1784
1785
During part of the year 1784, the head-quarters were at Lincoln, with detachments along the coast; in 1785 they were removed to York, with detached troops in Northumberland, Durham, and on the Yorkshire coast.
1786
to
1792
In 1786 and 1787 the regiment was stationed in Lancashire; in 1788 the head-quarters were at Exeter, with detachments on the Devonshire coast; they were removed to Dorchester in 1789; to Winchester in 1790; to Ipswich in 1791; and to York in 1792, with detachments on coast duty.
1793
A revolution had, in the mean time, taken place in France; and a violent republican party had seized the reins of government, and imprisoned their king. These indications of an approaching war occasioned the establishment of the regiment to be increased sixty men; in the beginning of 1793 it was augmented to nine troops, and was held in constant readiness to proceed on foreign service; a tenth troop was afterwards added.
The French republicans, pursuing a career of cruelty, spoliation, and bloodshed, added to their multiplied enormities the decapitation of their king. Infatuated by success in their own land, they sought to subvert the liberties of other countries,—to destroy the civil order of Europe,—to spread a moral contamination of principle and practice which outraged the nature of mankind,—and to involve every country in atheism, despotism, and anarchy. They attacked Holland, when a British force was sent to the assistance of the Dutch, and the Inniskilling dragoons marched from York in June, 1793,—embarked at Blackwall, and having landed at Ostend, went into quarters for a short time among the Flemish peasantry.
From Ostend the Sixth proceeded to the vicinity of Bruges, and were formed in brigade with the blues and royal dragoons. Meanwhile the successes of the allies had removed the theatre of the war from Holland, to the frontiers of French Flanders, and the Inniskilling dragoons advanced up the country and joined the forces commanded by the Duke of York before Valenciennes, which fortress surrendered to His Royal Highness a few days after the regiment joined the army.
The British were separated from the remainder of the allies, with a view of undertaking the siege of Dunkirk; and the Inniskilling dragoons marched from Valenciennes to the vicinity of the coast for the purpose of forming part of the covering army. On the evening of the 22nd of August the French were driven from the camp at Ghivelde, and the covering forces took up a defensive position under Marshal Freytag, while the Duke of York carried on the operations against the fortress. The delay which took place in the arrival of the battering train, and of a British naval force, to co-operate with the army, gave time for the government of France to assemble men from various parts, crowd them into coaches, waggons, and other vehicles, and hurry them day and night towards Dunkirk. On the 6th of September the enemy attacked the covering army with overwhelming numbers, and, owing to the nature of the ground, the Inniskilling dragoons dismounted and formed as infantry. Some sharp fighting occurred during the day, and after sunset the covering army withdrew to a new position. The night was dark and tempestuous; the advance-guard took a wrong road, and on entering the village of Rexpoede it was found to be occupied by the enemy. Some confused fighting took place, and Marshal Freytag and Prince Adolphus were surrounded, but escaped with slight wounds. Finally the French were repulsed with great slaughter, and the army, continuing its route, arrived at Hondschoote on the following morning, and took up a new position. The Sixth dragoons lost one quarter-master, their sick men, the women, and the baggage, which fell into the enemy's hands.
On the 8th of September the covering army was again attacked, and driven from its ground by superior numbers; when the Duke of York raised the siege and retired.