The third regiment was raised as the Twenty-Third Light Dragoons in 1781, for service in India, where it was immediately sent; the first British cavalry regiment that went to India. On the disbandment of the second regiment, in 1783, the Twenty-third was re-numbered the Nineteenth, and, for fourteen years, it continued to be the only British cavalry regiment in India. During the twenty-four years of its sojourn in the East it bore a conspicuous share in every important military undertaking of the time, with the exception of the campaign against Holkar when it was too far distant from the scene of action to take part. Those twenty-four years, from Warren Hastings to Wellesley, mark the turning point of our power in India. When the Nineteenth landed at Madras our very existence in Southern India hung in the balance. The gallantry of our army was paralysed by the feebleness of the administration that directed their efforts. When the regiment re-embarked for England, the supremacy of our military power had been fully established. Under their distinguished leader, John Floyd, the Nineteenth played no small part in the campaigns of 1790, ’91, and ’92, against Tippoo, attracting to themselves an amount of interest in Southern India that no other regiment did. They assisted at the capture of Pondicherry, and the crowning victory of Seringapatam. It was their good fortune to serve under the Duke of Wellington in the first independent commands he held in the field. They took part in the destruction of the noted freebooter Dhoondia Wao; a short but stirring campaign that deserves more notice than it generally receives. At Assaye, the charge of the Nineteenth and the native cavalry brigaded with them restored the fortunes of the fight at a critical moment. They played their part at Argaum, and, a few months before sailing from India, were actors with Gillespie in his remarkable feat at Vellore. Soon after the declaration of war by the United States against Great Britain, in 1812, they were sent to Canada. The conditions of that war afforded little scope for cavalry action, so that the share of the Nineteenth in the various operations was a subordinate one. The campaigns on the Canadian frontier have been so completely eclipsed by our struggles against Napoleon in Europe, that the arduous nature of the lake and forest warfare carried on by a mere handful of British troops and Canadian militia is hardly known. A squadron of the Nineteenth, under an officer whose whole career was identified with the regiment, formed for eighteen months part of the small band that upheld the honour of the British arms under Sir Gordon Drummond, at Lundy’s Lane and other actions on the Niagara frontier. In the course of the wholesale reductions that took place after Waterloo this fine regiment ceased to exist, and its place in the Army List knew it no more.
The fourth regiment, the one that now bears the title of the Nineteenth Princess of Wales’ Own Hussars, was originally raised by the East India Company on the outbreak of the Mutiny of the Bengal Army, and received its present number on the transfer of its services to the Crown. In 1882, they formed part of the expedition to Egypt under Lord Wolseley, to put down the rebellion of Arabi Pasha. In 1884, they formed part of the expedition to Suakin under Sir Gerald Graham, and fought at El-Teb and Tamai, suffering severe losses in the first of the two actions. In 1885, they were selected by Lord Wolseley to form part of the expedition to Khartoum; the only horsemen that accompanied the force. The Head Quarters of the regiment formed part of the Desert Column, under Sir Herbert Stewart, and fought at Abu Klea and Abu Krou, while a squadron of the regiment accompanied the River Column, under General Earle, and were present at the action at Kirbekan. A third portion of the regiment was at the same time employed at Suakin, where it experienced serious losses. For its services in 1885 the regiment was granted the distinctive title it now bears; a proof that it is no unworthy successor of the regiment that helped to strengthen the foundations of our power in India, under Cornwallis, Harris and Wellington, and whose honourable badges it wears, in addition to those it has won for itself.
The history of a regiment of the British Army is part of the history of the Empire at some of its most momentous epochs. To understand it properly, requires a setting of general history that cannot be dispensed with. In compiling these annals I have chiefly aimed at providing a work that shall be of interest and use to those who have served, or, in the future may serve, in the regiment. At the same time there is much which will, I believe, be of interest to the student of Indian Military History, and will not be unacceptable to the general reader.
The bones of British soldiers lie scattered far and wide. In every portion of the globe, their unmarked graves are strewed on mountain and plain, by stream and forest, by swamp and desert; silent witnesses of their devotion to their Sovereign and country. But they have not died in vain, if the remembrance of their achievements survives, to swell the hearts and nerve the arms of their successors, and to remind their countrymen what they owe to their sufferings and their valour.
In compiling these Annals I have received assistance from many unexpected sources. To Mr W. C. L. Floyd I am indebted for much assistance from the papers of his grandfather, under whom the 19th Light Dragoons won their spurs in the Mysore campaigns; to Major General Gillespie, who has kindly placed at my disposal the only authentic portrait of his celebrated grandfather; and to Lieut. General Sir Francis Norman, who collected notes of the career of the old 19th Light Dragoons, many years ago. My thanks are also due to Mr James Wilson and Major Ernest Cruikshank of the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society, who have done so much to rescue from oblivion the details of the war on the Niagara frontier, and to Mr Douglas Brymner, the Dominion Government Archivist at Ottawa. I am also indebted to Mr S. M. Milne for the kindly interest he has taken in my work; to Lt. Colonel Frank Barrow who placed at my disposal the letters written by his distinguished brother during the Soudan campaigns of 1884 and 1885, to Colonel K. J. W. Coghill, C.B., who commanded the regiment at Tel-el-Kebir, and to Colonel J. C. Hanford, C.B. (formerly Hanford-Flood) who commanded the squadron with the River Column, without whose encouragement and aid this work would not have been undertaken. I refrain from adding more names, but the list of those to whom my thanks are due is not exhausted.
[CONTENTS]
| PART I | |
| THE NINETEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS | |
| DROGHEDA’S HORSE—1759–1763 | |
| PAGE | |
| State of affairs in Europe in 1756—Declaration of War againstFrance—Increase of the Army—Early Years of the War—Invasionexpected—Orders for raising the 19th LightDragoons—Death of George II.—End of the Seven Years’War—Reduction of Military Establishments—19th LightDragoons become the 18th—Uniform of the Regiment | [1] |
| PART II | |
| THE NINETEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS | |
| 1779–1783 | |
| War in America—Declaration of War by France—Increase ofthe Army—Orders for raising the 19th Light Dragoons—Uniform—Peaceproclaimed—Reduction of Military Establishments—Regimentdisbanded | [10] |
| PART III | |
| THE TWENTY-THIRD, AFTERWARDS THE NINETEENTHLIGHT DRAGOONS | |
| (1781–1822) | |
| CHAPTER I.—1781–1782 | |
| THE TWENTY-THIRD LIGHT DRAGOONS. | |
| Alarming state of Public Affairs—Want of Cavalry in India—Ordersfor raising the 23rd Light Dragoons—Colonel SirJohn Burgoyne—Regiment embark for India—Arrive inMadras—Desperate State of Affairs—Madras Misgovernment—Horsesfor the Regiment | [19] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| TROUBLES AT MADRAS—1783–1785 | |
| Sultan Tippoo Sahib of Mysore—Operations in Southern India—Deathof Sir Eyre Coote—Attack on Cuddalore—Peacewith France—Tippoo makes Peace—Strained relationsbetween civil and military in India—The E.I. Company’smilitary establishment—The King’s troops in India—Misconductof Madras Government—Quarrel between Counciland General Stuart—Complaints of Council againstBurgoyne—Arrest of Stuart—Council appoint Lang tosupersede Bourgoyne—Burgoyne refuses to give overcommand of the King’s troops—Strange delusions of theCouncil—Imminent Conflict between King’s and Company’stroops—Unworkable arrangement—Fresh quarrel—Burgoynearrested—Mutiny of native cavalry—Court Martialon Burgoyne—His acquittal—His death—End of thequarrel—Burgoyne justified | [35] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| CHANGE OF NUMBER—1786–1789 | |
| Regiment moved to Shevtamodoo—John Floyd—Number ofregiment changed to 19th—Uniform—Sir William Howeappointed Colonel—Foundation of Indian native cavalrysystem laid by Floyd and the 19th Light Dragoons | [58] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| WAR WITH TIPPOO—1790 | |
| War with Tippoo—19th take the field—Advance on Coimbatore—Divisionunder Floyd detached towards Guzzulhutti Pass—Frequentskirmishes—Satyamunglum—Dispersion of theArmy—Advance of Tippoo—19th hotly engaged—Tippoo’sBody-Guard destroyed—Retreat from Satyamunglum—Casualties—Marchin pursuit of Tippoo—Private Parkes—TheTapoor Pass—Tippoo eludes pursuit, and ravages theCarnatic—Army returns to Madras | [66] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| CORNWALLIS’ CAMPAIGNS—1791–1792 | |
| Cornwallis takes command of the Army—Advance on Bangalore—Orderof March—Floyd’s reconnoissance—Imprudentadvance—Floyd badly wounded—Casualties—Capture ofBangalore—Advance on Seringapatam—Battle of Arikera—Armyin great straits—Forced to retreat—Junction ofMahratta contingent—19th sent to Madras—Rejoin Cornwallis—Advanceon Seringapatam—Night attack—Floyddetached to meet Abercromby—Seringapatam invested—Peacemade—Tippoo’s hostages—19th return to Shevtamodoo | [81] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| FALL OF MYSORE—1793–1799 | |
| France declares War—Expedition against Pondicherry—Surrenderof Pondicherry—Peace reigns in India—LunkiaNaik—Floyd’s large allowances—French adventurers inIndia—Tippoo’s growing hostility—Disarmament ofNizam’s force under French officers—Army formedunder General Harris—Tippoo’s intrigues—Galloper Guns—Advanceon Mysore—Battle of Mallavelly—Seringapataminvested—The Bombay Army—The Rajah of Coorg—Signalguns—Seringapatam taken—Tardy recognition inEngland of services performed in India—Badge of“Seringapatam” | [99] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| DHOONDIA WAO—1800–1802 | |
| Floyd leaves 19th—Dhoondia Wao—Force formed underColonel Wellesley to capture him—Advance on RaneeBednore—Capture of Koondgul, Dummul, Gudduck—Divisionof Dhoondia’s force destroyed at Manoli—Dhoondiadoubles back—Again hemmed in—Dhoondiacrosses Malpurba river—Pursuit drawing to a close—Dhoondiacaught at Conaghul—Dhoondia killed, and hisforce destroyed—19th return to Mysore—The Rajah ofBullum—Regiment ordered to Arcot | [114] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| INDIA IN 1803 | |
| State of affairs in India in 1803—The Mahratta Confederacy—ThePeishwa—Scindia—European Adventurers in India—Scindia’sdisciplined forces—Perron—Quarrels among theMahratta Chiefs—Peishwa takes refuge in Bombay—Placeshimself under protection of the British—Scindia’s hostilityaroused—Mahratta combination against the British—Peishwarestored to Poona—Preparations for hostilities—Summaryof campaign that followed | [125] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| ASSAYE AND ARGAUM—1803–1804 | |
| Capture of Ahmednuggur—Battle of Assaye—Death of Lieut.Colonel Maxwell—Honorary Colour granted to 19th—Battleof Argaum—Capture of Gawilghur—Berar Rajahmakes peace—Scindia makes peace—March againstbanditti—Their dispersal—Grant of badges for Assaye | [136] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| THE VELLORE MUTINY—1805–1807 | |
| Lieut. Colonel Gillespie—19th at Arcot—Mutiny of Vellore—Amilitary wonder—19th ordered to England—A quarter of acentury’s changes—The “Terrors of the East”—Farewellorders—19th land in England | [157] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| WAR WITH UNITED STATES—1808–1813 | |
| 19th in Ireland—United States declare War—19th ordered toCanada—United States’ plans—Operations of 1812—Mackinaw—Detroit—Armistice—Battleof QueenstonHeights—General Brock killed—Montreal threatened—Operationsof 1813—Proctor’s victory at Frenchtown—FortMeigs—United States’ victory on Lake Erie—Battle of theThames; Proctor’s defeat—York captured—Fort Georgeand Erie evacuated—Stoney Creek: Harvey’s brilliantexploit—Fitzgibbon’s success at Beaver Dam—Arrival ofsquadron of 19th on Niagara frontier—Engagement onLake Ontario—Fort George re-occupied—Fort Niagarasurprised—Black Rock and Buffalo captured—Abortiveattack on Sackett’s Harbour—United States’ operationsagainst Montreal—Battle of Chateaugay—Battle ofChrystler’s Farm—Importance of Kingston and Sackett’sHarbour | [172] |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| THE NIAGARA FRONTIER—1814–1821 | |
| United States’ plans—Attempt on Mackinaw—La Colle—Stateof affairs on Niagara frontier—Drummond’s raid on Oswego-Dover—Advanceof U.S. force—Capture of Fort Erie—Battleof Chippewa—Critical position of British force—Battleof Lundy’s Lane—Retreat of U.S. forces—Fort Erieinvested—Assault on Fort Erie—Sergeant Powell—Conclusionof operations on Niagara frontier—Prevost’s abortiveattack on Plattsburgh—Defeat of British squadron on LakeChamplain—Other operations—Bladensberg—Capture ofWashington—General Ross killed—Victory at Baltimore—Expeditionagainst New Orleans—Its defeat—Fort Bowyercaptured—Treaty of Ghent—Sir William Payne—SirJohn Vandeleur—Badge “Niagara” granted—Regimentreturns to England—Equipped as Lancers—Embark forIreland—Disbanded | [193] |
| PART IV | |
| THE NINETEENTH “PRINCESS OF WALES’ OWN” HUSSARS | |
| 1858–1899 | |
| CHAPTER I | |
| RAISING OF THE REGIMENT—1858–1882 | |
| The East India Company raises European Cavalry regiments—Theirformation—The Bengal 1st European Light Cavalry—Servicestransferred to the Crown—The “White Mutiny”—Made19th Light Dragoons, afterwards Hussars—GeneralPattle—Regiment at Meerut—General Hall—Regimentordered to England—Badges of old 19th LightDragoons granted—Regiment ordered to Ireland—Guidonsof old 19th Light Dragoons presented to the regiment—Regimentreturns to England—Ordered on active service | [220] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| TROUBLES IN EGYPT—1882–1884 | |
| Troubles in Egypt—Arabi’s rebellion—Capture ofIsmailia—Kassassin—Tel-el-Kebir—End of the War—19th atCairo—Badges granted—Troubles in Eastern Soudan—OsmanDigna—Regiment ordered to Suakin—Wreck of the Neera—Battleof El Teb—Heavy losses of the 19th—Battle ofTamai—Osman Digna’s camp burned—Regiment returnsto Cairo—Badges granted | [233] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| CAMPAIGN ON THE NILE—1884–1899 | |
| Troubles in the Western Soudan—Expedition to relieve Khartoum—19thordered up the Nile—Korti—The DesertColumn—Action at Abu Klea—Action at Abu Krou—QuartermasterLima killed—The horses—Metemmeh—Fallof Khartoum—Return of the Column—The RiverColumn—Action at Kirbekan—Return of the Column—SummerQuarters—Regiment returns to Cairo—Squadronsent to Suakin—Serious losses—Returns to Cairo—Designationgranted of “Princess of Wales’ Own”—Death ofColonel Barrow—19th returns to England—Badge of“Mysore” granted—19th embarks for India—Bangalore—Secunderabad | [246] |
| APPENDIX A. | |
| Yearly Lists of the Officers of the Nineteenth | [271] |
| APPENDIX B. | |
| Casualties in the Nineteenth Hussars during the EgyptianCampaign of 1882 | [304] |
| APPENDIX C. | |
| Special Honours granted to Nineteenth Hussars for EgyptianCampaign of 1882 | [305] |
| APPENDIX D. | |
| Casualties in the Nineteenth Hussars during the Campaignnear Suakin, 1884 | [306] |
| APPENDIX E. | |
| Special Honours granted to Nineteenth Hussars for Campaignnear Suakin, 1884 | [307] |
| APPENDIX F. | |
| Addresses to Nineteenth Hussars by Major General G. Graham,C.B., V.C., and Brigadier General H. Stewart. Trinkitat,5th March 1884 | [308] |
| APPENDIX G. | |
| Casualties in the Nineteenth Hussars during the SoudanCampaign of 1885 | [310] |
| APPENDIX H. | |
| Special Honours granted to Nineteenth Hussars for SoudanCampaign, 1885 | [311] |
| APPENDIX I. | |
| Address to Nineteenth Hussars by General Lord Wolseley,G.C.B. Korti, 23rd March 1885 | [312] |
| APPENDIX K. | |
| Report by Colonel Barrow on the Arab horses ridden by theNineteenth Hussars during the Nile Campaign of 1885 | [313] |