19th Light Dragoons

The 19th Light Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army created in 1781 for service in British India. The regiment served in India until 1806, and in North America during the War of 1812, and was disbanded in Britain in 1821.

History

Formation

After the 18th Royal Hussars two unrelated regiments bore the title 19th Light Dragoons, one based in Great Britain and one in India.

Great Britain

To address potential French aggression during the American Rebellion, on 25 April 1779, warrants were issued to raise three regiments of light dragoons, the 19th, 20th and 21st. The 19th was made up of drafts from the 1st and 2nd Dragoon Guards and the 4th and 10th Dragoons. The 19th did not see overseas service and was disbanded in June 1783.^[1]

India

The 23rd Regiment of Light Dragoons was raised by Colonel Sir John Burgoyne (a cousin of General John Burgoyne) on 24 September 1781 for service in India. There had been no European cavalry to that date in India, and successive commanders there had called upon the regular British Army to supply a cavalry unit.^[2] The regiment arrived at Fort St. George, Madras in 1782 and became the first British cavalry regiment to serve in India.^[3] In 1786, the regiment was renumbered as the 19th Light Dragoons.^[4]

India

The 19th played a major role in the Anglo-Mysore Wars and Anglo-Maratha Wars. Their first campaign was against Tipu Sultan of Mysore from 1790 to 1792.^[5] After defeating Tipu, the 19th were on garrison duty until 1799 when war broke out with Tipu again. This time, the Sultan was killed during the Battle of Seringapatam.

In 1800, the 19th fought Dhoondia Wao's rebel army and in 1803, led by Major-General Arthur Wellesley (who later became the Duke of Wellington), they participated in the Battle of Assaye. In this battle, the outnumbered British troops defeated a Maratha army and the regiment was subsequently awarded the battle honour of "Assaye" and presented with an honorary colour.^[6]

The 19th Light Dragoons then spent time garrisoning various British outposts. They were stationed at Cheyloor in 1802, at Arcot in 1803, in Bombay in 1804, and at Arcot again from 1805 to 1806. The regiment was summoned to Vellore on the night of 10 July 1806 to rescue the 69th Regiment of Foot who had been the victims of a revolt by Indian sepoys.^[7]

North America

The regiment embarked for England on 20 October 1806, and remained in Britain until the outbreak of the war with the United States in 1812.^[8] The 19th were one of the only two British regular cavalry units that served in North America during the War of 1812, and the only one to serve in Canada. (The 14th Light Dragoons served in campaigns on the American coast.) The regiment's first three squadrons arrived at Quebec City in May 1813 and were mounted on horses procured in Lower Canada.^[9]

Two squadrons were sent to Upper Canada where they were involved in the blockade and re-capture of Fort George, and the destruction of Black Rock and Buffalo in New York State. Elements of the two squadrons participated in Colonel Thomas Pearson's delaying action against Brigadier General Winfield Scott's brigade during the American invasion of 1814. They subsequently fought at the Battle of Chippawa, the Battle of Lundy's Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie. Another troop pursued American raiders who had struck at Battle of Malcolm's Mills. For these actions, the regiment earned the battle honour of "Niagara".^[10]

The other squadron had been stationed south of Montreal and participated in the Battle of Plattsburgh. In the autumn of 1814, the two squadrons serving on the Niagara rejoined the other squadron. The regiment served south of Montreal until the end of the war. They were sent back to England in August 1816.^[11]

Disbandment

The 19th Light Dragoons were re-equipped as lancers in September 1816 and renamed the 19th Lancers. The regiment remained in Britain until it was disbanded on 10 September 1821 due to reductions in size of the British Army.^[11] In 1862, the 19th Royal Hussars were created and given permission to inherit the battle honours of the 19th Light Dragoons.^[12]

Notes

References

• Biddulph, John (1899). The Nineteenth And Their Times. London: Murray. 

External links

• 19th Light Dragoons in the War of 1812
• Uniforms of the 19th Light Dragoons
• 19th Light Dragoons at FIBIS