The first regiment of Light Dragoons formed for permanent service was the present 15th Hussars. In 1759 many journeymen tailors went up to London to lay a petition before Parliament against certain grievances in connection with the goose; failing to obtain their object, and becoming slightly ruffled, some hundreds of them at once enlisted into the new corps that was being raised by the afterwards celebrated defender of Gibraltar, Col. Eliott. It is an old saying, that it takes nine tailors to make a man; but in the maiden action, at Emsdorf, 16th July, 1760, they proved that one tailor was more than a match for nine Frenchmen. They put small oak branches in their helmets, and displayed the firmness of that tree, proving themselves heroes of no mean quality; 500 of the enemy got separated from the main body, and had to lay down their arms to the tailors; the pursuit was then continued, and the enemy overtaken, and surrendered prisoners of war to the tailors; the total number of prisoners amounted to 2,659 officers and men; while sixteen standards or colours were captured by this regiment of tailors, in Germany, from the French, during the Seven Years’ War, from 1757 to 1763. The French say that it takes nine good men to make a tailor; they evidently have not forgotten the 15th Hussars.
SINGULAR DESCRIPTION OF A DESERTER.
From the London Gazette of July 10th, 1689.
Ran away out of Captain Soames’ Company, in his Grace the Duke of Norfolk’s Regiment, the present Holy Boys, the 9th, a Barber-Surgeon, a little man, with short black hair, a little curled, round visage, fresh coloured cloth coat, with gold and silver buttons, and the loops stitched with gold and silver, red plush breeches, and white hat; he lived formerly at Downham Market, Norfolk, and his mother sold pork. Whoever will give notice to F. Baker, agent to the said regiment, so that he the Barber-Surgeon may be secured, shall have two guineas reward.
“God Save the King.”
OUTLINE OF THE LIFE OF FIELD-MARSHAL
THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, K.G.
I will now venture to give a sketch of the life and military achievements of that distinguished General, Wellington, under whom the British Army met and conquered the terror of Europe, Napoleon. Wellington, as most of my readers are perhaps aware, was a native of the Emerald Isle, whose sons have for many years been the pride of our Army and Navy, and have gone shoulder to shoulder with the sons of Albion upon many a hard fought field; and here I would remark that the very man whom Her Most Gracious Majesty and the nation at large now delights to honour, the present Lord Wolseley, is a native of that Isle. Wellington was born 1st May, 1769, (the same year that Napoleon was born); and the following are the dates of his various promotions:—
| Joined the Army as Ensign, 7th March, 1787. | |
| Promoted to | Lieutenant, 25th December, 1787. |
| 〃 | Captain, 30th June, 1791. |
| 〃 | Major, 30th April, 1793. |
| 〃 | Lieut.-Colonel, 30th September, 1793. |
| 〃 | Colonel, 3rd May, 1796. |
| 〃 | Major-General, 29th April, 1802. |
| 〃 | Lieut.-General, 25th April, 1808. |
| 〃 | General in Spain and Portugal, 21st July, 1811. |
| 〃 | Field Marshal, 21st June, 1813. |
He had plenty of friends in high places to lift him up the ladder of promotion, so that in eight short years he was in a position to reap all kinds of honours.
From 1799 to 1815, his career had been one continual string of victories—from Seringapatam to the Field of Waterloo.