And so, on the 20th October 1806, twenty-four years to a day since they first arrived in Madras, the 19th Light Dragoons with their honours thick upon them, embarked in the Streatham, William Pitt, and Jane Duchess of Gordon, to sail for England three days later, under convoy of the squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Sir Edward Pellew. The voyage was uneventful. Table Bay was reached 30th December, and St Helena 23rd January. On the 18th April 1807, the regiment disembarked at Tilbury, one detachment being landed at Plymouth, and marched to Northampton. A muster taken a week after landing shows the strength of the regiment to have been 245 rank and file. Recruiting parties were at once sent out to Birmingham, Glasgow, Dublin and Waterford.
CHAPTER XI
WAR WITH UNITED STATES
1808–1813
19th in Ireland—United States declare War—19th ordered to Canada—United States’ plans—Operations of 1812—Mackinaw—Detroit—Armistice—Battle of Queenston Heights—General Brock killed—Montreal threatened—Operations of 1813—Proctor’s victory at Frenchtown—Fort Meigs—United States’ victory on Lake Erie—Battle of the Thames; Proctor’s defeat—York captured—Fort George and Erie evacuated—Stoney Creek: Harvey’s brilliant exploit—Fitzgibbon’s success at Beaver Dam—Arrival of squadron of 19th on Niagara frontier—Engagement on Lake Ontario—Fort George re-occupied—Fort Niagara surprised—Black Rock and Buffalo captured—Abortive attack on Sackett’s Harbour—United States’ operations against Montreal—Battle of Chateaugay—Battle of Chrystler’s Farm—Importance of Kingston and Sackett’s Harbour.
During the following six years the regiment remained at home, and took no part in the stirring events then occurring in Spain and Portugal. At the end of 1808, they moved from Northampton to Norwich and Ipswich, with a detachment at Birmingham, while their recruiting parties were actively engaged in different parts of the United Kingdom. In March 1809, the regiment moved to Romford, and, in December, embarked for Ireland. For two years the regiment remained in quarters at Tullamore, Philipstown and Longford. By an order dated 23rd April 1811, the establishment was augmented from 400 to 570 privates, making the total strength of all ranks 685. In March 1812, the regiment marched to Clonmel, and in June, to Dublin. The regiment was soon to proceed on active service again.
KING’S GUIDON.
SQUADRON GUIDON.