1794
In the beginning of 1794 the regiment marched to Ballinrobe and Castlebar, part of it remaining stationed in Sligo.
1795
The violence of party in France soon kindled a corresponding sensation in the colonies of that country in the West Indies, where the whites, mulattoes, and blacks, became inflamed against each other, and when the decree of "Equality" passed, an open rupture followed. The blacks revolted, particularly in the island of St. Domingo. Anarchy, massacre, and devastation followed, and several planters obtained aid from the English, and transferred their allegiance from France to the British crown. Additional forces were ordered to the West Indies. Two troops of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons were withdrawn from Ireland in June, 1795; they remained a few weeks in England, and embarked, in September, for Jamaica.
1796
The regiment, having received orders to prepare for service in the West Indies, assembled at Mallow, and there delivered over its horses for the use of other corps; it afterwards embarked at Cork and sailed to Bristol, where it met the Fourteenth Dragoons, destined for the same service. It subsequently proceeded into quarters at Warminster and Frome, thence to Salisbury, Winchester, and Southampton, where it embarked in transports; and joining other vessels containing troops belonging to the expedition, the whole proceeded to Cove Harbour, and in February, 1796, seven troops of the regiment sailed for Barbadoes, where they arrived in the beginning of April.
Captain Bolton of the Thirteenth was sent to purchase horses in America.
From Barbadoes the regiment sailed to St. Domingo; but the reduction of that island was found to be impracticable, as the health of European troops could not be preserved long enough to reduce the blacks and French revolutionists to obedience. The Thirteenth Light Dragoons, partly mounted on horses sent from America, had a few skirmishes with the armed bands which possessed the country, and a party of the regiment which accompanied the expedition against the town of Bombarde, had an opportunity of charging the enemy with great effect; but the climate soon reduced the regiment to a skeleton: it lost twenty officers, seven troop quarter-masters, and two hundred and thirty-three soldiers in six months, and the few remaining officers and soldiers were removed to Jamaica in December.
A part of the regiment, under the command of the Honorable Colonel Walpole of the Thirteenth Light Dragoons, who was promoted to the local rank of major-general, shared in the dangers and fatigues of the harassing warfare against the Maroons in Jamaica, until its successful termination, which, with the consequent safety of the island, was attributed to the talent, energy, and courage displayed by the major-general; and a sword of the value of five hundred guineas was voted to him by the house of assembly.