Historical Record of the Sixth, or Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1689, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Sixth, or Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1689, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1846
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Inniskilling Dragoons, 6th
Having been withdrawn from their cantonments in April, 1745, the
INNISKILLING dragoons encamped near Brussels, where they were
reviewed by the Duke of Cumberland, and subsequently advanced with
the army commanded by His Royal Highness to attack the French, who
had commenced the siege of Tournay with an immense body of troops
under the command of Marshal Saxe. One squadron of the regiment
formed part of the force which drove in the enemy's out-guards, on
the 28th of April (O.S.).
The French occupied a fortified camp, protected by immense
batteries, near the village of _Fontenoy_; and the INNISKILLING
dragoons supported the infantry in their attacks on this formidable
position; on which occasion the English foot-guards, and several
regiments of the line, displayed signal valour and intrepidity, and
carried the enemy's trenches in gallant style; but the Dutch having
failed in their attempt on the village of Fontenoy, and the French
battery in the wood of Barri not having been stormed according
to order, the troops, which had forced the position, were unable
to maintain their ground. Towards the close of the action, the
cavalry was ordered forward, and several corps charged with great
spirit and resolution, but were unable to retrieve the fortune of
the day; and a retreat having been ordered, the army withdrew to
Aeth. In this action the INNISKILLING dragoons evinced the same
forward bearing and firmness as on former occasions. Their loss was
Quarter-master Baird, three men, and nineteen horses killed; eleven
men and seven horses wounded.
The army encamped on the plains of Lessines; and while the
INNISKILLING dragoons were at this camp, their Colonel,
Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair, was removed to the Scots greys,
and was succeeded by John Earl of Rothes, by commission dated the
29th of May, 1745.
After the surrender of Fontenoy the French army advanced, and
having an immense superiority of numbers, the allies withdrew, and
took up a position to cover Brussels. The INNISKILLING dragoons
encamped near Meerbeck, and subsequently on the canal between Ghent
and Brussels.
[Sidenote: 1746]
Meanwhile a rebellion, headed by Charles Edward, eldest son of the
Pretender, had broken out in Scotland, and many British regiments
were ordered to return home. The INNISKILLING dragoons marched,
during the winter, to Williamstadt, in North Brabant, and towards
the end of February, 1746, embarked for England; but the transports
were driven by tempestuous weather back into the harbour, and the
troops disembarked. The rebellion having been suppressed shortly
afterwards, the order for their return was countermanded, and they
went into quarters on the frontiers of Holland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account