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)
"My father has not yet replied to the letters I sent him from
Bristol, but my sister says he intends advancing the money I
applied for. I shall therefore write to him very soon on the
subject as my last bills are unpaid in London for camp equipage,
&c., and the tradesmen are continually dunning for their accounts
to be settled. Exchange between this country and England is
extremely low, only 17⅓ francs for a Bank of England £1. I shall
therefore have as little money as possible sent here. We, however,
do not expect to receive any pay for four months. The Regiment has
been here about a fortnight. It is a miserable small village, not
large enough to contain one troop. The remainder, officers and
men, are quartered at cottages in the neighbourhood. A pig-sty in
England is a palace to my quarters. Hosts of lice, bugs, fleas, and
filth of every description, abound in a most extraordinary degree
in all the habitations of these dirty vagabonds. To counteract,
however, as much as possible, the unpleasant effects of sleeping
in such a dirty hut, I have pitched my tent and sleep quite
comfortably _su Dio_, in a green field totally independent of the
above-mentioned black backed gentry.
"The men and women are very plain, with mouths that reach from ear
to ear, and are extremely ignorant. It is with great difficulty I
can make them understand my wants as few can speak French, nothing
but the Flemish is spoken among the lower classes. The only answer
I can ever obtain is "yaw," in English, "yes."
"To-morrow we are again reviewed, for the fourth time since we
landed, by the Earl of Uxbridge, who commands the English cavalry,
and on Wednesday this regiment will be inspected by the Prince of
Orange and a Prussian General. I assure you we are considered the
finest cavalry corps on the continent. Every one wishes to see us,
and all the Generals that have reviewed us, speak in the highest
possible terms of the excellent appearance and condition of the men
and horses. A Prussian General expressed a wish to see an English
Dragoon Regiment, the Greys were immediately brought forward as a
specimen. In fact we have every compliment paid us.
"A few years ago the Regiment behaved most gallantly in this
country in several actions and I think it is probable they will
distinguish themselves in this campaign, for I never saw men more
anxious for an opportunity. You may perhaps think I speak with
partiality, but I assure you what I have expressed is the real
matter of fact. We are within about 35 miles of the French army--a
day's march.
"The English army will not advance till the Russians, Cossacks,
&c., come up. There are a great number of Prussian, Hanoverian and
Belgic troops in this neighbourhood.
"I am sorry to hear old Blucher has been insulted by some Saxon
troops. He is a gallant old cock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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