Historical Record of the Fourth, or Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards

A treaty of peace having been concluded with France, the two regiments of horse returned from Germany, and the establishment of this regiment was reduced to twenty private men per troop.

1764

The regiment was again employed on Dublin duty in 1764,14 and while there, orders were received for all the regiments of horse and dragoons, excepting the light dragoons, to be mounted on long-tailed horses; all the English horse and dragoons were originally mounted on long-tailed horses, but the fashion of the short dock was introduced about the close of the seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth centuries.15 The regiment was also directed to discontinue the white lace on the button-holes of the waistcoat.

17651766

The regiment having been relieved from Dublin duty, its head-quarters were established in January, 1765, at Tullamore, from whence it marched in July to Birr, Maryborough, and Mount Mellick. In December of this year a ration of forage was fixed at 28 lbs. of hay, 7 lbs. of oats, and 6 lbs. of straw. During the following year the establishment of the regiment was reduced to 19 private men per troop.

1767

In January 1767 the First Horse were again stationed at Dublin; and were reviewed in the fifteen-acres in Phœnix Park on the 22nd of that month, by the Earl of Granard, who was pleased to express his approbation of their appearance and discipline. They were withdrawn from Dublin in May, and proceeded to Carlow, but returned in the following month; and in December marched to Philipstown. Sword-belts suspended across the right shoulder, which had been used by the horse more than half a century, were this year adopted by the dragoons.

1768

From Philipstown the regiment removed to Tullamore, where its head-quarters were established in the beginning of 1768. In a return of the distinctions of the regiment in Ireland, dated in February of this year, the First Horse are stated to have deep blue facings, buff waistcoats and breeches, white lace, and white metal buttons.16

On the 24th of May the regiment was reviewed by Major-General Lambert; and in June the head-quarters were removed from Tullamore to Maryborough, where the regiment was reviewed on the 9th of June, 1769, by the Earl of Drogheda.

1769

Some alterations were this year (1769) made in the uniform of the regiment; – the coats were made with half-lappels, a red stripe was introduced into the lace, and the colour of the horse-furniture was changed from light to dark blue. The cavalry officers were directed to wear their sashes with the fringe upon the right side, and the infantry officers upon the left, and the officers of the regiments of horse were directed to wear their sword-belts across the right shoulder, over the waistcoat and under the coat.

1770

A change of cantonments, took place during the winter, and in January, 1770, the head-quarters of the regiment were at Kilkenny; but they were again established at Maryborough in July.

17711772177317741775

In the summer of 1771 the regiment marched to Dublin, and was reviewed by the Lord-Lieutenant in July, in the Phœnix Park.17 After performing duty at the capital until December, it marched into country quarters, and occupied for short periods Tullamore, Philipstown, Carlow, and Maryborough, during the three succeeding years; and in the summer of 1775 was again stationed at Dublin.

Major-General Johnston having been removed to the 11th Dragoons, His Majesty conferred the Colonelcy of the First Horse on Major-General James Johnston (cousin of the former colonel of the same name), from the Ninth Dragoons, by commission dated the 27th of April, 1775.

1776

The British colonies in North America having rebelled against the mother-country, the regiment furnished in February, 1776, a draft of sixteen troop-horses to be sent to North America and employed in that country as the service required; 180 horses were sent from the cavalry corps in Ireland, and 16 guineas were allowed to the regiment for each horse. In July an augmentation of one corporal and 10 private men per troop was made to the establishment; parties of mounted men were sent out to enlist recruits, and directions were given that none but Protestants be engaged.

17771778

In the beginning of 1777 the regiment was again in cantonments in the country, the head-quarters being at Castlebar, from whence they were removed in June to Roscommon, &c., but returned to Castlebar in the winter, and in May, 1778, proceeded to Birr, where the regiment was reviewed, on the 24th of that month, by Major-General De Burgh. While at this station the officers were ordered to provide themselves with tents, and to be in constant readiness to take the field. In June the head-quarters were removed to Belfast, in July to Armagh, and in September returned to Belfast.

In April, 1778, Lieutenant-General James Johnston was removed to the Enniskillen Dragoons, and was succeeded in the command of the First Horse by Major-General George Warde, from the 14th Dragoons.

177917801781

On the 1st of June, 1779, the regiment marched to Lisburn, and in July the head-quarters were established at Belturbet. At this station they appear to have remained until July, 1781, when they were removed to Athlone, where the regiment was reviewed by Major-General Massey on the 2nd of August, and soon afterwards proceeded to Dublin, but in November returned to Athlone.

17821783

The regiment was again reviewed by Major-General Massey, on the 21st of June, 1782, at Athlone, from whence it marched, in a few days afterwards, to Mount Mellick, and, in January of the following year, to Dublin.

1784

From Dublin the regiment proceeded, in July, 1784, to Tullamore. Its establishment, at this period, was 21 officers, 174 non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, and 133 troop-horses; but the American war having been terminated by acknowledging the independence of the United States, the numbers of the regiment were reduced 10 men per troop.

1785

Major-General Sir Henry Calder reviewed the regiment at Tullamore on the 4th of June, 1785, and on the 9th it marched to Nenagh, from whence a detachment of one corporal and six private men was sent to Dublin, where parties from every cavalry regiment in Ireland were assembled to establish an uniform system of horsemanship.

17861787

After remaining upwards of a year at Nenagh, the regiment marched, in July, 1786, to Carlow, where it passed the succeeding twelve months, and in July, 1787, proceeded to Longford.

1788

While at this station, His Majesty's commands were conveyed to the regiment for converting it from a corps of Horse into a corps of Dragoons, with the title of Dragoon Guards. The following is a copy of the order for this change: —

'GENERAL ORDER'Adjutant-General's Office, Dublin,'14th Feb., 1788.First HorsetoFourth Dragoon Guards,Second HorsetoFifth Dragoon Guards,Third HorsetoSixth Dragoon Guards,andFourth HorsetoSeventh Dragoon Guards

'It is His Majesty's pleasure that the four regiments of Horse on this establishment be converted to Dragoon Guards, according to the number specified in the margin: this regulation to take effect from the 1st of April next inclusive; and, in consequence of the alteration of the establishment of the regiments of horse, His Majesty has been pleased to direct that compensation shall be made to every officer of the four regiments of horse, for the reduced pay of each, of which a proper scheme shall be made known as soon as the same can be digested. His Majesty has also been pleased to signify, that, in the change now proposed, it is not intended that any injury shall be sustained by the Colonels of the regiments, and that a compensation will be made to them for any reduction of pay or emolument they may suffer by the change; and also, that they will be reimbursed such reasonable extra expense as will be necessary for altering their present accoutrements, as likewise for the clothes, accoutrements, &c., of the augmented numbers, proper estimates of which will be immediately delivered to the Commander-in-Chief, to be laid before his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant.

'Such men of the regiments of horse as choose to re-enlist will receive a bounty of two guineas, excepting such corporals as shall be made serjeants, and, in consequence, have their pay advanced. I am to inform you that in all other respects the regiments of Dragoon Guards are to conform to all His Majesty's regulations relative to the regiments of Dragoons.

'William Fawcett,'Adjutant-General.'

The compensation granted to the Colonel of the Fourth Dragoon Guards was 150l. per annum for life, with 180l. 10s. for the alterations in the equipment; the Lieut. – Colonel received 575l.; Major, 525l.; Captains, each 475l.; Captain-Lieutenant and Lieutenants, 350l.; and the Cornets each 250l.

The establishment of the regiment was fixed at 1 colonel and captain, 1 lieutenant-colonel and captain, 1 major and captain, 3 captains, 6 lieutenants, 6 cornets, 1 chaplain, 1 adjutant, 1 surgeon, 6 quarter-masters, 6 serjeants, 12 corporals, 6 trumpeters, 114 private men, and 6 dismounted men. The carbines were cut shorter; the width of the belts was reduced from 4½ to 3 inches; and the officers were directed to wear their sword-belts over their coats when on duty, and when off duty over their waistcoats. The standard for recruits was fixed at from 5 feet 8½ inches, to 5 feet 11 inches.

The necessary alterations having been completed, and the regiment constituted the Fourth Dragoon Guards, its head-quarters were established at Belturbet; and on the 18th of April His Majesty was graciously pleased to approve of its bearing the title of the Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards, in consideration of its long and faithful services in Ireland18.

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From Belturbet the regiment marched on the 1st of May, 1790, for Dublin, where it was reviewed on the 20th of August by Major-General Lyon, and in August, 1791, by Major-General White, and again by the same officer in May, 1792. In July of the latter year it marched from Dublin to Carlow.

1793

During the period the regiment lay at Carlow, the violent republicans of France, who had previously overturned the ancient form of government in that country, were guilty of the atrocious conduct of beheading their King and Queen, and of involving the kingdom in scenes of outrage, massacre, and devastation. These proceedings were followed by a war between Great Britain and the regicide Government of France; and the establishment of the Royal Irish Dragoon Guards was augmented in August, 1793, to 334 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 276 troop horses.

In the meantime, a British army, commanded by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, had proceeded to the Netherlands, and the Royal Irish Dragoon Guards marched on the 10th of August, 1793, for Dublin, where they embarked in October for England, in the expectation of proceeding to join the Duke of York's army in Flanders.

179417951796

After its arrival in England, the regiment was stationed at Nottingham, and its establishment was further augmented to nine troops of 56 men per troop. The order for its proceeding on foreign service was, however, rescinded, and it was directed to return to Ireland. It accordingly marched from Nottingham to Liverpool, where it embarked in the winter of 1795, and after landing at Dublin, halted a short time in that city, and afterwards proceeded into cantonments in the country, the head-quarters being established at Belturbet. While stationed at this place, the establishment was augmented (1st April, 1796) to 65 rank and file per troop, making a total of 612 officers and soldiers.

The Roman Catholics of Ireland had, for some years past, been combining against the British government, forming secret associations, and committing numerous acts of outrage and murder upon the Protestants, and at this period they were preparing for open resistance; a military organization was secretly taking place in several counties, – fire-arms were procured, and pikes manufactured. Several Irishmen of property, who had been implicated in treasonable practices, had fled to France, through whose agency application was made, by the disaffected in Ireland, to the French Government, for a force to assist them in breaking their connection with England, and in establishing their independence as a republic. The French Directory cherished a decided antipathy to the British, as a people from whose firm determination, constancy of purpose, and immense resources the towering expectations of their republic were likely to be brought down. The proposal from Ireland was consequently acceded to, and an armament was prepared at Brest, with transport for 25,000 men, to be commanded by General Hoche. The assemblage of shipping and troops at Brest, with the agitated state of Ireland, occasioned the army in that kingdom to be augmented; and the country to be divided into five military districts. On the 24th of December the French fleet appeared in Bantry Bay. The Royal Irish Dragoon Guards were immediately despatched to oppose the enemy, and had a most harassing march from Belturbet to Bantry in severe and inclement weather.

Some misunderstanding appears to have occurred between the French Directory and Irish malcontents, respecting the period when the troops were to arrive; the Irish were not prepared to rise at this time, and they were overawed by the number of the King's troops near the coast. The French fleet was partly dispersed by a storm, and the remainder of the force, alarmed at the preparations made to oppose their landing, returned to France. After the departure of the hostile fleet the Fourth Dragoon Guards marched back to their former quarters, and occupied Belturbet and the adjacent towns.

1797

In the spring of 1797 the establishment was augmented to 703 officers and men, at the same time a second Lieut. – Colonel and a second Major were added to the regiment. In August of this year the Fourth Dragoon Guards encamped on the Curragh of Kildare, together with the 5th, 6th, and 7th Dragoon Guards, and 5th and 9th Dragoons; and these corps were reviewed in September by Lieut. – General Sir David Dundas, who issued very complimentary orders on the occasion. The camp broke up in October, when the regiment marched to Maryborough, with detachments at Mount Mellick and Ballinakill.

During this year some alterations were made in the equipment of the regiment: the large carbines were exchanged for others of a smaller size; and the pair of large pistols for a single pistol; and the saddles were also considerably reduced in size. Lappels to the coats and silver lace on the men's hats were discontinued; and the colour of the waistcoats was changed from buff to white.

1798

In the succeeding year the disaffected in Ireland broke out into open rebellion. Their leaders, having received fresh promises of aid from France, became confident of having their hopes and wishes accomplished, and the 22nd of May, 1798, was appointed for a general rising. The government had taken measures to meet the coming danger; a numerous yeomanry force was embodied; the regular troops were kept in constant readiness for active service; and, information of the designs of the insurgents having been procured, the leaders were seized and imprisoned, and the plan of the rebellion was disorganized. The passions of the misguided peasantry had, however, been wrought into fury and madness by all the motives which bigotry, hope of personal advantage, and thirst for vengeance could inspire, and the rebellion, so long suppressed, broke out with accumulated horrors. During the whole of its continuance the Royal Irish Dragoon Guards were constantly employed in this painful and unnatural warfare.

The regiment, having marched from Maryborough, was detached to the different towns near Dublin, where the rebels were in force. Captain William Smith's troop was stationed at Naas, with a party of fencible cavalry and another of Armagh militia. This town was attacked on the 24th of May by two thousand rebels: their first attempt was upon the county jail, where they were repulsed with great loss; and they then possessed themselves of all the principal avenues to the town, and made a simultaneous attack on the posts occupied by the troops. The wild and disorderly rush of the undisciplined multitude was opposed by the troops with firmness, and after a contest of an hour's duration, the rebels were repulsed with the loss of one-hundred and forty men left dead in the streets. The Fourth Dragoon Guards and fencibles charged several times and slaughtered many of the rebels in the pursuit. The regiment had Quarter Master Rowayne and private Hughes, with eleven horses killed; and ten men and a number of horses wounded. This loss was occasioned by the rebel pikemen.

During the night a party of rebels set fire to the barracks at Prosperous, where one officer and twenty-eight men of the militia perished: a party of the Fourth Dragoon Guards was also surprised in quarters and nearly every man put to death: a few men were taken prisoners and afterwards butchered by the insurgents with the most inhuman cruelty. A party of fencibles was also surprised and murdered at Dunboyne; and the same misfortune befel a party of the Suffolk militia escorting baggage to Kildare. A number of other towns were attacked: in some instances the rebels were successful, in others they were defeated; and on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of May numerous skirmishes occurred, and civil war with all its horrors raged in the heart of Ireland.

A body of rebels attempted to surprise Carlow, which was garrisoned by detachments of the Fourth Dragoon Guards and Ninth Dragoons, with some Yeomanry, Militia, and Volunteers, amounting to about 450 men. The rebels assembled nearly 3000 strong on the estate of Sir William Crosbie, Bart., who led them to the attack; and after a sharp conflict they were defeated, with the loss of 500 men killed, and many prisoners, including their leader, who was immediately tried by martial law and hanged.

Numerous encounters occurred in other parts of the country; and on the 30th of May a detachment of the Fourth Dragoon Guards, with a party of fencibles and Antrim militia, proceeding under the command of Colonel Walpole to join Major-General Loftus at Gorey, arrived at a place where the road was low and narrow, with high clay banks on each side crowded with bushes, and beyond them deep trenches, where they were attacked by an ambush of rebels of overwhelming numbers. The cavalry, by repeated charges to the front and right, endeavoured to extricate themselves, but their utmost efforts could not avail against the immense numbers by which they were opposed; and after an unequal fight of an hour's duration, in which their commanding officer, Colonel Walpole, and many men and horses were killed, they were forced to retire, covered by the militia, and had the mortification of losing three guns. About the same date 15,000 rebels took Wexford, and in the beginning of June made an attack upon New Ross, but were repulsed.19 Enraged at this failure, they murdered, at the instigation of their priests, 241 Protestant prisoners in cold blood, and evinced, in this act, a ferocious cruelty not exceeded by the savage barbarians of the most uncultivated part of the world.

On the 4th of June Captain Sir Richard Steel engaged, with his troop of the Fourth Dragoon Guards, a body of rebels posted at Ovidstown, and the insurgents fought for some time with bravery, but were eventually dispersed with great slaughter. The troop had one serjeant, two rank and file, and three horses killed; with nine men and a number of horses wounded. Captain Sir Richard Steel had his horse killed under him, and was himself severely wounded.

About the same period a body of rebels attacked the first, or Colonel's, troop of this regiment, at Goff's Bridge, when the Dragoon Guards repulsed the furious onsets of their reckless opponents with signal gallantry, and drove back the insurgents with loss.

Part of the regiment afterwards proceeded to Arklow, in the neighbourhood of which place the rebels were in great force. On the morning of the 9th of June, 30,000 insurgents advanced to attack the town with three guns and such a multitude of pikemen, that they appeared like a moving forest. Thrice they attacked the town, headed by their priests in clerical vestments, and evinced astonishing intrepidity; but were unable to make any impression on the steady valour of the King's troops, though they had an advantage in numbers of twenty to one. The celebrated Father Murphy was cut in two by a cannon-ball while in the act of heading one of the attacks, waving a green flag, and shouting "Liberty or death." The contest was continued until evening; and the Fourth Dragoon Guards and Fifth Dragoons repeatedly charged, and in every instance routed the rebels with immense loss. The Fencible regiment of Ancient Britons also distinguished itself, and its Colonel, Sir W. Williams Wynne, was overpowered, and a rebel was in the act of piking him, when Corporal James M'Connel, of the Fourth Dragoon Guards, rushed forward to his aid, and slew the rebel. Captain William Smith also distinguished himself at the head of his troop of the Fourth Dragoon Guards in a particular manner. About eight o'clock in the evening the rebels retreated, leaving the ground literally covered with slain, their loss being estimated at between 6000 and 7000 men.

After repulsing the enemy at Arklow, dispositions were made for a combined attack of the King's forces on the rebels' stronghold at Vinegar Hill,20 in the neighbourhood of Enniscorthy; and the Royal Irish Dragoon Guards marched to the scene of conflict under the orders of Major-General Wilford. The design of the Commander-in-Chief was to surround the post; and with this view 15,000 men, with artillery in proportion, advanced by four different routes. The first division commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir David Dundas; the second under Major-Generals Sir James Duff and Loftus; the third under Major-General Needham; and the fourth under Major-Generals Johnson and Ross: the last was to attack the town of Enniscorthy, situate at the base of the hill, and to drive the rebels from thence. The troops having arrived at their stations (excepting Major-General Needham's division), the attack commenced about seven o'clock on the morning of the 21st of June, with a sharp cannonade. The rebels sustained the fire of the artillery and troops for nearly two hours, when they gave way and fled through the space which should have been occupied by the third division (hence called Needham's gap) in the greatest confusion towards Wexford; the cavalry galloped forward in pursuit, and made a dreadful slaughter among the fugitives. In their haste to escape from the sabres and bayonets of the King's troops, the rebels left behind them their cannon (fourteen pieces), with an immense quantity of plunder collected from the neighbouring towns and gentlemen's houses; also a number of muskets, pistols, and swords, and a great quantity of pikes, scythes, and other implements of destruction. The loss of the Fourth Dragoon Guards was, four men killed, and ten wounded; besides a number of horses killed and wounded. After the action the regiment proceeded to its former quarters at Maryborough and Mount Mellick, where it was kept in constant readiness for further operations; and detachments were employed on various services.

The remains of the rebel army continued to make an unavailing resistance, and endeavoured to force the passes which separate the counties of Wexford and Carlow. On one occasion, a party of the Fourth Dragoon Guards and a small body of the Wexford militia disputed the passage of the river Barrow at Gore's Bridge, against an overwhelming force of rebels; after displaying much intrepidity and heroism, and losing many men in killed and wounded, the soldiers were overpowered, and 27 taken prisoners: 7 of the captives were supposed to be Orangemen, and were instantly shot, and their fellow-soldiers were forced to be their executioners.

In July, the Fourth Dragoon Guards marched, under the command of Colonel Thewles (accompanied by Major-General Sir James Duff), to attack, in conjunction with other troops, a considerable body of rebels who had taken post at Kildare. On the advance of the King's forces, the insurgents, after a short resistance, set the town on fire and retired to a position on the curragh of Kildare. Here they were attacked, overpowered, and routed by the cavalry, with a loss of 250 killed and many wounded. Previous to the termination of this sanguinary affair, Lieutenant-General Sir David Dundas arrived with a body of troops, to whom the surviving rebels surrendered, – the General having authority to give protection to such of the insurgents as should lay down their arms and return to their allegiance.