In the summer of 1706, the regiment was encamped on the Kurragh of Kildare.

The King of France having made preparations, in the spring of 1708, for landing the Pretender with a body of troops in Scotland, to aid him in his projected attempt to ascend the British throne, the Inniskilling dragoons were held in readiness to embark for Scotland; but the French fleet having been chased from the British shores, the regiment remained in Ireland until the following autumn, when it landed on the English coast, and was stationed, during the winter, in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The regiment was withdrawn from its cantonments in the early part of 1709, and proceeded to Scotland, where it remained during the three following years.

Returning to England after the peace of Utrecht, the regiment was stationed in Cumberland.

In September, 1714, the regiment again occupied quarters in Scotland, and the officers, with those of Brigadier-General Hans Hamilton's (now Sixteenth foot), celebrated at Stirling the arrival of King George I. from Hanover, with public rejoicings.

Lieut.-General Echlin retired from the regiment in March, 1715, and was succeeded by John Earl of Stair, who had been removed from the Scots Greys, by Queen Anne's ministry, in April of the preceding year.

The regiment was stationed in Lancashire in the spring of 1715, and in June one squadron was employed in suppressing riots at Manchester. Soon afterwards the Regiment marched to Scotland, and in the autumn, it was encamped at Stirling, under Major-General Wightman.

Encouraged by promises of aid from the Continent, the Earl of Mar raised the standard of the Pretender in the Highlands, and assembled an army of ten thousand men. The camp at Stirling was afterwards augmented by additional forces, and the Duke of Argyle assumed the command; but the rebels exceeded in numbers the king's troops.

Ten thousand rebels, headed by the Earl of Mar, were on the march to cross the Forth and penetrate towards England, when the Duke of Argyle quitted the camp at Stirling, with a body of troops of less than four thousand men, to oppose the progress of the rebels, and on the morning of Sunday the 13th of November the two armies confronted each other on Sheriffmuir near Dumblain. The Inniskilling dragoons formed two strong squadrons; the first squadron was posted, with the Royal North British (second) and Evans' (fourth) dragoons, on the right of the king's army; and the second squadron, with Carpenter's (third) and Kerr's (seventh) dragoons, was stationed on the left. The rebels attempting to turn the right, the dragoons on that flank dashed forward sword in hand, and commenced the action by a furious charge on the left wing of the rebel army. A sharp conflict ensued; but soon the clash of swords and report of pistols ceased, and the insurgent bands were seen falling back in confusion; while the Greys, Evans', and Inniskilling dragoons, resolute men on powerful horses, rode onward, sabring the astonished Highlanders, who fled in dismay, and the Buffs (third foot) and other infantry corps on the right, followed the victorious dragoons in their triumphant career. The rebels, having great superiority of numbers, attempted to rally several times; but the dragoons galloped forward with admirable courage, and breaking through every opposition, pursued their adversaries to the banks of the river Allan, where they were ordered to halt.

In the mean time the left wing of the King's army had been defeated; six hundred Highlanders surprised the infantry in the act of forming, and put them into confusion; but Carpenter's, Kerr's, and the squadron of Inniskilling dragoons on the left flank, charged and defeated the rebel horsemen opposed to them, and captured a standard. The infantry of this wing being in disorder, the advantage gained by the dragoons was not pursued any further. Both armies claimed the victory, each having a wing victorious and a wing defeated; but the King's forces succeeded in preventing the march of the rebels southwards, and consequently the advantage was on the side of the Royal army.

The Inniskilling dragoons had seven men and twelve horses killed; six men and fifteen horses wounded. In some of the numerous accounts of this battle which were published at the time, the Inniskilling dragoons are styled the black dragoons, from which it is presumed they were mounted on black horses exclusively.

Returning to Stirling with the army, the Inniskilling dragoons resumed their former station in the camp near that city, where they remained until January, 1716, when, additional forces having arrived, they advanced through snow and over ice to Perth. The rebel army dispersed, and the leaders in the rebellion fled to France.

After the suppression of this commotion, the regiment was quartered at Aberdeen, from whence it marched southwards, and was stationed in Cumberland; but returned to Scotland in June, 1717; and in the autumn of that year occupied cantonments near Glasgow. At the same time the establishment was fixed at six troops, of three officers, one quarter-master, and forty-five non-commissioned officers and soldiers each.

The regiment appears to have passed the succeeding ten years in Scotland. In July, 1725, it was employed in suppressing riots at Glasgow, and was encamped near that city; and in October, 1726, the Greys and Inniskilling dragoons were reviewed in brigade at Musselburgh by Lieutenant-General Wade.

Leaving Scotland in the spring of 1728, the regiment proceeded to Carlisle, Penrith, and Kendal, where it halted a week, and afterwards continued its march southwards, and was quartered in Berkshire. On the 3rd of June it was reviewed on Datchet Common by King George II., who expressed his approbation of its appearance and discipline.

After the review the Inniskilling dragoons marched back to Lancashire; in December their quarters were extended to Northumberland; and in March, 1729, they were ordered to return to Scotland, where they passed the succeeding three years.

In the spring of 1733, the regiment was ordered to march for England, and in June furnished detachments on coast duty in Essex, on which service it was employed during the following year.

The Earl of Stair having joined the opposition against Sir Robert Walpole was removed from the regiment, and was succeeded in the colonelcy by Charles Lord Cadogan from the Fourth foot, by commission dated the 19th of June, 1734.

The regiment remained in the south of England, and was employed on coast duty during the years 1735 and 1736; in May, 1737, it marched to Nottingham and Derby; and in April, 1738, into Lincolnshire, and furnished detachments for the prevention of smuggling along the coast.

At this period the establishment was six troops of three officers, one quarter-master, two sergeants, three corporals, two drummers, one hautboy, and forty-nine private men per troop; but on the breaking out of the war with Spain, in 1739, an augmentation of one sergeant and ten men per troop was ordered, making a total of four hundred and thirty-five officers and men, including the staff.

The regiment continued to occupy quarters in Lincolnshire in 1740.

In the summer of 1741, when the Elector of Bavaria, aided by the French monarch, attempted to deprive the Archduchess Maria Theresa, of Hungary and Bohemia, the Inniskilling dragoons were directed to hold themselves in readiness to proceed on foreign service, and were encamped on Lexden Heath, with six other regiments of cavalry and seven of infantry; but no embarkation took place, and in the autumn they went into quarters.

While in Germany, the lieutenant-colonel, James Gardiner, was promoted to the colonelcy of the Thirteenth dragoons[13].

Lord Cadogan, having been removed to the second troop (now second regiment) of life guards, was succeeded in the colonelcy by Field-marshal the Earl of Stair, by commission dated the 25th of April, 1743.

In the early part of June the Inniskilling dragoons crossed the Maine and encamped at Aschaffenberg, where King George II. and His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland joined the army.

Leaving Aschaffenberg on the morning of the 16th of June, the army moved in columns along the banks of the Maine to join the Hanoverians and Hessians at Hanau. The French under Marshal Noailles crossed the river, and taking up a formidable position between the Maine and the mountains near Dettingen, prepared to oppose the march of the allies: at the same time the French commander seized the bridge at Aschaffenberg, to cut off the retreat of his opponents. These movements brought on a general engagement, and the Inniskilling dragoons had an opportunity of signalizing themselves under the eye of their sovereign.

While the allied army was forming for battle, the Inniskilling dragoons and other cavalry covered the operation, and were exposed to the enemy's cannon. The French household troops, headed by the princes of the blood, became impatient of inactivity, and quitting their advantageous position, galloped forward to commence the action. The British cavalry advanced to meet their antagonists, and were repulsed; but a volley from the British infantry destroyed several French squadrons, and the English troopers returning to the charge, drove back their opponents. The battle extended along the line, and the British, Austrian, and Hanoverian infantry, fiercely encountering the French battalions, gained advantage after advantage, until the fortune of the day was so evidently in their favour that the result was no longer doubtful. Meanwhile the charges of the cavalry were frequent and sanguinary. Bland's (third) dragoons, and the Inniskilling troopers charged and overpowered a superior body of horse, then rushed sword in hand upon a line of French cuirassiers, whose polished armour proved ineffectual against the prowess and resolution of the British dragoons fighting in the presence of their King. The life-guards, blues, King's horse (now first dragoon guards), and Ligonier's troopers (now seventh dragoon guards), behaved nobly; the royals and greys captured each a standard[14]; and Rich's (fourth) and Cope's (seventh) dragoons had their share in the combat. Unable to withstand the fury of the charging Britons, the French gave way, and were driven across the Maine with such precipitation, that many men were drowned in the river.

The Inniskilling dragoons returned from the pursuit and bivouacked near the scene of conflict. Their loss was two men and eighteen horses killed; and one man and nine horses wounded. On the following day they continued their march to Hanau, where they were encamped until the beginning of August, when they proceeded towards the Rhine, and having passed that river, were employed in West Germany; the King having his head-quarters at the episcopal palace of Worms, and afterwards at Spire. In October His Majesty marched the army back to Mentz, from whence the Inniskilling dragoons continued their route to Flanders, where they passed the winter.

The regiment served the campaign of 1744 with the army commanded by Field-Marshal Wade; and after encamping for some time behind the Scheldt, was employed in an incursion into the French territory, and in collecting contributions. In October the regiment went into winter quarters at Ghent.

Having been withdrawn from their cantonments in April, 1745, the Inniskilling dragoons encamped near Brussels, where they were reviewed by the Duke of Cumberland, and subsequently advanced with the army commanded by His Royal Highness to attack the French, who had commenced the siege of Tournay with an immense body of troops under the command of Marshal Saxe. One squadron of the regiment formed part of the force which drove in the enemy's out-guards, on the 28th of April (O.S.).

The French occupied a fortified camp, protected by immense batteries, near the village of Fontenoy; and the Inniskilling dragoons supported the infantry in their attacks on this formidable position; on which occasion the English foot-guards, and several regiments of the line, displayed signal valour and intrepidity, and carried the enemy's trenches in gallant style; but the Dutch having failed in their attempt on the village of Fontenoy, and the French battery in the wood of Barri not having been stormed according to order, the troops, which had forced the position, were unable to maintain their ground. Towards the close of the action, the cavalry was ordered forward, and several corps charged with great spirit and resolution, but were unable to retrieve the fortune of the day; and a retreat having been ordered, the army withdrew to Aeth. In this action the Inniskilling dragoons evinced the same forward bearing and firmness as on former occasions. Their loss was Quarter-master Baird, three men, and nineteen horses killed; eleven men and seven horses wounded.

The army encamped on the plains of Lessines; and while the Inniskilling dragoons were at this camp, their Colonel, Field-Marshal the Earl of Stair, was removed to the Scots greys, and was succeeded by John Earl of Rothes, by commission dated the 29th of May, 1745.

After the surrender of Fontenoy the French army advanced, and having an immense superiority of numbers, the allies withdrew, and took up a position to cover Brussels. The Inniskilling dragoons encamped near Meerbeck, and subsequently on the canal between Ghent and Brussels.

Meanwhile a rebellion, headed by Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, had broken out in Scotland, and many British regiments were ordered to return home. The Inniskilling dragoons marched, during the winter, to Williamstadt, in North Brabant, and towards the end of February, 1746, embarked for England; but the transports were driven by tempestuous weather back into the harbour, and the troops disembarked. The rebellion having been suppressed shortly afterwards, the order for their return was countermanded, and they went into quarters on the frontiers of Holland.

Quitting their cantonments in the spring of 1746, the Inniskilling dragoons were employed in the operations of the army commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir John Ligonier. In May they were encamped behind the Dyle: the French having a great superiority of numbers, the allies were forced to retire towards Antwerp; subsequently to Breda; and many fortified towns were captured by the enemy. In July, Prince Charles of Lorraine took the command of the army, and the British dragoons were employed in manœuvring and skirmishing with the French cavalry, in order to retard the operations of the adverse army.

During the forenoon of the 1st of October (O.S.), the allies were in position on the plain of Liege; several villages were occupied by the infantry, and the Inniskilling dragoons stood in line on some open ground near the village of Roucoux. About mid-day numerous columns of the enemy appeared advancing under Marshal Saxe; and being emboldened by their superior numbers, their artillery opened a tremendous cannonade, and about fifty battalions attacked three villages on the left of the allied army with great fury. Having carried the villages, the French infantry diverged upon the open ground, where the Greys, Inniskilling, and Seventh dragoons appeared in line, headed by the gallant Earls of Rothes and Crawford. As the enemy advanced in crowds, as if confident of success, the three regiments dashed forward, overthrew the opposing ranks, and chased the French musketeers to the hedges and thickets near the village in gallant style. A retreat having been ordered, the army withdrew across the river Maese, and encamped near Maestricht.

The regiment was commended in orders for its conduct on this occasion; it had three men wounded: and six horses killed and seven wounded: one horse fell into the hands of the enemy.

After encamping a short time in the province of Limburg, the regiment went into quarters in the country along the Lower Maese.

During the campaign of 1747 the allied army was commanded by the Duke of Cumberland; and after encamping a short time near the banks of the Scheldt, the Inniskilling dragoons were employed in operations on the Great Nethe, and on the Demer. The 1st of July was passed in skirmishing near the frontiers of Liege; the two armies confronted each other, and on the following day a sharp action was fought, on which occasion the regiment acquired new laurels.

Under the cover of a heavy cannonade, the French infantry attacked the village of Val, which was occupied by four battalions (three British and one Hanoverian), and the Inniskilling dragoons were formed behind the houses. Eventually the village was captured, and the enemy broke the centre of the allied army. The cavalry of the left wing was led forward by Sir John Ligonier, and charged the French horsemen with signal intrepidity. The Greys particularly distinguished themselves. The Inniskilling dragoons, vying in heroism with the Scots troopers, overthrew and routed the squadrons opposed to them; and a sanguinary sword fight ensuing, the British horsemen made great havoc among the discomfited ranks of their opponents. Following up their first success, the Greys, Inniskilling, and other British dragoons, dashed forward; a volley from some French musketeers posted on the low grounds, and behind hedges, emptied several saddles; but the survivors rushed upon the infantry and chased them from behind the hedges and from the low grounds, with dreadful carnage. While pursuing the fugitives, a new line of combatants appeared; but, with ranks confused and blended together, the British dragoons galloped forward and dispersed these also. This astonishing gallantry of the British cavalry produced important results; but the enemy having broken the centre of the allied army, the Duke of Cumberland ordered a retreat.

When the Inniskilling, and other British dragoons, faced about to retire, the enemy came down upon them in crowds, and they sustained considerable loss. The army retreated to Maestricht, where it arrived in the evening.

The casualty-return of the regiment on this occasion exhibited a serious loss, viz., Lieutenant Armstrong, Quarter-master Seaman, forty men, and twenty-two horses wounded; Lieutenant Gordon, Cornet Hay, seventy-eight men, and ninety-eight horses killed and missing. The conduct of the British cavalry on this occasion, was highly commended in the accounts of the battle published at the time.

The Inniskilling dragoons were subsequently encamped at Richel, near the Maese, in the province of Limburg; in October they proceeded to North Brabant, and pitched their tents behind the lines at Terheyden; and at the end of the campaign they went into cantonments among the Dutch peasantry.

A strong remount of men and horses having joined to replace the losses of the preceding year, the regiment took the field to serve the campaign of 1748 in a high state of efficiency, and according to the publications of that date its warlike appearance was much admired. It was employed in the province of Limburg, and was encamped a short time near Ruremonde. Meanwhile preliminary articles for a treaty of peace had been agreed upon; the regiment proceeded to North Brabant, where it remained a short time, and during the winter, returned to England.

After the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle the establishment was reduced to two hundred and eighty-five officers and men.

The Earl of Rothes was removed in January, 1750, to the Royal North British dragoons, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the Inniskilling dragoons by Major-General the Honourable James Cholmondeley from the Third Irish horse, now Sixth dragoon guards.

In 1751 a regulation was issued for insuring uniformity in the clothing, standards, and regimental distinctions of the British army, from which the following particulars have been extracted relating to the Inniskilling Dragoons.

Coats,—scarlet; double-breasted; without lappels; lined with full yellow; slit sleeves, turned up with full yellow; the button-holes worked with narrow white lace; the buttons of white metal, set on two and two; a long slash pocket in each skirt; and a white shoulder-knot, or aiguillette, on the right shoulder.

Waistcoats and Breeches,—full yellow.

Hats,—bound with silver lace; and ornamented with a white metal loop and a black cockade.

Boots,—of jacked leather, and reaching to the knee.

Cloaks,—of scarlet cloth, with a full yellow collar and lined with yellow shalloon; the buttons set on two and two upon white frogs, or loops, with a blue stripe down the centre.

Horse Furniture,—of full yellow cloth; the holster caps and housing having a border of white lace with a blue stripe down the centre; the castle of Inniskilling embroidered upon a red ground within a wreath of roses and thistles, on each corner of the housing; and on the holster caps the king's cipher and crown, with VI. D. underneath.

Officers,—distinguished by silver lace; their coats and waistcoats bound with silver embroidery; the button-holes worked with silver; and a crimson silk sash worn across the left shoulder.

Quarter-Master,—to wear a crimson sash round the waist.

Serjeants,—to have narrow silver lace on the cuffs, pockets, and shoulder-straps; silver shoulder-knots, or aiguillettes, and yellow and white worsted sashes tied round their waists.

Drummers and Hautboys,—clothed in full yellow coats lined with scarlet, and ornamented with silver lace with a blue stripe down the centre; their waistcoats and breeches of scarlet cloth.

Guidons,—The first or King's guidon to be of crimson silk, embroidered and fringed with gold and silver: in the centre the rose and thistle conjoined and crown over them, with the motto Dieu et mon Droit underneath: the white horse in a compartment in the first and fourth corners, and VI. D. in silver characters on a yellow ground in a compartment in the second and third corners. The second and third guidons to be of full yellow silk, in the centre the castle of Inniskilling within a wreath of roses and thistles on a crimson ground; the white horse on a scarlet ground in the first and fourth compartments, and VI. D. within a small wreath of roses and thistles upon a scarlet ground in the second and third compartments.

During the succeeding seven years, the regiment was employed on home service in Great Britain, and was distinguished as an efficient and well-conducted corps.

In 1755, when the aggressions of the French in North America led to acts of open hostility, the establishment was augmented one corporal and fifteen men per troop. Shortly afterwards a light troop was added on the same principle as light companies to infantry corps: and the regiment consisted of six heavy troops and one light troop. The light dragoons were sometimes styled hussars. A periodical of this date (June, 1756) has the following paragraph: 'On Monday morning the newly-raised light horse, or, as they are commonly called, hussars, were exercised in Hyde Park, as were also some life guards and horse grenadiers. The hussars in particular made a very pretty and genteel appearance; went through their peculiar method of exercise, both on horseback and on foot, with the greatest vivacity and exactness, to the satisfaction of many thousands of spectators.'

War was proclaimed, and the French monarch made such extensive preparations for invading England, that some alarm was occasioned.

These preparations being continued in 1757, the country was placed in a posture of defence. Seven battalions were encamped on Barham Downs under the Duke of Marlborough; five at Chatham under Lord George Sackville; six at Amersham under Lieutenant-General Campbell; a regiment of cavalry and six battalions of infantry at Dorchester under Sir John Mordaunt; another camp was formed on the Isle of Wight; and the Inniskilling dragoons, with the third dragoon guards, and first, third, fourth, and eleventh dragoons were encamped on Salisbury plain, under Lieutenant-General Hawley. The formidable attitude assumed by the government, with the increased military power prepared to oppose the invasion, induced the French monarch to lay aside his design of landing troops on the British coast, and he resolved to attack the possessions of his Britannic Majesty in Hanover.

The increased naval and military establishments of Britain enabled King George II. to assail the coast of France, and an expedition was prepared for that purpose under the command of Charles Duke of Marlborough. The light troop of the Inniskilling dragoons was selected to take part in this enterprise, and having been encamped some time on Southsea Common, and formed in brigade with the light troops of eight other regiments, under the command of Brigadier-General Eliott, (afterwards Lord Heathfield,) it embarked towards the end of May, 1758, and sailed for the coast of France on the 1st of June. On the evening of the 5th a landing was effected in Cancalle Bay, in the province of Brittany; on the 7th the troops advanced to Paramé; and during the following night the light dragoons and piquets of the infantry regiments proceeded to the harbour of St. Maloes, and destroyed by fire one hundred vessels with extensive magazines of maritime stores. The light cavalry afterwards advanced to the town of Dol, and evinced signal intrepidity in skirmishing with detachments of French troops. After remaining five days in France the British re-embarked, and severe weather rendering another descent impracticable, they returned to Portsmouth. The light troop of the Sixth dragoons having landed, was encamped a short time at Portsmouth, and subsequently on Southsea Common. In the beginning of August it sailed on a second expedition under Lieutenant-General Bligh. A landing having been effected in the Bay des Marées, Cherbourg was taken, and the fortifications and vessels in the harbour were destroyed. The troops returned on board the fleet, and another landing was effected in the bay of St. Lunar; but no advantage resulted from this enterprise, and before the whole were re-embarked, the enemy attacked the rear with such fury that the grenadiers and foot guards sustained considerable loss. The expedition returned to England, and the light troop of the Sixth dragoons went into cantonments in villages along the coast.

Disastrous events had, in the mean time, occurred in Germany; the Hanoverian, Hessian, and Brunswick troops commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, had been subject to a capitulation, and the electorate of Hanover was taken possession of by the enemy. The French having violated the conditions of the capitulation, the Hanoverians, Hessians, and Brunswickers reassembled under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick; a body of British troops was sent to Germany under Charles Duke of Marlborough; and the six heavy troops of the Sixth dragoons were selected for this service. The light troop of the regiment was left in England on coast duty; and it was subsequently employed in the travelling escort duty for the royal family.

The regiment was reviewed on Blackheath by King George II., who expressed his royal approbation of its appearance and discipline; it embarked at Gravesend on the 27th of July; and landed on the 3rd of August, a few miles above the city of Embden in Germany, where it encamped two days, and subsequently marched up the country to join the Hanoverians, Hessians, and Brunswickers. The regiment joined the army at Coesveldt on the 17th of August, and was reviewed on the 20th, with the other British corps, by His Serene Highness Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, who expressed his admiration of the condition of the several regiments after the march. After taking part in the movements of the army, the regiment went into winter quarters in the bishopric of Paderborn.

The Inniskilling dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Harvey, took the field in the spring of 1759, and were formed in brigade with the Blues and first dragoon guards; the British were commanded by Lord George Sackville, and the allied army by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. The French monarch sent an immense body of troops to Germany, under the Duke de Broglio and Marshal Contades; and the allies, being so very inferior in numbers, were compelled to retire before their opponents.

After a series of retreats and occasional skirmishes, the enemy occupied a strong position near Minden, and the allied army encamped on Petershagen heath. Prince Ferdinand advanced, and having succeeded in drawing the French from their formidable post, a general engagement was fought on Minden heath on the 1st of August, when the astonishing valour of the British infantry decided the fortune of the day. The British cavalry were posted behind a wood on the right of the army, and towards the close of the action they were ordered forward to charge the French legions; but a misunderstanding on the part of Lord George Sackville occasioned some delay; the Inniskilling and other British dragoons, who were panting for an opportunity to distinguish themselves, were detained in a state of inactivity, and the victory was rendered less decisive than it otherwise would have been. The Marquis of Granby was afterwards appointed to the command of the British troops in Germany.

The allied army moved forward in pursuit of the enemy, whose line of retreat might be traced by scenes of devastation and the smoke of burning villages. The Inniskilling dragoons formed part of the division commanded by the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, who harassed and attacked the French during their retreat, occasioning them serious loss on several occasions; especially at Grubenhagen, Eimbec, and in the defiles of Minden. On the 25th of August the Sixth dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Harvey, arrived, with the remainder of the Hereditary Prince's division, at Schonstadt. During the night between the 27th and 28th of August, the Inniskilling dragoons, with a detachment from the first dragoon guards and a battalion of English grenadiers, commanded by Colonel Beckwith, marched in the direction of Wetter to surprise the corps commanded by the celebrated Colonel Frischer, amounting to about two thousand men, in quarters at that town. Frischer's men were alarmed, and attempted to make resistance, but the gallant Colonel Harvey rushed upon them at the head of the Inniskilling dragoons, and Beckwith's grenadiers, drawing their swords, joined in the charge;—the French were overthrown; sixty were killed on the spot; many were wounded; about four hundred were made prisoners; and the remainder fled in confusion, towards Marpurg; leaving their camp-equipage, baggage, and a number of horses in possession of the conquerors. Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, of the Inniskilling dragoons, had a personal encounter with Frischer's brother, whom he slew with his broadsword; and both the dragoons and grenadiers distinguished themselves in a particular manner[15].

The pursuit of the French army was continued a distance of nearly two hundred miles; and operations were not suspended during the winter. The weather becoming severe, the Inniskilling dragoons went into cantonments in the villages near the river Lahn.

During the campaign of 1760 the regiment was formed in brigade with the tenth dragoons under Major-General the Earl of Pembroke; and, after much manœuvring and some skirmishing was encamped at Kalle. At the same time thirty thousand French troops, commanded by the Chevalier de Muy, crossed the river Dymel, and took post at Warbourg, to cut off the communication of the allies with Westphalia. The Inniskilling dragoons left the camp at Kalle about eleven o'clock on the night of the 30th of June, passed the Dymel near Liebenau, and about five on the following morning were in position on the heights of Corbeke, from whence they advanced to a wood within five miles of the enemy's position. The French were attacked, and while the action was still raging, the British cavalry were ordered forward. Traversing the five miles at a quick pace, they speedily arrived at the field of battle, and charging the enemy with signal intrepidity, routed the French cavalry, put the opposing infantry into disorder, and chased them across the Dymel. The conduct of the Inniskilling dragoons and other British cavalry regiments was such, that the Marquis of Granby stated, in his public despatch, that nothing could exceed their gallant behaviour; Prince Ferdinand declared in general orders that all the British cavalry performed prodigies of valour; and an historian of that date stated, that they outdid all former examples.

The regiment had only two men and two horses killed; three men and one horse wounded, and three horses missing.

The French retired from their camp beyond the Dymel on the 22nd of August; when the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick crossed the river with twelve thousand men to gain the enemy's left flank. His leading corps encountered the enemy's rear-guard near Zierenberg, and a sharp skirmish ensued. At length the Prince brought forward the Greys and Inniskilling dragoons; a gallant charge of the two regiments decided the contest; and the French were driven into the town.

The French army encamped beyond Zierenberg, and the volunteers of Clermont and Dauphiné, amounting to about nine hundred cavalry and a thousand infantry, were quartered in the town. After sunset, on the evening of the 5th of September, the Greys, Inniskilling, and Bock's dragoons, two regiments of infantry, and one hundred and fifty Highlanders, crossed the Dymel, and arriving at Zierenberg before daybreak, forced the guard and entered the town. A dreadful slaughter was made of the enemy in the streets, and a sharp encounter with the bayonet took place in the churchyard; between three and four hundred prisoners were captured; also two pieces of cannon; and at three o'clock the assailants retired to Warbourg, having lost only ten men. It was stated in the London Gazette, that 'the behaviour of the officers and the bravery of the troops, on this occasion, deserve the greatest commendation.'

The Hereditary Prince of Brunswick marched with a body of troops to the duchy of Cleves, and invested Wesel. The Inniskilling dragoons and several other corps left the camp at Warbourg, on the 1st of October, under Major-General Waldegrave, to join the prince, and take part in the operations on the lower Rhine. The French, commanded by the Marquis de Castries, advanced to raise the siege of Wesel, and encamped half a league behind the convent of Campen, with Frischer's corps posted within the convent. The Inniskilling dragoons passed the Rhine by a bridge two miles below Wesel, and having joined the Hereditary Prince, advanced at ten o'clock, on the evening of the 15th of October, to surprise the enemy's camp. It being necessary to dislodge the troops in the convent, the firing alarmed the French army, which instantly formed for battle. The allies having passed the convent, commenced the action at five o'clock on the morning of the 16th; and a succession of charges was continued with varied success until nine at night, when the Prince ordered a retreat.

The Sixth lost on this occasion two men and four horses killed; Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, Major Hepburn, Cornet Sayer, five men and one horse wounded; and one man and horse taken by the enemy.

After repassing the Rhine, the regiment was encamped at Bounnen, subsequently at Klein Reckum, and in December went into cantonments.

In February, 1761, the regiment took part in a successful incursion into the quarters occupied by the French army; when the allies, advancing through a heavy snow, drove their opponents before them many leagues, captured several strong towns with extensive magazines of forage and provisions, but were subsequently obliged to retire.

During the campaign of 1761 the regiment was brigaded with the royals and tenth dragoons, commanded by Major-General Eliott. It was employed in several manœuvres, and was in position in the middle of July, on the rivers Asse and Lippe in Westphalia, forming part of the division under the Prince of Anhalt. On the 15th of July, the enemy attacked the Marquis of Granby's division at Kirch-Denkern, when the Inniskilling dragoons crossed the Asse river to support the infantry, and the French were driven back. The action was renewed on the following day, and the enemy was again repulsed with serious loss; but owing to the scene of conflict being in a thickly-wooded country, interspersed with marshy ground, the services of the regiment were limited to supporting the infantry.

The Sixth dragoons were subsequently employed in operations on the Dymel; in November they were engaged in the electorate of Hanover, where several sharp skirmishes occurred, in which they took part, in severe weather, and were sometimes encamped in the snow. They eventually went into cantonments in Friesland.

Having taken the field to serve the campaign of 1762, the regiment was formed in brigade with the fifteenth dragoons, under Colonel Harvey. After encamping at Brackel in the bishopric of Paderborn, and subsequently on the heights of Tissel, the brigade advanced, on the morning of the 24th of June, with the view of surprising the French camp at Groebenstien. This movement was conducted with such address, that the French were instantly thrown into confusion, and, abandoning their camp equipage, they fell back upon Cassel, one division being surrounded and made prisoners in the woods of Wilhelmsthal. The Inniskilling dragoons pursued the French towards Cassel, and afterwards encamped near Holtzhausen.

In the subsequent operations of the campaign, the Inniskilling dragoons were actively employed, and a series of successes was followed by the capture of Cassel. A suspension of hostilities took place in November, and the regiment went into cantonments in the bishopric of Munster.