Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1715, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1842Cannon, Richard
History
Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons: Containing an Account of the Formation of the Regiment in 1715, and of Its Subsequent Services to 1842
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Regiment of Light Dragoons, 13th
On the 22nd of March, as three troops of the THIRTEENTH Light
Dragoons, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Patrick Doherty, with Major
Boyse, Captain Macalister, Lieutenants Doherty, Drought, and
Lawrence, and Brigade-Major Dunbar, approached _St. Gaudens_, four
squadrons of French cavalry were discovered drawn up in front of
the town. Undismayed by the superior numbers of the enemy, the
THIRTEENTH advanced to the charge, and such was the ardour and
determined bravery with which they rushed upon their numerous
opponents, that the French horsemen were overthrown at the first
shock, and they galloped in disorder through the streets; but they
rallied at the other side of the town, and prepared to resist the
few British troopers whose audacity they were desirous to punish.
The THIRTEENTH being supported by the Third Dragoon Guards, dashed
through the town, and rushing sword in hand upon the French
squadrons, broke them in an instant, and pursued them for two
miles, cutting many down, and taking above a hundred prisoners,
and sixty horses. The ground was covered with cavalry equipments,
arms, and dead and wounded men and horses. The conduct of the
THIRTEENTH was highly commended in Major-General Fane's report
of this action; the officers and soldiers were also thanked in
orders by Lieut.-General Sir Rowland Hill, and the signal gallantry
evinced by Captain James Macalister, who commanded the advance on
this occasion, was rewarded with the rank of major in the army. The
THIRTEENTH nobly upheld, on this occasion, their well-earned fame
as bold horsemen and dexterous swordsmen; and, by their promptitude
in rushing to the attack, showed that they possessed the true
spirit of good cavalry, adding another to the many proofs they had
already given of the insufficiency of the mere preponderance of
superior numbers to resist the shock of a determined charge[9].
The THIRTEENTH Light Dragoons continued to form part of the force
in advance in the immediate presence of the enemy; every encounter
gave additional proof of the ascendancy which the British troops
had acquired over their opponents, and as the war drew towards a
close, this became more apparent.
On the 10th of April the enemy's fortified position at _Toulouse_
was attacked. The THIRTEENTH were at their post, but no opportunity
to charge the enemy occurred.
When the French withdrew from Toulouse, the regiment advanced
through the town in pursuit, and occupied a chain of posts in front
of the allied army.
The war was soon afterwards terminated by the treaty of Paris, and
the Bourbon family was restored to the throne of France.
Thus the conquering arms of Britain had rescued kingdoms from the
tyrannical power of the usurper; and the THIRTEENTH Dragoons,
who had largely shared in the attendant toils and dangers, saw
the cause in which they had been engaged, triumphant over all
opposition.
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