Historical Record of the Fourteenth, or the King's, Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment and of Its Subsequent Services — John Shaqi
Historical Record of the Fourteenth, or the King's, Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment and of Its Subsequent ServicesCannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fourteenth, or the King's, Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment and of Its Subsequent Services
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Light Dragoons, 14th
The regiment was stationed in Great Britain during the years 1743
and 1744; and in 1745, when Charles Edward, eldest son of the
Pretender, raised his father's standard in Scotland, it was ordered
to Stirling. After Lieut.-General Sir John Cope had marched from
Stirling with the infantry and some artillery, the FOURTEENTH
dragoons proceeded to Leith, where they were stationed when the
rebel army advanced towards Edinburgh. They were suddenly ordered
to join Colonel Gardiner, who was retiring before the rebel army,
with the thirteenth dragoons; they rode through Edinburgh at a
brisk pace during public worship on Sunday, the 15th of September,
when the congregations rushed out of the churches and chapels and
filled the streets, and four hundred volunteers, with a thousand
men of the trained bands, appeared in arms. The FOURTEENTH dragoons
joined Colonel Gardiner at Carstorphin, from whence they fell
back to Coltsbridge, where they were joined by the city guard and
Edinburgh regiment. On a report of the approach of the rebel bands,
the Edinburgh regiment and city guard withdrew within the walls,
and the dragoons moved towards Haddington, the citizens refusing to
admit them into the place; and while a tumultuary council was being
held to decide about the mode of defending the city, the insurgents
gained possession of one of the gates: thus Edinburgh fell into the
hands of the young Pretender.
The FOURTEENTH dragoons were afterwards ordered to join
Lieut.-General Sir John Cope, who had arrived at Dunbar with a
small body of infantry, and he advanced towards Edinburgh, when the
rebel army was put in motion to meet him. On the 20th of September
the King's troops confronted the insurgents near _Prestonpans_
and the night was passed in the field: the FOURTEENTH dragoons,
commanded by Lieut.-Colonel William Wright, furnished videttes
and patrols on the flanks of the army. Before day-break, on the
following morning, a chosen band of Highlanders advanced through
the thick atmosphere, and attacked the right of the King's troops;
their sudden advance in the dark, their superior numbers, and
peculiar mode of fighting, struck with consternation the few men
who guarded the artillery, and who faced about and fled. The
dragoons advanced to charge the Highlanders; but seeing the very
superior numbers of their opponents, and being discouraged by the
loss of their artillery, they made only a feeble effort to stem
the torrent of battle, and afterwards retired from the field.
Several officers, and a few private soldiers, however, behaved with
great gallantry, and among others, Major RICHARD BOWLES, of the
FOURTEENTH dragoons, particularly distinguished himself; the few
troopers, who rallied round him, had been cut down, and his own
horse killed; but he continued to fight on foot; he was surrounded,
and had received eleven wounds, when a rebel leader interposed and
saved his life. When once troops are put into confusion, and are
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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