Historical Record of the Fourth, or Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards.: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685; and of Its Subsequent Services to 1838Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Fourth, or Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards.: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1685; and of Its Subsequent Services to 1838
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, 4th
The services of the regiment during the campaign of 1695 were limited
to covering the siege of _Namur_, one of the strongest fortresses
in Europe, and garrisoned by 15,000 men, commanded by a Marshal of
France (Boufflers). When the siege was formed, the regiment was
detached to graze the horses between Charleroi and Mons; it was
subsequently engaged in manœuvring to protect the besieging forces
from the attacks of the French army. In the beginning of August the
regiment was encamped at Waterloo, and subsequently in the immediate
vicinity of Namur. This fortress was eventually captured, and this
event was considered the brightest feature in King William's military
history, and one upon which he was often heard to declare his
satisfaction.
[Sidenote: 1696]
After passing the winter in Ghent, the regiment was brigaded with
the regiments of Lumley and Schomberg (now 1st and 7th Dragoon
Guards), and was reviewed by the King on the 30th of May, 1696, "and
made a very noble appearance." It served the campaign of this year
under the Prince of Vaudemont in Flanders; and was encamped--first at
Marykirk, and subsequently along the canal between Ghent and Bruges,
to protect these places, with Nieuport, and the other maritime
towns of Flanders, from the attacks of the enemy. A French army was
encamped on the opposite side of the canal, and several skirmishes
occurred, but no general engagement took place.
On the night of the 20th of September, Colonel Langston crossed the
canal with a squadron of this regiment and a party of dragoons, and
attacking one of the French outposts, defeated the guard and took
thirty prisoners. The Prince of Vaudemont reviewed the regiment a few
days after this event, and on the 5th of October it left the camp for
winter-quarters in Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1697]
The regiment having been selected to form part of the army of Brabant
during the campaign of 1697, it marched out of its winter-quarters in
the early part of May, and pitched its tents at St. Quintin Linneck
on the 16th of that month, and was formed in brigade with Leveson's,
Windham's, and Galway's regiments (2nd and 6th Dragoon Guards, and a
regiment of French Protestants.) It took part in several manœuvres,
and during the night of the 12th of June it retired with the army
through the forest of Soigne, and took post before Brussels, to
protect that city from a siege. The regiment was subsequently
encamped near Wavre, where it remained until peace was restored
by the Treaty of Ryswick[12], which was signed in September. It
afterwards marched to Ghent, and during the winter embarked for
England.
[Sidenote: 1698]
After its return from foreign service the regiment was quartered at
Northampton, Banbury, and Wellingborough; and, the House of Commons
having voted that only 10,000 regular troops should be kept in pay in
England, it was ordered, in February, 1698, to march to Highlake, in
Cheshire, and to embark for Ireland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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