1803
In July, 1802, four troops were ordered to Trowbridge to aid the civil power in the suppression of riots. In October following the regiment proceeded to Exeter and Taunton, with detached troops on coast duty in Cornwall; and in April, 1803, it was removed to Dorchester, Radipole, and Wareham barracks, from whence it marched in July following to Arundel and Chichester. At the same time, the war with France having recommenced, the establishment was augmented from eight to ten troops.
1804
A change of quarters took place in April, 1804, and the regiment was stationed at Ipswich and Woodbridge; from whence it proceeded, in November following, to Colchester, where it passed the winter.
1805
1806
The regiment quitted Colchester in April, 1805, and proceeded to York, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Birmingham. In January, 1806, it returned from the north, and was again stationed at Woodbridge; and in March of the same year it once more proceeded northward, and, on arriving in Scotland, its head-quarters were established at Edinburgh, with detached troops at Dunbar, Haddington, and Perth, having marched upwards of six hundred miles in three months.
1807
1808
Embarking from Scotland in January, 1807, the regiment proceeded to Ireland, from which country it had been absent one hundred and fifteen years; and on its arrival the head-quarters were stationed at Dundalk, with detached troops at Belturbet, Lisburn, Monaghan, Enniskillen, Sligo, and Londonderry. In June, 1808, it proceeded to Dublin, with detached troops at Carlow and Athy.
In the mean time important events had transpired in the Peninsula. Napoleon Buonaparte (whom the French had elevated to the throne) had obtained possession of the kingdoms of Portugal and Spain by treachery; had placed his brother Joseph on the throne of Spain, and supported these usurpations by an immense French army. The Spaniards and Portuguese, being impatient of the bondage into which they were brought, made energetic struggles for liberty, and, a British force proceeding to their aid, Portugal was delivered from the power of Buonaparte. Lieut.-General Sir John Moore advanced from Lisbon into Spain to aid the patriots; and the Royal Dragoons were directed to proceed on foreign service to reinforce the army in the Peninsula; but, on arriving at Cork for embarkation, news of the result of Sir John Moore's expedition occasioned the order to be countermanded.
1809