The History of the 2nd Dragoons: "Royal Scots Greys"Almack, Edward
History
The History of the 2nd Dragoons: "Royal Scots Greys"
Almack, Edward
Great Britain. Army. Dragoons, 2nd (Royal Scots Greys)
At the risk of seeming lengthy, I must here add, without pretending to
edit it, a paragraph from Cannon's very scarce record:--
"A tremendous cannonade was followed by volleys of musketry and
charges of cavalry. The Greys supported the infantry for some
time; but at length they were led forward by their Colonel, the
chivalrous and daring Lieutenant-General James Campbell, against a
line of French Cuirassiers. Their grey horses and grenadier caps
rendered them conspicuous--their noble bearing excited admiration.
Before them appeared the enemy's squadrons, formidable in numbers,
and bright in polished armour; but undismayed by the opposing ranks
of war, the Greys raised a loud huzza, and rushed at speed upon
their steel-clad opponents, who were overthrown and pursued to the
rear of their own lines....
"The Greys pursued their adversaries to the banks of the river,
and captured a White Standard, with which they returned in
triumph to their own lines, where they received the expression
of the approbation of their Sovereign, who had witnessed their
gallantry.... The standard was of white damask, finely embroidered
with gold and silver; a thunderbolt in the middle, upon a blue and
white ground; motto, _Sensere Gigantes_."
The following interesting 1747 record I copy from the Manuscript Papers
now preserved by the Greys:--
"Extract from the Record Book of the Enniskilling Dragoons.
"Signed, +E. M. W. Gres+, Major.
"1747. The Duke of Cumberland arrived at the Hague on the 15th of
February. The French made some hostile movements in April. The
Allied Army were encamped near to Antwerp, their right extending
to Breschater. The army of the Allies marched 30th of June in
three columns towards Lonaken, and encamped between that place and
Ghenck. The French corps of the Count de Clermont occupied the high
ground from Tongress to Tonggrebech. His Royal Highness the Duke of
Cumberland and Marshal Bathiani resolved to take possession of the
camp of Bilsen. On the 2nd of July an action was fought between
Tongress and Bilsen, near Maestricht, called the battle of Keselt
or of Lafeldt, or Vol. The British cavalry charged and broke the
enemy's first line, and afterwards when His Royal Highness was with
them, charged a second time and broke the enemy again; hereupon the
enemy made a desperate effort on the centre of the Allies; their
squadrons penetrated and divided the army.
"At this juncture the British cavalry, led on by Sir John Ligonier,
charged the French with so much success that they overthrew all
before them, but too eager in pursuit of the enemy, received a
sharp fire from the Foot, which they had posted in a hollow way and
some hedges, to favour the flight of their horse, by which they
suffered a good deal; they dispersed, however, that Foot and some
fresh squadrons which the enemy had sent down upon them, but was
all in vain whilst the army was divided in two.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account