel, Major-General Gore, died on the 18th of that month. On the 1st of September his Majesty conferred the colonelcy on CHARLES, second DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH, from the 38th regiment of foot.

The Spaniards having repeatedly violated the existing treaties in regard to the commerce of England with America, his Majesty declared war against Spain; and the establishment of the ROYAL DRAGOONS was augmented to four hundred and thirty-five officers and men.

[Sidenote: 1740]

In May, 1740, the colonelcy, vacant by the removal of the Duke of Marlborough to the second troop (now second regiment) of life guards, was conferred on Major-General HAWLEY, from the thirteenth dragoons.

[Sidenote: 1741]