The mistake that had been made by the United States government in the early part of the war, in under-rating the difficulty of conquering Canada, and in believing that the inhabitants would join the invaders, was now to be repeated by the British government. British Ministers had been brought to believe that the inhabitants of Louisiana were disaffected to the U.S. government, and that the State could easily be taken possession of. With this object, an expedition against New Orleans had been planned in England; and, it was in order to save the troops for this purpose, that the attack on Baltimore had been abandoned. New Orleans, though a great commercial centre, was devoid of any military importance, and the expedition was destined to furnish another example of the faulty strategy that was exhibited on both sides during the war.
On the 8th December, the expedition under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham, appeared off the coast, and, on the night of the 12th, captured the enemy’s squadron of gunboats. On the 16th, the landing of the troops commenced, at the mouth of the Pearl river. Considerable delay ensued, owing to the swampy nature of the ground, and the advance did not approach the city till the 23rd. General Jackson, in command at New Orleans, occupied a long line of entrenchments at right angles to the river. He was also assisted by armed vessels on the Mississippi which inflicted severe losses on the British troops, and greatly delayed their advance. On the morning of the 8th January, the attack was made, and repulsed with heavy slaughter. Pakenham fell at the head of his men; Major General Gibbs died of his wounds the following day, and Major General Keane was severely wounded. The total loss amounted to 2119 killed, wounded and missing. So strongly were the enemy posted, that his loss did not exceed about 80 men. Under this disastrous repulse the expedition withdrew on the 18th, and re-embarked. A portion of the expedition was then directed against Fort Bowyer, on Mobile Point, which capitulated, on 12th February, without resistance. Twenty-eight guns and over 300 prisoners fell into the hands of the British.
In the middle of March, news was received that a Treaty of Peace had been signed at Ghent on 24th December, and the war was at an end.
During the summer of 1814, the Head Quarters of the regiment was moved from La Prairie to Chambly, where they remained as long as the regiment was in Canada. The four troops left behind in Ireland had been moved, on the embarkation of the regiment for Canada, to Radipole Barracks, near Weymouth; and thence to Maidstone, in February 1814. In July of the same year, the regiment lost its Colonel, Lord Howe, by death. In his place, Lieutenant General Sir William Payne Bt., was transferred as Colonel, from the 23rd Light Dragoons. He was an officer who had served in the Royal Dragoons, and commanded the British Cavalry at the battle of Talavera. His connection with the regiment was very brief, as, in the following January, he was appointed Colonel of the 12th Light Dragoons. In his place, Major General Sir John Ormsby Vandeleur K.C.B., Lieutenant Colonel in the regiment, was appointed Colonel.
Sir John Vandeleur had entered the army in 1781, and saw service in Flanders in 1794, and at the Cape of Good Hope in 1796. He commanded a brigade of cavalry, under Lake, in the wars against Scindia and Holkar, 1803–5, and especially distinguished himself at Laswaree, and on other occasions. In 1807, he exchanged into the 19th as already mentioned.[66] In 1811, he commanded an infantry brigade in Spain, under Wellington, and, at Ciudad Rodrigo, led the assault after Craufurd’s fall, when he was severely wounded. Afterwards he commanded the 4th cavalry brigade at Waterloo, and succeeded to the command of the whole of the cavalry, on Lord Uxbridge being wounded.
During 1814, gold lace was substituted for silver in the uniform of the regiment.
In May 1815, sanction was granted, under the following order, for Major Lisle’s squadron to wear the badge “Niagara” for their services on the Niagara frontier. The privilege seems to have been extended later to the whole regiment.
Horse Guards
19th May 1815.
1815.
19th Light
Dragoons
(Squadron
under Major
Lisle). Royal
Scots—1st
Battalion. 8th
or King’s—
1st Battalion.
41st—Fl.
Cos. 89th—
2nd Batt.
100th—
103rd—
Glengarry Lt.
Inf. Fencibles.
Sir,