During the years 1796 and 1797, numerous actions occurred; but against a hundred thousand trained blacks who had been instructed in European discipline, the few British troops on the island were unable to do more than exhibit many brilliant examples of discipline and valour. In an enterprise against the post of _Mirebalais_ in the beginning of June, 1797, a detachment of the FOURTEENTH, Eighteenth, and Twenty-first light dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Carter of the FOURTEENTH, distinguished themselves. They drove twelve hundred of the enemy with three pieces of cannon from a strong position, captured two guns, and chased a number of opponents into the river Artibonite, capturing their ammunition, mules, &c. The conduct of Lieut.-Colonel Carter, and of the dragoons under his orders, was commended in the public despatches. The climate of St. Domingo was, however, so very injurious to the health of European soldiers, that the regiment was soon reduced to a skeleton. The few surviving men who were fit for service, were permitted to volunteer into other corps, and the remainder, twenty-five in number, embarked for England, where they arrived in the month of October, and were stationed at Chelmsford. On the 1st of June, 1797, General Sir Robert Sloper. K.B., was removed to the fourth dragoons, and the colonelcy of the FOURTEENTH was conferred on Major-General John William Egerton, afterwards Earl of Bridgewater, from first lieut.-colonel of the seventh light dragoons. This officer being on the staff when the few men of the regiment arrived from St. Domingo, he was employed in superintending the recruiting and remounting of his corps, and in a short time he had the satisfaction of seeing it a fine body of light cavalry mustering six hundred mounted men, who were divided into eight troops. [Sidenote: 1798] In August, 1798, King George III. was graciously pleased to approve of the regiment being styled "the FOURTEENTH, or the DUCHESS OF YORK'S OWN Regiment of Light Dragoons," in honour of Frederica Charlotte Ulrica Catherina, Princess Royal of Prussia, who was married to His Royal Highness the Duke of York in 1791; at the same time the Royal authority was given for the FOURTEENTH to assume the "PRUSSIAN EAGLE" as a regimental badge, and the colour of the facing of the regiment was changed from lemon-yellow to _orange_. [Sidenote: 1800] [Sidenote: 1802] The establishment was augmented to ten troops, of ninety rank and file each, in 1800; but at the peace of Amiens, in 1802, a reduction of two troops took place. [Illustration: GUIDON OF THE FOURTEENTH, OR THE DUCHESS OF YORK'S OWN LIGHT DRAGOONS, M DCC XCVIII. [_To face page 18._ ] [Sidenote: 1803] [Sidenote: 1804] [Sidenote: 1807] Hostilities were resumed in 1803, and in 1804 the regiment was again augmented to ten troops of ninety rank and file each, for which a supply of new carbines and pistols was received in 1807, from the ordnance stores. [Sidenote: 1808]