State of affairs in Europe in 1756—Declaration of War against France—Increase of the Army—Early Years of the War—Invasion expected—Orders for raising the 19th Light Dragoons—Death of George II.—End of the Seven Years’ War—Reduction of Military Establishments—19th Light Dragoons become the 18th—Uniform of the Regiment. From the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748), to the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War (1756), the peace, nominally existing between England and France, was continually broken, out of Europe, by both parties. In India, under the veil of alliance with opposing Native Princes, war was actively prosecuted, and it was with difficulty that British interests maintained a precarious footing in that country. In North America, the French claimed the whole continent, except the ill defined New England settlements along the coast, and denied the right of the English to trade in the interior. Keeping themselves in the background, they waged a bloody war against the English settlers, by means of the Indians, whom they subsidized, and whose disguise they often adopted. Both in the East and the West, French[2] officials were acting with the support and countenance of the Court of Versailles, and the English officials on the spot were not slow to retaliate when occasion offered. It was evident that a crisis could not long be averted, but it was advantageous to the French to postpone an open rupture as long as possible, while the French navy was being strengthened. On the other hand, it was the interest of England to hasten the rupture, when war was seen to be inevitable, since the objects to be fought for were beyond the seas. The English navy was, at that time, greatly superior in strength to the French navy, while the French military forces were eight or ten times as strong as the English army, which had been greatly reduced since the conclusion of the late war. As time went on, less pains were taken to conceal the warlike measures undertaken on either side. In the beginning of 1755, Braddock’s ill-fated expedition was dispatched to New England, while a counter-expedition for Canada was sent out from Brest and Rochefort, a few weeks later. Neither side was acting in good faith: on both sides, secret instructions for active hostilities were given to the commanders. In June, two French ships, with troops on board, were captured by Boscawen off the coast of Newfoundland. Exactly a month later, Braddock’s force was cut to pieces by the French and Indians. Still the pretence of peace was preserved. In April 1756, a French expedition sailed from Toulon to attack Minorca, which for half a century had been a British possession. Byng’s well-known failure to relieve Minorca ensued, and the place fell on 27th June.
Meanwhile the absurdity of maintaining the semblance of peace under such circumstances had become patent to the British cabinet, and in May, war was formally declared. In August, the coalition of France and Austria, soon to be joined by Russia, was declared against Prussia, and Great[3] Britain found herself engaged in hostilities in Germany, India and America at the same time.
The early years of the war were neither fortunate nor creditable to Great Britain. After the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, the Army within the three kingdoms had been reduced to about eighteen thousand men. In December 1755, an increase of fifteen thousand men had been voted. But armies are not made in a day, and the direction of affairs was in incompetent hands. Pitt, who alone commanded the confidence of the country, was regarded with disfavour by the King. In November 1756, Pitt was recalled to office, and a new spirit was infused into the management of affairs. A Militia Bill was introduced, the regular Army was increased to forty-five thousand men, and steps were taken for enlisting into the service of the State the Highland clans who had so recently been in arms against the Crown. In April 1757, Pitt was dismissed from office, and all again was confusion. For three months England was without a Government; at the end of that time, Pitt was again in office. But the ill effects of the political contest at home were reflected in the ill-success of our arms abroad, and two years were to elapse before the nation felt secure. The year 1757 was a gloomy one in England. A French invasion was believed to be imminent: an expedition, dispatched in May, against Louisbourg in America, failed, owing to the feebleness and tardiness of execution on the part of those to whom it was entrusted: Fort William Henry was taken by Montcalm, and its garrison massacred by the Indians. In Europe, an expedition, dispatched in September, against Rochefort, failed, through the disagreements of the naval and military officers in command. The Duke of Cumberland was forced to evacuate Hanover, and sign the convention of Kloster-Severn, and many months were to elapse before the triumph of Clive at Plassy became[4] known in England. In 1758, matters improved somewhat. In July, Louisbourg was taken, but an attack on Ticonderago in the same month was defeated, and Lord Howe, described by Wolfe as “the noblest Englishman that has appeared in my time, and the best soldier in the British army,” was slain in a skirmish. In Germany, the British troops, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, drove the French out of Hanover, while two successful raids were made on the French coast, in which Cherbourg and St. Servan were temporarily occupied, and a great quantity of warlike stores destroyed or captured.
Pitt’s genius was now beginning to be felt in every branch of the service, and, from this time, matters improved steadily, by land and sea. In May 1759, Guadaloupe was captured. In July, Rodney destroyed the French boats in Havre prepared for the invasion of England, while Hawke blockaded Brest. In August, Boscawen defeated a French fleet in the Bay of Lagos. In the same month, the French were decisively defeated at Minden by an inferior English and Hanoverian force: on the 13th September, Quebec was taken by Wolfe, who fell in the moment of victory, and French interests in America received their death blow. To complete the year’s triumphs, on 20th November, Hawke destroyed a French fleet under Conflans in Quiberon Bay, in an action fought in the midst of a tempest. The nation could breathe freely again; there was no more fear of invasion, and England was confident of ultimate success. But Pitt’s efforts were not relaxed, and many regiments of Cavalry and Infantry were added to the Army during the year.
By Royal Warrants, dated respectively 17th March, 4th August, 10th October and 17th November 1759, the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th Light Dragoons were raised for service abroad and at home. In December, steps were[5] taken to raise the 19th Regiment of Light Dragoons in Ireland, and, in the following month, a Notification to that effect was issued from Dublin Castle.
By the Lord Lieutenant General and General
Governor of Ireland.
1760.
Bedford,
His Majesty having been pleased to Order a Regiment of Light Dragoons to be forthwith raised in this Kingdom, under the Command of the Earl of Drogheda,[1] to consist of one Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, one Lieutenant Colonel, one Major, three Captains, six Lieutenants, six Cornets, one Chaplain, one Surgeon, one Surgeon’s Mate, one Adjutant, six Quartermasters, eighteen Serjeants, eighteen Corporals, twelve Drummers, six Hautboys, and six Troops of seventy Men per Troop: and His Majesty’s Letter being shortly expected for placing the said Regiment upon the Military Establishment of this Kingdom from the seventh day of December last past inclusive, to be paid at such times and in such manner as other Regiments of Dragoons in this Kingdom are paid, the pay of such Commission and Staff Officers and the Subsistance of the Non Commission Officers to commence from the date of their respective Commission, Warrants, and Appointments, and the Subsistance of the private Men, approved by the Officer who shall be appointed to review them from the Days of their being severally attested inclusive. And whereas We have authorized and required the said Earl of Drogheda by Beat of Drum or otherwise, forthwith to raise such number of able bodied Protestants in this Kingdom, as shall be willing to enlist themselves[6] and may be wanting to compleat the said Regiment to the Establishment before mentioned, in the Execution of which Service the said Earl of Drogheda or one of the Field Officers of the said Regiment is to make the like returns to your Office as are usually made upon raising Regiments: We do hereby give you Notice thereof and do direct you upon Receipt of the Returns aforesaid to allow the names of all such Recruits on the Muster Rolls of the said Regiment in Order to their being entered for Pay, pursuant to His Majesty’s Letter aforesaid. Given at His Majesty’s Castle of Dublin the 15th Day of January 1760.
By His Grace’s Command
Richard Rigby.
To the Muster Master General of this Kingdom or his Deputy.
A month later followed the Royal Warrant.
1760.
George R.—Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin and Councillor. We greet you well. Whereas the Commissioners of our Treasury have laid before us your Letter of the 29th of December last transmitting unto them the following Establishment of a Regiment of Light Dragoons to be raised according to a Proposal from Charles Earl of Drogheda which had been laid before and approved by Us and also an Estimate of the Expence of each particular to be provided and defrayed by Us for the use of the said Regiment which said Establishment for One Year commencing from the seventeenth day of December last will amount to the sum of seventeen thousand four hundred and thirteen pounds ten shillings and tenpence according[7] to the following particulars thereof that is to say—
Per day. Per annum.
For one Lieutenant Colonel Commandant ￡0 7 0 ￡127 15 0
One Lieutenant Colonel 0 7 0 127 15 0
One Major 0 5 0 91 5 0
One Chaplain 0 6 8 121 13 4
One Surgeon 0 4 0 73 0 0
One Mate 0 2 6 45 12 6
One Adjutant 0 4 0 73 0 0
For One Troop
Captain 10 sh. and two servants at 1/2 each ￡0 12 4 ￡225 1 8
Lieutenant 6 sh. and one Servant at 1/2 0 7 2 130 15 10
Cornet 5 sh. and one Servant at 1/2 0 6 2 112 10 10
Quarter Master 0 4 0 73 0 0
Three Sergeants at 2/8 each 0 8 0 146 0 0
Three Corporals at 1/10 each 0 5 6 100 7 6
Two Drummers at 1/8 each 0 3 4 60 16 8
One Hautboy at 1/6 0 1 6 27 7 6
Seventy Men at 1/6 each 5 5 0 1,916 5 0
———— ——————
7 13 0 2,792 5 0
For five Troops more 38 5 0 13,961 5 0
———— ——————
General Total ￡47 14 2 ￡17,413 10 10
———— ——————
And We being graciously pleased to approve thereof and also of the several Particulars by you proposed in your said Letter Our Will and Pleasure is and we do hereby direct authorize and require that you give the necessary orders and Directions for placing the said Regiment on the Military Establishment of that our Kingdom from the seventh day of December last past inclusive for the several allowances of Pay in the said Establishment specified as aforesaid to be paid at such times and in such manner as other Regiments in that Kingdom are paid the Pay of each Commissioned and Staff Officers and the subsistence of the Non Commissioned Officers to commence from the date of their respective Commissions Warrants and Appointments and the subsistence of the private Men approved by the Officer who shall be appointed to review them from the days of their being severally attested inclusive as also[8] for issuing out of our Revenues at Large in that Kingdom to the said Charles Earl of Drogheda or his Agent the sum of seventeen hundred and seventy pounds five shillings clear of all Fees and Deductions for four hundred and seventy four Cloaks at the rate of one pound twelve shillings and sixpence for each Cloak as also for issuing out of our said Revenues at large in that our Kingdom to the said Charles Earl of Drogheda or his Agent the sum Six Thousand Seven hundred and Fifty pounds clear of all Fees and Deductions for Four hundred and Fifty horses at the rate of Fifteen pounds for each Horse and likewise for issuing out of our said Revenues at large there to the Master and Principal Officers of the Ordnance the sum of Seven hundred and Sixty Six pounds clear of all Fees and Deductions for defraying the expense of four hundred and thirty two Firelocks and Bayonets at the rate of one pound fifteen shillings for each Firelock and Bayonet for the use of the said Regiment and for so doing this shall be as well to you as to our Lieutenant Deputy or other Chief Governor or Governors of that our Kingdom as to all other our Officers and Ministers who shall or may be concerned herein a Sufficient Warrant and so we bid you very heartily farewell. Given at our Court of St. James the 12th day of February 1760 in the 33rd Year of our reign.
By His Majesty’s Command,
Holles Newcastle.
H. B. Legge.
James Oswald.
Entered at the Signet office
the 25th February 1760
Geo. Brown, Dy.
To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin and Councillor John Duke of Bedford Lieutenant General and General Governor of our Kingdom of Ireland and to Our Lieutenant Deputy or other Chief Governor or Governors of that Our Kingdom for the time being.
[9]
On the 24th March, the Muster Master General was again addressed, and instructed that, in consequence of an application from the Earl of Drogheda, “the orders relating to the Magistrates attesting the men raised to be Protestants and to making returns of the several places where the recruits were enlisted may be dispensed with, proper certificates that the men are Protestants having been obtained from the Clergymen of the Parishes where such men were severally enlisted, and all other requisites in the Earl of Rothes’ said instructions having been complied with.”
On 25th October 1760, George II. died; in February 1763, the Peace of Paris was concluded, and the Seven Years’ War came to an end. During the whole of this time, the Regiment, which was generally known as “Drogheda’s Horse,” remained in Ireland; but little or nothing can be learned concerning it. Considerable reductions of establishment were made directly peace was assured. The 17th (Aberdour’s Horse), which had never been able to complete its strength, ceased to exist, and the 18th Light Dragoons became the 17th. The 19th in the same way became the 18th, under which number it gained much distinction in the West Indies, Holland, the Peninsula, and Waterloo, being finally disbanded in 1821. Lord Drogheda, who had raised the regiment, continued to be its Colonel Commandant till its disbandment, nearly sixty two years afterwards, an unbroken term of service with one regiment probably unparalleled.
It is impossible at this date to ascertain what was the uniform of the regiment, before its number was changed. It certainly wore the red light dragoon coat of the period, and the facings were probably white, with red and white lace, similar to what it wore after its number was changed, until blue was substituted for red in all the Light Dragoon regiments.