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
A second visit to the coast of France was however determined on;
and after several experiments had been made with flat-bottomed
boats to ascertain the practicability of landing troops in rough
weather, the LIGHT TROOP of the THIRD DRAGOON GUARDS was again
embarked, and the expedition sailed on the 1st of August, under the
command of Lieut.-General Bligh. After seven days the fleet anchored
near _Cherbourg_; the troops landed,--the town surrendered,--the
fortifications and works of the place with the shipping in the
harbour were destroyed, and the brass ordnance were brought away
as trophies of their success. A second descent was afterwards made
on the coast of Brittany; but no advantage resulted from this
enterprise; and when the troops re-embarked, the rear-guard was
attacked by a considerable body of the enemy, and about 1000 men,
with many officers of distinction, were killed, drowned, or taken
prisoners.
In the mean time His Majesty's German dominions had been the scene
of conflict and disaster; and a body of Hanoverian, Hessian,
and Brunswick troops, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, had
been subject to a capitulation, by which it was agreed that the
Hessian and Brunswick forces should return to their homes, and the
Hanoverians remain in a district assigned to them: at the same time
the Electorate of Hanover was taken possession of by the enemy.
The conditions of this capitulation were, however, violated by the
French; the Hanoverians resumed their arms, and, with the Hessian
and Brunswick troops, amounting to 30,000 men, all in British pay,
re-assembled under the command of Prince Ferdinand Duke of Brunswick,
and had the advantage in several actions with the enemy. In July a
British force was ordered to proceed to Germany, under the command
of Charles, Duke of Marlborough, and the THIRD DRAGOON GUARDS were
ordered for this service.
Previous to embarking they were encamped on Blackheath, on a fine
lawn in front of the residence of Sir George Page, where they
were reviewed by His Majesty in presence of a vast concourse of
spectators, and their fine appearance was universally admired; at
the same time the most sanguine expectations were entertained of
the future achievements of this distinguished corps on the field of
battle.
On the 27th of July the regiment embarked at Gravesend, and arrived
at Embden, in Germany, on the 1st of August. On the 3rd of that month
the troops landed a few miles above the town, where they encamped
until the morning of the 5th, when they commenced their march up
the country, and joined the army commanded by Prince Ferdinand of
Brunswick on the 17th. On the 20th the THIRD DRAGOON GUARDS were
reviewed, with several other corps, by his Serene Highness, who
expressed his admiration of their condition after the march. They
were not, however, engaged in any affair of importance during the
remainder of the campaign; and they passed the winter in quarters in
the bishopric of Osnaburg.
[Sidenote: 1759]
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