As soon as night fell, the piquets and light dragoons were detached against the harbour and the suburbs of St. Servan, being ordered, if possible, to destroy the stores. This object they effected with equal judgment and determination, setting fire to the storehouses and vessels in the harbour, together with the magazines of tar, pitch, rope, &c., so completely performing their work, as totally to ruin the whole of the marine stores, and to destroy one man-of-war of 50 guns, one of 36, and all the privateers, some of 30 guns each; the vessels destroyed amounting to upwards of 100 sail, and the fire continuing to rage all night. The light dragoons afterwards advanced to the town of Dol, where, in several slight affairs, they showed great zeal and activity. On the 11th, they re-embarked, and the fleet sailed on the 16th, remaining, however, some time longer on the coast of France, and watching another opportunity to land. This being rendered impracticable by the weather, the fleet returned, and arrived at Spithead on the first of July. The light troops remained at Portsmouth for some time, and many experiments were made with boats of different constructions, in order to ascertain the practicability of landing men and horses in rough weather. [Sidenote: 1759] In August the brigade of light dragoons proceeded on a second expedition, and a landing having been effected in the Bay des Marées, _Cherbourg_ was taken, and the fortifications, and vessels in the harbour were destroyed. A descent was afterwards effected in the Bay of St. Lunar, and an incursion made into the adjacent country; but on re-embarking, the rear guard was attacked, and it sustained some loss. In December, the light troops landed and went into quarters, the light troop of the KING'S OWN being quartered at Maidenhead. So completely had these troops answered the expectations entertained of them, that, in the next year, the first English regiment of light dragoons (the present fifteenth hussars) was raised under Brigadier-General Eliott; and in June, 1759, each light troop received an augmentation of one lieutenant, one serjeant, and twenty-nine privates. On the 7th of November, the KING'S OWN marched to Hounslow and Brentford, relieving the royals, who proceeded to Essex. [Sidenote: 1760] [Sidenote: 1761] [Sidenote: 1762] On the 21st of June, 1760[26], the regiment received orders to prepare for embarkation for Germany, to join the army of Prince Ferdinand. These orders were, however, countermanded, and in 1761 and 1762 the regiment was successively quartered at Romford, Colchester, Uxbridge, and Chelmsford. [Sidenote: 1763] Peace having been restored by the treaty of Fontainbleau; in April, 1763, the light troop was disbanded at Putney; but a few men of each troop were afterwards equipped as light dragoons. [Sidenote: 1764]