Historical Record of the Third, or Prince of Wales' 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 Third, or Prince of Wales' 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. Regiment of Dragoon Guards, 3rd
After passing the winter at Ghent, the FOURTH HORSE again took the
field in May, 1694, and, after several marches, were encamped with
the army on the plain near Mont St. André, where they were reviewed
by the King on the 16th of August, in brigade with the regiments
of Leveson, Wyndham, and Galway.[20] They passed the summer in
manœuvring and skirmishing on the verdant plains of the Netherlands,
and on the frontiers of Liege,--performing many long and toilsome
marches through a country which, having for several years been
the seat of war, was changed from a land of smiling plenty and
contentment to a scene of outrage, devastation, and misery. After
forming part of the covering army during the siege of _Huy_, which
surrendered in September, the FOURTH HORSE marched back to Flanders,
and again occupied quarters at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1695]
In the spring of 1695 thirty men per troop were suddenly called out
of quarters to take the field; but after a reconnoissance towards
the enemy's frontiers, where they were erecting some extensive lines
of defence, the detachment returned to its former quarters. In May
the regiment marched out of Ghent, and taking its post in the right
wing of the army, encamped at Arseele, was reviewed by the King, with
the other English cavalry, on the 31st of that month. In June the
regiment was removed from the right to the left wing of the army;[21]
and when King William had, by skilful manœuvres, drawn the enemy
to the Flanders side of their line of entrenchments, and invested
the strong fortress of _Namur_, the FOURTH HORSE formed part of the
force detached, under the Earl of Athlone, towards Fleurus, for the
convenience of forage, and to observe the enemy on that side. While
on this service they were several weeks in comfortable quarters, or
moving quietly from village to village,--the horses feeding on the
grassy plains of Hainault,--the detached parties patrolling along the
front, to observe the motions of the enemy; meanwhile the infantry
were encamped between Deynse and Thielt, and the besieging force made
rapid progress. At length, owing to some movements of the enemy,
the FOURTH HORSE proceeded towards Bruges; they subsequently made
several forced marches, and towards the end of July were encamped on
the undulating grounds between Genappe and Waterloo. Two powerful
armies were at this period manœuvring, and while the French advanced
with confidence to raise the siege of _Namur_, the allies interposed
to cover the besieging force. In the course of these manœuvres
the FOURTH HORSE moved to the vicinity of _Namur_, and after the
surrender of the citadel they marched to the neighbourhood of
Nivelles, and were subsequently encamped at Halle, from whence they
proceeded in the autumn to their former station at Ghent.
[Sidenote: 1696]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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