In April, 1745, the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched from their winter quarters, and encamped near Brussels. The enemy assembled a numerous army, and invested _Tournay_, the chief town of a district in the province of Hainault; and the Duke of Cumberland, though inferior to the French in numbers by above thirty thousand men, resolved to attack them. His Royal Highness accordingly advanced; and on the 10th of May (N.S.) a squadron of the ROYAL DRAGOONS was engaged, with other forces, in driving in the enemy's out-guards and piquets. The French army was discovered in order of battle on a gentle ascent protected by batteries, and rising gradually from the plain near _Fontenoy_. At daybreak on the morning of the 11th of May the allies moved forward, but, having many defiles to pass, the attack did not commence until near ten o'clock. The British infantry advanced against the enemy, and throughout the day they displayed the greatest valour and intrepidity; but the Dutch did not evince equal resolution, and their failure occasioned the most unfortunate results. It was near the conclusion of the action before the ROYAL DRAGOONS were called upon to charge, when they advanced through a hollow way abounding with difficulties, and were exposed to the destructive fire of two batteries: they charged by alternate squadrons with all the spirit and resolution which characterizes the attack of British cavalry. But the Duke of Cumberland, perceiving that, from the failure of the Dutch and other causes, it was impossible to retrieve the fortune of the day, ordered a retreat, and the army marched from the field of battle, and encamped near Aeth. The loss of the regiment in this engagement was fifteen men and sixty-nine horses killed; with Lieutenant-Colonel Naizon, Cornets Hartwell, Desmeret, and Creighton, thirty-one men, and forty-seven horses wounded. The allied army afterwards encamped on the plain of the Dender, near Lessines; and subsequently near Brussels. In the mean time Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, arrived in Scotland with a ship laden with arms, and, being joined by several of the Highland clans, took the opportunity of the King's army being abroad to make a desperate effort to gain the throne. Several regiments were immediately ordered to England; and in November the ROYAL DRAGOONS marched to Williamstadt, in North Brabant, and embarked; but the shipping was delayed for some time by contrary winds, and several horses were lost from the transports being stranded. [Sidenote: 1746] After their arrival in England the ROYAL DRAGOONS formed part of the army assembled near the metropolis to repel the threatened descent of a French force on the southern coast of the kingdom. [Sidenote: 1747] [Sidenote: 1748]