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)
Now next, in regard to the Crimea, it would be absurd to try to adjust
or supplement the following records. They are of unique interest. The
Greys reached the Crimea on September 24th, 1854.
A folio volume, the property of the Regiment, lettered--
"Historic Register, 2nd Dragoons," and inside, "from August 10th,
1854":--
"The average strength of the regiment during the period they have
been in Turkey and the Crimea has been 223. They arrived in Turkey
on August 10th, 1855, disembarking at Kulalie on the Adriatic side
of the Bosphorus. Kulalie is about seven miles north of Scutari.
There I joined the regiment from Varna on August 31st, having been
transferred from the medical charge of the 93rd Highlanders to that
of the Scots Greys on September 22nd.
"The corps embarked on board the _Himalaya_ for the Crimea, and
disembarked at the Katchu on September 24th, joining the allied
army at the time it was executing its flank march on Balaclava.
That night they bivouacked on the Belbee, and the following day
came into collision with the enemy at the affair of Mackenzie's
Farm, when they succeeded in capturing a quantity of baggage,
ammunition, stores, &c.; also in capturing and destroying a
portion of the rear guard of Prince Menchikoff's army, and without
suffering the loss of a man on their part. The following day
they were present at the capture of Balaclava, and bivouacked on
the plains in front of that village. On October 25th they took
a prominent part in the action in front of Balaclava, when the
Russian army attempted to force that position, and they defeated
and utterly routed a large body of the enemy's cavalry which had
attacked and surrounded them in the proportion of three to one.
After this 'feat of arms' they were led into the cross fires of the
enemy's batteries, being ordered up to the support of the Light
Cavalry Brigade their memorable but disastrous charge. On this
occasion they sustained some severe injury, the wounds inflicted
being nearly all of a serious nature caused by round shot, shell,
grape and rifle balls.
"The loss of the regiment in this action amounted to 2 men killed
and 54 wounded, several of whom subsequently died of their wounds,
and 4 officers wounded. The three first men who fell were mortally
wounded by rifle balls in covering the retreat of the Turks from
the redoubts....
[Illustration: +Hoof of a Charger of the Greys at Balaklava.+
(_Reduced_)]
"Nothing of importance occurred from this period up to November
5th, when the sanguinary battle of Inkerman took place.
"The Greys were drawn up on the heights in reserve, and did not
come into collision with the enemy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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