[25] 'Lord George Murray, who always commanded the rear-guard of the rebels, took possession of a village called Clifton, two miles short of Penrith, and ordered Colonels John Stuart and Clunie Macpherson, with their regiments, supported by the Macdonalds of Keppock, to take post at the bottom of the moor, where they were covered by the hedges and ditches. There were also some hussars in the village, who had just come from Lowther Hall. 'About an hour after sunset the King's troops appeared upon the moor, and three hundred of Colonel Honeywood's dragoons dismounted and marched forward to attack the rebels, who fired from behind the hedges. After a few volleys the dragoons were ordered to retire a few paces, when the highlanders, mistaking this for a flight, rushed forward with sword and pistol; but were well received by the dragoons, who had drawn their swords. Now the shouts began, the clashing of swords is heard, the pistols are fired, and the event seems doubtful. Some of the rebel's swords broke upon the steel caps of the dragoons, whereupon they draw their daggers and fight with great obstinacy. 'Thus they continued for about an hour, when the rebels, observing the resolution of the dragoons, retired across the ditch with precipitation, and carried consternation to Penrith. Such was the skirmish at Clifton, in which twelve of the dragoons were slain and twenty-four wounded. On the side of the rebels were slain twenty, and seventy taken prisoners.'--_History of the Rebellion._ [26] In April, 1760, Lieut.-Colonel Dalrymple, of the KING'S OWN DRAGOONS, published an essay dedicated to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (afterwards George III.) on the raising, arming, clothing, and disciplining of the British cavalry and infantry, in which the re-introduction of _cuirassiers_ and _lancers_ was recommended. [27] The regiment was originally mounted on long-tailed horses; the fashion of the short dock was introduced a few years after the Revolution in 1688, but the practice did not become general until about 1709. [28] On his appointment his Lady presented to the regiment a silver collar engraved with military devices to be worn by the kettle drummer. This ornament is still preserved. [29] 'To the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Barrington His Majesty's Secretary at War, &c. &c. &c. 'The memorial of Lieut.-General Charles Fitzroy, Colonel of the Third, King's Own, Regiment of Dragoons. 'REPRESENTS 'That the sixth trumpeter, being a kettle drummer, is a great inconveniency, one troop always remaining without a trumpeter: the kettle drums being a mark of distinction allowed by royal favour, as it is reported, for having taken them from the enemy at the battle of Aghrim; your memorialist humbly prays that you will represent it to His Majesty, that an additional trumpeter may be allowed, as in the Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoons, and other regiments having kettle drums.'