War in America—Declaration of War by France—Increase of the Army—Orders for raising the 19th Light Dragoons—Uniform—Peace proclaimed—Reduction of Military Establishments—Regiment disbanded. “The year of which we treat, presented the most aweful appearance of public affairs, which this country had perhaps beheld for many ages.”[2] The condition of affairs in England, in 1779, was truly alarming. Since the spring of 1775, Great Britain had been striving to subdue her rebellious colonies in America. The war was mismanaged, the Ministry was incapable: the successes gained were barren of results, while serious disasters had been experienced. In March 1778, France, which had long been secretly aiding the rebellious colonies, threw off the mask, and openly espoused their cause. The warlike spirit of the country was roused, and those who would have conceded peace on almost any terms to American demands, refused to consider it at the intervention of France. The French forces however effected nothing of importance during the year; towards the end of it, the probability of Spain joining the coalition against England became known, though the actual declaration[11] of war was delayed till June 1779. The national spirit was now thoroughly roused, but there was great apprehension of invasion. Supplies were freely voted, great additions were made to the naval and military establishments, camps were formed in many places in the south of England, the militia were embodied, and militia camps formed at Cox Heath, Warley, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham, and Aldborough. The most strenuous efforts were made to place the defences of the country on an efficient footing.
In April, the following Letter of Service was addressed to Major General Russell Manners, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd Dragoon Guards.
Warrant.
George R. Whereas we have thought fit to order a Regiment of Light Dragoons to be forthwith formed under your Command which is to consist of six troops with four Sergeants four Corporals one Trumpeter one Hautboy and fifty-four private men and horses in each Troop beside the usual number of Commissioned Officers: These are to authorize you by beat of drum or otherwise to raise so many men in any County or part of our Kingdom of Great Britain as shall be wanted to complete the said Regiment to the numbers above mentioned. And all Magistrates Justices of the Peace Constables and other our Civil Officers whom it may concern are hereby required to be assisting unto you in providing Quarters impressing carriages and otherwise as there shall be occasion.
    Given this 25th day of April 1779 in the 19th year of our Reign.
By His Majesty’s Command
C. Jenkinson.
To Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Russell Manners Esq.
&c. &c. &c.
[12]
On the same day, similar Warrants were issued for raising the 20th and 21st Light Dragoons.
In July, a small Corps of Light Dragoons, known as Lister’s Corps, was raised, and in August, the 22nd Light Dragoons was formed. At the same time, all out pensioners of Chelsea were inspected to see which of them “were fit for garrison or other duty.”
The 19th Light Dragoons were formed by drafts from the 1st and 2nd Dragoon Guards, and the 4th and 10th Dragoons, and encamped at Salisbury; where also were the 11th Light Dragoons. The 15th, 20th, and 21st Light Dragoons were encamped on Lexden Heath near Colchester. On the 9th October 1779, the 19th were inspected by Lieutenant-General James Johnston, when the effective strength was 355 Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates, and 347 horses. The Inspecting Officer reported that the Officers wore scarlet, with silver button holes and green lappels, and “were mostly young genteel men with a good air, and great attention, and tolerable horsemen.” The Non-Commissioned Officers were said to be too tall for Light Dragoons, few of them being under 5 ft. 10 in.
Further orders for recruiting were issued in February 1780, and again in February 1781. Regimental clothing accounts were formidable things in those days, and two years after the Regiment was raised it was found that the clothing money of the men drafted to the 19th Light Dragoons from other Regiments had been paid, for two years, to the wrong person; so the following warrant, directing Major-General Manners to refund, was issued.
“Warrant to make good a deficiency in the Offreckonings of the several Regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons within specified from 25th April 1779 to 5th July 1781 out of ye Offreckonings of ye 19th 20th and 21st[13] Regiments of Light Dragoons which were formed by sundry Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men turned over from the said Regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons.”
George R.
1781.
   Whereas we were pleased to direct that our several Regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons should be augmented from the 25th March 1778 and also further augmented from 25th August following and Whereas on the 25th April 1779 We were pleased to order three Regts. of Light Dragoons to be formed (out of a proper number of Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men turned over to them from the several Regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons as specified in the State hereunto annexed), and whereas in Consequence of this We were pleased to direct that each Troop of our said Regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons should from the 25th April 1779, be reduced so as to consist of Two Sergeants, Two Corporals, One Trumpeter, One Hautbois and thirty seven Private Men, and no more besides the usual Commissioned and other Officers, whereby a Deficiency hath arisen in the Assignment of the Offreckoning of each of our said Corps between 25th April 1779 and 5th July 1781 and We having been most humbly besought to grant Our Warrants to make good the said deficiency It appearing that the several Colonels above mentioned did turn over the Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men (Specified against each of their names in the State annexed) fully clothed and appointed according to our Regulations, Our Will and Pleasure therefore is that out of the Offreckonings arising on the Establishment of each of the new Corps specified in the annexed State and directed by our Warrant of the 29th March 1781, to be retained in your hands, you do pay from time to time to the said several Colonels or their Assigns the Amount (as the same hath[14] or shall become payable according to the custom of the Service) of the Offreckonings of the Non Commissioned Officers and Private Men turned over to the New Corps that have accrued from 25th April 1779 to 5th July following as also that shall accrue from 6th July 1779 to 5th July 1781, in full satisfaction of the Claims of the said several Colonels of Our said Regiments of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons for the deficiency on their respective Assignments already passed by them up to 5th July 1779 and 5th July 1781, And for so doing &c. Given &c. this 20th day of June 1781 in the 21st Year of our Reign.
By His Majesty’s Command
C. Jenkinson.
“State of the numbers of Non Commissioned Officers and Privates the amount of whose Offreckonings, from 25th April 1779 to 5th July following, as also from 6th July 1779 to 5th July 1781 are to be paid over from the three new Regiments of Light Dragoons.”
From Major General Russell Manners’ 19th Regiment of Light Dragoons as follows Viz:
Serjts. Corpls. Ptes.
To the 1st Regt: of Dragoon Guards Assignees of late Gen. John Mostyn 6 6 78
2nd Dragoon Guards Lord Viscount Townshend’s 6 6 84
4th Dragoons Lieut: Gen: Carpenter’s 6 6 84
10th Dragoons Assignees of late Sir John Mordaunt 6 6 60
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Total to be paid out of Major Gen: Manners’ Offreckonings 24 24 306
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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,[15] 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[16] 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,[17] 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.
[18]
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.”