[19] Annals of Queen Anne.
[20] Two engravings were published of this brave man; one representing him in the act of preserving the standard, and the other a half figure. He recovered from his wounds in about six weeks, and as a reward for his gallantry he was promoted to the post of a private gentleman in the life guards; an appointment which, at that time, was usually obtained by purchase.
[21] Major Honeywood received five wounds; he was thought dead, and stripped, and in that state lay six hours on the field of battle. He was, with Captain Brown, and Lieutenant Robinson, reported dead; but all three recovered. We learn from a private letter from General Bland, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, that all his officers were wounded except two, but they gallantly refused to be reported so, and remained with the regiment.
[22] The loss of the Third Dragoons was equal to that of the whole of the other cavalry regiments, excepting Ligonier's horse, now seventh dragoon guards.
[23] It is said that when the King reviewed his army, previous to leaving them in 1743, he noticed the deficiency in the ranks of the Third, by sharply asking whose regiment it was, and what had become of the remainder of it. 'Please your Majesty,' was the reply of General Bland, 'it is my regiment, and I believe the remainder of it is at Dettingen.'
[24] The sword of Lieutenant-Colonel Honeywood, of the King's Own dragoons, who led the attack at the affair of Clifton Moor, (December 19, 1746,) was, on that officer's being cut down, taken possession of by the chief of the Macphersons, which clan formed part of the rear-guard of the rebel army. It is still in existence.
[25] 'Lord George Murray, who always commanded the rear-guard of the rebels, took possession of a village called Clifton, two miles short of Penrith, and ordered Colonels John Stuart and Clunie Macpherson, with their regiments, supported by the Macdonalds of Keppock, to take post at the bottom of the moor, where they were covered by the hedges and ditches. There were also some hussars in the village, who had just come from Lowther Hall.
'About an hour after sunset the King's troops appeared upon the moor, and three hundred of Colonel Honeywood's dragoons dismounted and marched forward to attack the rebels, who fired from behind the hedges. After a few volleys the dragoons were ordered to retire a few paces, when the highlanders, mistaking this for a flight, rushed forward with sword and pistol; but were well received by the dragoons, who had drawn their swords. Now the shouts began, the clashing of swords is heard, the pistols are fired, and the event seems doubtful. Some of the rebel's swords broke upon the steel caps of the dragoons, whereupon they draw their daggers and fight with great obstinacy.
'Thus they continued for about an hour, when the rebels, observing the resolution of the dragoons, retired across the ditch with precipitation, and carried consternation to Penrith. Such was the skirmish at Clifton, in which twelve of the dragoons were slain and twenty-four wounded. On the side of the rebels were slain twenty, and seventy taken prisoners.'—History of the Rebellion.
[26] In April, 1760, Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple, of the King's Own Dragoons, published an essay dedicated to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (afterwards George III.) on the raising, arming, clothing, and disciplining of the British cavalry and infantry, in which the re-introduction of cuirassiers and lancers was recommended.