1781 Francis Craig -- 1811 Hon. Sir Henry George Grey, G.C.B., G.C.H. -- 1715} to } SUCCESSION OF LIEUT.-COLONELS 96 1842} [Illustration: THIRTEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS. [_To face page 1._ ] HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT OF LIGHT DRAGOONS. [Sidenote: 1715] During the summer of 1715, when treachery, treason, and mistaken notions of duty, united with the intrigues of foreign courts, menaced Great Britain with domestic war, and when the expectations of the friends of the Pretender were become sanguine of effecting his speedy elevation to the throne, King George I. augmented the regular army, and the THIRTEENTH REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS was raised in the midland counties of England, by Brigadier-General RICHARD MUNDEN, whose valour, loyalty, and devotion to the house of Hanover were undoubted. The following officers were appointed to the regiment by commissions dated the 22nd of July, 1715. _Captains._ Rich. Munden, _Col._ Clem. Neville, _Lt.-Col._ Sam. Freeman, _Maj._ Francis Howard Lutton Lister ---- Heblethwayte _Lieutenants._ Hen. de Grangues, _Capt. Lt._ Philip Bridgman Thomas Mason Francis Hull Henry Dawson John Molyneux _Cornets._ Gerald Fitzgerald Chas. Greenwood William Freeman William Williamson John Watson Martin O'Bryan. After its formation the regiment occupied quarters in Cheshire, where it was stationed, under the command of Major-General Wills, when the rebellion in Scotland, headed by the Earl of Mar, commenced. When the insurgents, under General Forster and Brigadier-General Mackintosh, advanced into Lancashire, the regiment was directed to proceed towards Manchester, to confront and fight the rebel bands; it was formed in brigade with Stanhope's dragoons (afterwards disbanded), under the command of its colonel, Brigadier-General Munden, and at break of day on the 12th of November, it advanced towards _Preston_, where the rebels had taken post, and had barricaded the avenues of the town. After driving in the rebel piquets, the king's troops formed, about three in the afternoon, opposite the main streets; a squadron of the regiment dismounted, to take part in storming the avenue leading to Wigan, and the other two squadrons supported the storming party which attacked the avenue leading to Lancaster. The first barrier was carried in gallant style; but the inner barricade could not be forced for want of cannon. The soldiers took possession of some buildings, threw a breastwork across the road, and set the houses between the breastwork and barricade on fire; thus blockading the insurgents in the town. Major-General Carpenter afterwards arrived with some additional forces, and the rebel bands surrendered at discretion. The regiment had four men and twelve horses wounded in this service, and its colonel was thanked for his gallant conduct at the head of one of the storming parties.