Historical Record of the Sixth, or Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons / Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1689, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846

by Richard Cannon

Appointed 18th October, 1775.

Edward Harvey was many years an officer of the Sixth, or Inniskilling regiment of dragoons, with which corps he served at the battles of Dettingen, Fontenoy, Roucoux, and Val. On the 29th of May, 1754, he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment; and under his care and attention to all the duties of commanding officer, the Inniskilling dragoons became celebrated as a corps of heavy cavalry. Proceeding with his regiment to Germany, in the summer of 1758, he was present at nearly every action during the remainder of the seven years' war, and was twice wounded, viz., at Wetter, in August, 1759, where he highly distinguished himself, and at Campen, in October, 1760. He commanded a brigade of cavalry during the summer of 1762, and was highly commended for his signal gallantry and ability at the dislodging of a French corps from Homburg in August of that year, when he led the Blues to the charge in gallant style, and overthrew all opposition. On the 17th of March, 1763, King George III. promoted him to the colonelcy of the twelfth dragoons, and in the following year he was removed to the third Irish horse, or carabineers. He was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1762, and to that of lieutenant-general in 1772. He performed the duties of adjutant-general of the forces several years, to which appointment he was nominated by King George III. soon after the termination of the seven years' war. On the decease of General Cholmondeley, His Majesty gave him the colonelcy of the Inniskilling dragoons, with which corps his early services were connected. He died in 1778.

James Johnston.

Appointed 2nd April, 1778.

This officer obtained the commission of cornet in the thirteenth dragoons on the 5th of October, 1736, and was removed to the royal dragoons in 1739, in which corps he rose to the rank of major, and was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the thirteenth dragoons on the 2nd of December, 1754. In April, 1759, he was re-appointed to the first royal dragoons, and proceeding in command of the regiment to Germany, served in the battles and skirmishes of that and the two succeeding campaigns under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. He particularly distinguished himself at the battle of Warbourg, and was wounded at the battle of Campen. In 1762 he was promoted to the local rank of major-general in Germany, and he commanded a brigade of cavalry during the campaign of that year. He was distinguished alike for the sterner military virtues,—for a gentlemanly deportment,—and an amiable disposition, which procured him the esteem of all ranks; and on the breaking up of the army on the continent he received a flattering mark of the approbation of the hereditary Prince of Brunswick,[17]—namely, a valuable gold snuff-box embellished with highly-chased military trophies, accompanied by an autograph letter from the prince. His services were rewarded with the appointment of lieutenant-governor of the island of Minorca in 1763, and he was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1770. In the following year this meritorious officer was rewarded with the colonelcy of the ninth dragoons; in 1774 he was constituted governor of Quebec; and in 1775 he obtained the colonelcy of the first Irish horse (now fourth dragoon guards). Two years afterwards he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general; in 1778 he was removed from the first Irish horse to the Sixth Inniskilling dragoons; and was further promoted to the rank of general in 1793: he is stated to have been one of the most celebrated swordsmen of his time. The decease of this distinguished veteran occurred on the 13th of December, 1797, at Hampton, from whence he was removed with great state for interment in Westminster Abbey on the 21st of that month.

George Augustus Earl of Pembroke, K.G.

Appointed 15th December, 1797.

George Augustus Lord Herbert entered the army on the 10th of September, 1775, as ensign in the twelfth foot, then stationed at Gibraltar, and obtained the rank of lieutenant in 1777. In January, 1778, he obtained a company in the seventy-fifth, or Prince of Wales's regiment of foot, then being raised, and in December following he was removed to the royal regiment of dragoons. In 1781 he was appointed major of the twenty-second light dragoons, and in the following year he was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of the second dragoon guards.

In 1793 he proceeded with his regiment to Flanders, and soon after his arrival, he was detached by the Duke of York, with the second and third dragoon guards, to join the Prussians. Having united the two regiments with Lieutenant-General Count Hohenzollern's corps, he was employed in covering the left flank of the Prussian army during the siege of Valenciennes, in which service he was several times engaged in skirmishes with the French, and evinced signal ardour and gallantry. He subsequently rejoined the Duke of York's army, and was employed in covering the siege of Dunkirk; having under his command four British and Hanoverian squadrons and four pieces of flying artillery, he dislodged a body of French from Hundschuyt. His lordship was principally employed in the out-post duty during the remainder of the campaign.