In the beginning of 1777 the regiment was again in cantonments in the country, the head-quarters being at Castlebar, from whence they were removed in June to Roscommon, &c., but returned to Castlebar in the winter, and in May, 1778, proceeded to Birr, where the regiment was reviewed, on the 24th of that month, by Major-General De Burgh. While at this station the officers were ordered to provide themselves with tents, and to be in constant readiness to take the field. In June the head-quarters were removed to Belfast, in July to Armagh, and in September returned to Belfast. In April, 1778, Lieutenant-General James Johnston was removed to the Enniskillen Dragoons, and was succeeded in the command of the FIRST HORSE by Major-General George Warde, from the 14th Dragoons. [Sidenote: 1779] [Sidenote: 1780] [Sidenote: 1781] On the 1st of June, 1779, the regiment marched to Lisburn, and in July the head-quarters were established at Belturbet. At this station they appear to have remained until July, 1781, when they were removed to Athlone, where the regiment was reviewed by Major-General Massey on the 2nd of August, and soon afterwards proceeded to Dublin, but in November returned to Athlone. [Sidenote: 1782] [Sidenote: 1783] The regiment was again reviewed by Major-General Massey, on the 21st of June, 1782, at Athlone, from whence it marched, in a few days afterwards, to Mount Mellick, and, in January of the following year, to Dublin. [Sidenote: 1784] From Dublin the regiment proceeded, in July, 1784, to Tullamore. Its establishment, at this period, was 21 officers, 174 non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, and 133 troop-horses; but the American war having been terminated by acknowledging the independence of the United States, the numbers of the regiment were reduced 10 men per troop. [Sidenote: 1785] Major-General Sir Henry Calder reviewed the regiment at Tullamore on the 4th of June, 1785, and on the 9th it marched to Nenagh, from whence a detachment of one corporal and six private men was sent to Dublin, where parties from every cavalry regiment in Ireland were assembled to establish an uniform system of horsemanship. [Sidenote: 1786] [Sidenote: 1787] After remaining upwards of a year at Nenagh, the regiment marched, in July, 1786, to Carlow, where it passed the succeeding twelve months, and in July, 1787, proceeded to Longford. [Sidenote: 1788] While at this station, His Majesty's commands were conveyed to the regiment for converting it from a corps of HORSE into a corps of DRAGOONS, with the title of DRAGOON GUARDS. The following is a copy of the order for this change:-- 'GENERAL ORDER. '_Adjutant-General's Office, Dublin_, '14th Feb., 1788. FIRST HORSE to FOURTH DRAGOON GUARDS, SECOND HORSE to FIFTH DRAGOON GUARDS, THIRD HORSE to SIXTH DRAGOON GUARDS, and FOURTH HORSE to SEVENTH DRAGOON GUARDS.