N.B.—A Pattern Suit of Clothing made up according to these Regulations, will be deposited at the Army-Comptroller’s Office—Horse Guards.
No record now exists to show what facings were worn by the Regiment up to this date. Probably, their facings had never been decided on, owing to their departure from England so soon after embodiment, as, in December 1786, an order was issued, approving a pattern of yellow cloth for their facings. The blue jacket with primrose yellow facings and white or silver braid, continued to be the uniform of the regiment till December 1802, when an order came into force for Dragoon regiments, serving in India, to wear grey instead of blue. In February 1786 an order was issued directing the Colonels of Light Dragoon regiments to supply their men with blue cloaks instead of red.
The vacancy caused by the death of Sir John Burgoyne was filled by the appointment of Lieutenant General the Hon. Sir William Howe,[23] K.B., Colonel of the 23rd Foot, to be Colonel. He was an officer who had seen much active service, principally in America, where he had gained the reputation of a brave rather than of a skilful soldier. As a young man he took part in the conquest of Quebec by Wolfe, and led the forlorn hope of twenty-four men that forced the entrenched path by which Wolfe’s force scaled the heights of Abraham. He served at the siege of Belleisle (1761), where he was wounded. He commanded the British troops at the pyrrhic victory of Bunker’s Hill; and gained victories over the revolted colonists at Long Island and at Brandywine.
We get a glimpse of the regiment on 15th December 1788, when they were inspected by the Governor and Commander in Chief, Sir Archibald Campbell, who, in a minute to the rest of the Government, recorded that “H.M.’s 19th Regiment of Light Dragoons were complete in horses and accoutrements, and their discipline equal to any Corps in Europe.” In a general order he said “The rapid and accurate manner with which the several evolutions were performed, and the extraordinary velocity of their charge, than which nothing could be more regular and correct, does infinite honour to Colonel Floyd and the officers under his command, by whose unremitting zeal and attention the discipline of the corps has been carried to so high a state of perfection.”
The regimental muster rolls for 1788 and 1789 show that the strength of the 19th, in those years, varied from 300 to 350 men present at Shevtamodoo. The strength in horses seems to have exceeded that in men, but the wear and tear in horseflesh was apparently very great, and remounts in considerable numbers were constantly required.
It was during these years spent by the regiment at Shevtamodoo, that the Madras Government dealt in earnest with the question of forming a service of Native Cavalry. To assist them in this work they selected Floyd, who was given a free hand in all that concerned the discipline and equipment of the Native regiments. The system founded by him may be said to have lasted nearly up to the present time.
From this time up to the date of their departure from India, the 19th Light Dragoons never ceased to furnish non-commissioned officers and privates as instructors to the Native Cavalry, not only in Madras, but also in Bengal. In every muster roll they are shown on duty, at Madras, Vellore, Hyderabad, Seringapatam, Poonamallee, and other military stations in the Madras Presidency. In Bengal there were always from four to sixteen sergeants, corporals, and privates on this duty, as long as the regiment was in India, and, for a time, some were on similar duty in Bombay and Poona. A General Order, dated Fort William 3rd December 1795, sanctions the sergeants of the 19th Light Dragoons “now on service in this presidency instructing the native cavalry, to receive the pay and allowances of Sergeant Majors of Cavalry.” In 1798 a General Order was issued, directing “the brass chapes and sockets to be made up according to the pattern furnished by Major General Floyd.” And in December 1805, a few months before the regiment left India, each native cavalry regiment in the Presidency was ordered to send a detachment to Arcot, for instruction in one uniform system by Lieutenant Neville, 19th Light Dragoons. The system observed in the Company’s native cavalry up till 1857, may be said to have been founded by Colonel Floyd and the 19th Light Dragoons.
CHAPTER IV
WAR WITH TIPPOO
1790