The non-effectives during the five years and a half the regiment had been on foreign service, including men invalided and sent home, and horses cast and sold, were 654 non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, and 1564 troop horses. From the period of its leaving Ireland in 1795, it had been recruited from the counties of Worcester, Warwick, Salop, and Bucks, with some volunteers from the fencible cavalry in 1800, and from the royal waggon train in 1810.
The contest in North America, which had been recommenced in 1813, had not terminated, and in the autumn two squadrons of the regiment, dismounted, embarked, and sailing from Plymouth, arrived, on the 24th of November, at Jamaica, where an expedition was assembled under Major-General (afterwards Lord) Keane, for an attempt on New Orleans, situate on the river Mississippi, one hundred and ten miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The approach to this place was particularly difficult; and when the fleet arrived, on the 10th of December, off the coast of Louisiana, the troops had to be removed into light vessels, and eventually into open boats, for the tedious navigation of Lake Bargne, and were afterwards obliged to traverse a difficult morass. Emerging from the morass, the soldiers were opposed by such immense bodies of Americans, with extensively fortified lines and batteries, and armed vessels on the river, that after extraordinary efforts, and exhibitions of valour and perseverance, the enterprise was relinquished.
1815
In the attack on the enemy's lines, on the 8th January, 1815, the two squadrons served dismounted. Major-General the Honourable Sir Edward Pakenham, K.C.B., was killed; Major-Generals Gibbs and Keane were dangerously wounded; and the command devolved on Major-General Lambert, who stated in his public despatch, 'The conduct of the two squadrons of the Fourteenth light dragoons, latterly under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Baker, previously of Major Milles, has been the admiration of every one, by the cheerfulness with which they have performed all descriptions of service.'
The troops returned on board the fleet; and one boat, containing Lieutenant Brydges, Cornet Hammond, one serjeant-major, and thirty-nine rank and file of the regiment, was captured by the Americans.
Hostilities were soon afterwards terminated by a treaty of peace; and the two squadrons arrived in England, and joined the regiment at Hounslow in May; a third squadron which had embarked for America, also rejoined the head-quarters.
This year the regiment was authorized to bear the word "Peninsula" on its guidons and appointments, in commemoration of its services in Portugal, Spain, and France.
Napoleon Buonaparte having quitted Elba, and returned to France, and having regained the throne of that kingdom, war was immediately recommenced; three squadrons of the Fourteenth having sailed for America, the regiment was prevented sharing in the contest which followed; but Colonel Hervey and Major Percy served on the staff of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington.
1816