The American war commenced in the same year in which the regiment embarked for Ireland, and was continued with varied success. In 1781 the regiment was ordered to proceed to South Carolina and Georgia, to reinforce the British troops in those provinces; it embarked from Ireland on the 17th of March, and arrived in America in May; but the peculiar turn which the circumstances of the war took shortly afterwards, prevented the regiment having an opportunity of distinguishing itself.
1782
A letter, dated the 31st of August, 1782, conveyed to the regiment His Majesty's pleasure that it should be designated the NINETEENTH, or the FIRST YORKSHIRE NORTH RIDING REGIMENT, in order that a connexion between the corps and that part of the county of York should be cultivated, with the view of promoting the success of the recruiting service.
1783
1791
Hostilities terminated in 1782, and the regiment proceeded to the Leeward Islands; in 1783 it was removed to Jamaica, where it was stationed until 1791, when it returned to England, and landed at Portsmouth in June.
1793
The French revolution had commenced while the regiment was at Jamaica, and in 1793 the King of France was beheaded, and a republican government was established, which was followed by war between England and France. The French Royalists of La Vendée and La Loire took arms against the regicide government, and solicited aid from England; the NINETEENTH regiment embarked with the expedition under Major-General the Earl of Moira, to aid the French Royalists, who expected to be able to gain possession of a sufficient portion of the coast for the English troops to land; the expedition was held in suspense, the fleet being driven about the Channel in stormy weather in the winter of 1793-4.
1794
No opportunity of landing in France, and of joining the Vendéeans, having occurred, the regiment disembarked on the coast of Devonshire in January, 1794, and went into quarters: the health of the men having suffered from being long detained on board of the fleet.
After a few months' repose in quarters, the regiment again embarked, and sailed with the troops under the Earl of Moira for Ostend, which fortress was menaced by a numerous French force. The regiment landed at Ostend on the 26th of June. The Earl of Moira resolved not to limit his services to the defence of Ostend, but to attempt to effect a junction with the army commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of York; and after a tedious and difficult march in the face of a victorious enemy of superior numbers, whose troops were overrunning the country in all directions, the British arrived at Alost, where they repulsed the attack of a body of the enemy on the 6th of July, and joined the Duke of York's army at Malines three days afterwards.