Historical Record of the First, or the Royal Regiment of Dragoons: Containing an Account of Its Formation in the Reign of King Charles the Second, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1839Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the First, or the Royal Regiment of Dragoons: Containing an Account of Its Formation in the Reign of King Charles the Second, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1839
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Dragoons, 1st (Royal)
After this victory the army once more advanced to Madrid, and King
Charles made his public entry into the capital on the 28th of
September; but the army of Portugal not advancing to sustain this
forward movement, the most disastrous results followed. King Philip
called to his aid troops from Estremadura,--reinforcements arrived
from France,--the Castilian peasantry took arms in his behalf,--and
the allied army was once more forced to retire.
On the 11th of November King Charles withdrew from the army,
taking with him the ROYAL DRAGOONS and Staremberg's Imperialists,
and proceeded to Cienpoznelos. The ROYAL DRAGOONS appear to have
become a favourite corps with his Majesty, and when he retired
to Barcelona he took with him two squadrons of the regiment as a
body-guard. The other squadron remained with the army, and during
the retreat it formed part of the rear column on the left commanded
by Lieut.-General STANHOPE. This retrograde movement was performed
under great difficulties from the hostile spirit of the Castilians,
inclement weather, and a scarcity of forage and provision. On the
6th of December the column of which the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed
part arrived at _Brihuega_, a village of about a thousand houses,
situate in the mountains of Castile, near the river Tajuna, where
they halted on the following day. While the troops were reposing
in this rural seclusion, the town was suddenly surrounded by the
French and Spanish forces commanded by the Duke of Vendosme. The
British, though invested by a force of more than ten times their
own numbers, resolved on a vigorous defence; but unfortunately they
had no artillery, very little ammunition, and the wall round the
village was in a ruinous condition. The enemy forced the gates,
battered down part of the wall with their cannon, and assaulted
the place by storm, but were repulsed with severe loss. A second
assault was given, and the British troops, having spent all their
ammunition, defended themselves a short time with stones and other
missiles; but were eventually forced to surrender prisoners of
war.[41]
[Sidenote: 1711]
The officers and men of the ROYAL DRAGOONS who were thus made
prisoners were sent to France, and, after being exchanged, were
removed to England, and subsequently to Scotland. The remainder
of the regiment continued in Spain, where it served under
Lieut.-General the Duke of Argyle.
[Sidenote: 1712]
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