1761
In February, 1761, the regiment was engaged in an incursion into the French cantonments, and took part in several skirmishes with the enemy. In the spring a remount joined from England.
After much manœuvring, the allied army took post in Prussian Westphalia, on the rivers Asse and Lippe, and the Royal Dragoons were encamped on the heights between Illingen and Hohenover.[51] On the 15th of July the enemy attacked the troops under the Marquis of Granby at Kirch Denkern, when the Royal Dragoons marched across the Asse by the bridge at Hans Hohenover, and advanced to support the corps attacked. After a sharp action the enemy was repulsed with loss. The fire of the skirmishers was, however, kept up throughout the night, and on the following morning the enemy renewed the engagement with great fury. During this day the Royal Dragoons were posted near Vellinghausen, and, when the enemy's columns of attack were repulsed, advanced to charge, but were prevented by the hedges and marshy hollows which intersected the country. They were subsequently employed in military operations on the Dymel, and afterwards marched into the electorate of Hanover, and were engaged in a skirmish near Eimbeck in the early part of November. On the same night they marched through a heavy snow to Foorwohle, where they encountered and drove back some French cavalry. On the 9th of November they had another skirmish at Foorwohle, and subsequently marched into quarters in East Friesland.
1762
The Royal Dragoons left their winter quarters in May, 1762, and on the 18th of June joined the army encamped at Brackel, in the bishopric of Paderborn, from whence they marched to the heights of Tissel. The French army, commanded by Marshals d'Estrées and Soubise, took post at Groebenstien, where Prince Ferdinand resolved to attack them on the 24th of June, and the army was ordered to move forward in several columns for that purpose.
Moving from their camp-ground at daybreak, the Royal Dragoons passed the Dymel at Liebenau about four in the morning, and advanced against the enemy's camp. The manœuvre was conducted with such address, that the army was in presence of the French before they had the least apprehension of an attack, and, being instantly assaulted in front, flank, and rear, they retired in confusion, leaving all their equipage behind them. The Royal Dragoons had advanced against the enemy's front, and they were subsequently employed in surrounding a division of the French army commanded by General Stainville in the woods of Wilhelmsthal, where several corps were made prisoners. The pursuit was continued, and the French took refuge under the cannon of Cassel; the Royal Dragoons then retired a few miles, and encamped near Holtzhausen.
During the remainder of the campaign the Royal Dragoons were employed in operations on the Fulde, the Eder, and the Lahn, which were attended with such signal success, that a considerable portion of territory was wrested from the power of the enemy, and the allies took Cassel.
These successes were followed by a treaty of peace, and the Royal Dragoons proceeded into quarters in the bishopric of Munster.
At the close of the military operations of the year, when the army marched into winter quarters, Colonel James Johnston, of the Royal Dragoons, who had commanded the regiment since the 7th of April, 1759, and during the campaign of 1762 had commanded the brigade composed of the Royals and second dragoon guards, received a most flattering mark of the approbation of the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick (afterwards reigning Duke, who married Princess Augusta, sister to George III.; he died of the wounds he received at the battle of Jena in 1808), namely, a valuable gold snuff-box, embellished with highly-chased military trophies, accompanied by an autograph letter, of which the following is a copy:—