Additional Notes on British Raised Troops
Serving in St. Domingo
During the Napoleonic Wars
Part 2
By R. A. Hamilton
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Part 1 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo The Hompesch Hussars: Uniform: Austrian style peakless red shako with white band, white plume, white caplines and black/white cockade. Green dolman with red collar and cuffs, white braiding. Green pelisse with white braiding and blackfur trim, red breeches with white Austrian knot and piping. Crimson waistgirdle with yellow barrels, black Hessian boots. Green shabraque with red vandyked border edged white, green valise with red and white circle trim at each end, black or white sheepskin saddlecover. Note: The uniform would, I believe, be modified for tropical service, but to what extent I know not. The Rohan Hussars: A foreign corps in the British service from 1794-1798 which originally consisted of two hussar regiments, one horse artillery detachment and one infantry regiment. In 1795 the two hussar regiments were combined to form a single unit, this saw service in the disasterous Netherlands Campaign. The infantry regiment was wiped-out at Quiberon Bay in 1795, I have seen nothing about what happened to the horse artillery unit. The reformed hussar regiment was ordered to Saint Domingo in 1796, by 1798 it had wasted-away, from active service and disease. The remnants were drafted into The York Hussars (1793-1802). The regiment probably wore the uniform of the 1st Rohan Hussars: Austrian style peakless black shako with yellow trimming, yellow caplines and white plume. Sky-blue dolman with red collar and cuffs with yellow braiding. White pelisse with yellow braiding and black fur. White cross-belts, crimson waistgirdle with yellow barrels. Sky-blue breeches with yellow trimming and yellow knots, black Hessian boots with yellow trimming. Sky-blue sabretache with yellow trimming, Crown and Royal "GR" cypher. Sky-blue valise with yellow and red lace. Shabraque in sky-blue with red and yellow vandyked border, white sheepskin saddlecover. Again details on tropical wear has not been forth-coming, can anyone help out? The York Hussars: Irwin's British Hussars, later renamed The York Hussars, was a foreign corps in British service from 1793-1802. After serving in the unfortunate Netherlands Campaign, the regiment was dispatched to Saint Domingo in 1796. ( See "The Haitian Journal of Lieutenant Howard, York Hussars, 1796-1798", published by the University of Tennesse Press, 1985 and "The York Hussars", by Don Fostern and illustrated by Bob Marrion, that appeared in the July 1991 issue of Military Modelling, for further details of this unit. While additional help on Emigres units can be found in "A History of the Uniforms of the British Army. Vol.4.", by Cecil C.P. Lawson, published by Norman Military Publications, London 1966. T.D.H. ) Noted as being stationed at Saint Marc in March 1797. Despite having suffered horrendous losses from active service and disease, the regiment was not disbanded at the British evacuation in 1798, but returned to Britain where it absorbed the remnants of several other foreign regiments, and was eventually disbanded in 1802 because of the Peace of Amiens. Uniform: Black mirliton with red lining, white plume with red and white cockade. Red dolman with green collar and cuffs, white braiding, green pelisse also with white braiding and white fur trim, crimson waistgirdle with yellow barrels, red breeches with white knots and lace. Black Hessian boots with white trim, white sheepskin saddle-cover, green shabraque with red vandyked border edged in white, white leather belts and straps. The Saint Domingue British Lancers: The regiment was raised in August 1796 in Britain as a foreign corps for service in Saint Domingue, it was formed around a cadre of four troops of Germans from a disbanded foreign corps, "The British Lancers" (1794-1796) who had previously seen service on the island of Saint Lucia in 1796. Rather confusingly, the regiment is said to have been commanded by the Comte de Bouille, the former colonel of the previous regiment. It is also said to have been called "The Charmilly Dragoons", after the commanding officer Colonel Marquis Vernault de Charmilly, a man who also seemed to be involved in one infamous activity or another. Or it was called "The Osmund Lancers", there is a note of an Abbe de Osmund being among the leading royalists on the island, but what a clergyman might be doing commanding a cavalry unit is quite another matter? Although the regiment is described as lancers there is no evidence, I know of, that says the unit was ever equipped as such. It was disbanded in January 1797 and the remaining personnel drafted into the cavalry element of "The Saint Domingue British Legion" (1794-1798). Uniform: Said to have been the same as that worn by the cavalry of "The Saint Domingue British Legion." The Irish Catholic Brigade: The brigade was intended to be a reincarnation of the famous French-Irish Brigade, and served as a foriegn corps in British service from 1794-1799. Originally it consisted of six infantry regiments, but this was later reduced to four through the lack and difficulty in obtaining suitable recruits. The 2nd (Count Walsh-Serrant) Regiment served in Saint Domingo in September 1797. The 3rd (Hon. Henry Dillon) Regiment served in Saint Domingo from August 1796 to April 1797. Participated in the assualt upon Fort Guerin, said to have absorbed the remnants of the
Dillon Irish Regiment (1793-1796). Uniform: Both the 2nd and 3rd Regiments are said to have worn red coats faced yellow. King's Colour 3rd Regiment: The Union Flag bearing a "GR" cypher on a gold oval,
surmounted by an English crown, underneath a Union Wreath in full colour. On
the reverse the "GR" cypher was replaced by an Irish Harp badge and the English
crown by an Irish crown. Regimental Colour 3rd Regiment: The Union flag in the first canton, a yellow field
for the remainder of the flag, in the centre a "GR" cypher in gold upon a red
background and encircled by a blue knotted ribbon, all enclosed by a Union
Wreath in full colour above this a white ribbon edged in red bearing the legend
"3rd REGT OF IRISH BRIGADE" in black letters. On the reverse the same, but the
cypher being replaced by an Irish harp upon a green background. Beltplate: An oval silver beltplate bearing a Crown above a belt inscribed
LOYAL IRISH BRIGADE, the centre was plain, pesumably for the insertion of a
regimental number? The Dillon Irish Regiment: The 2nd Bataillon 87e Regiment de Infanterie (formerly the Dillon Regiment of the old French-Irish Brigade) was sent to garrison Mole Saint Nicolas. Surrounded by negro rebel forces and with no hope of relief, Major O'Farrell handed the port and it's stores when called upon to surrender in September 1793 by the British, also taking the remnants (149 men) of his regiment into British service, on pay as a foreign regiment rather than a local raised unit. The personnel had hoped that they might be allowed to leave the island, but to their horror they were retained to carry on the fight against the rebels. The regiment wasted away and receiving no new troops the unit is noted as being only 66 strong in December 1795, whilst stationed at Saint Marc. By 1796 it had virtually ceased to exist as a viable military unit and the remaining survivors were absorbed into "The Irish Catholic Brigade" (1794-1799). Uniform: Officer's, black round hat with black cockade and white feather, red double breasted coat with red collar edged white, yellow lapels and cuffs, gilt buttons and gold lace epaulettes, white breeches with black gaiters. Other ranks are said to have been issued with white round hats when taken into British service. Drummer's uniform was a red coat faced in yellow, with crimson lace that bore a white embroidered chain design on the buttonholes, lapel edges, tunic seams and around the sleeves in loops. The regiment is said to have taken it's old regimental colour (pre-1791 French regulations) to Saint Domingue, the 1st (top left) and 4th (bottom right) cantons were red, the 2nd (top right) and 3rd (bottom left) were black. Red cross of St. George trimmed in white. Inscription in gold on arms of cross: In Hoc Signo Vinces (In This Sign Conquer.). Device in centre of cross: gold Irish harp surmounted by a small crown. In each canton was a large English crown in gold with a red lining, the tip of each crown pointing towards the corner of each canton. A white cravat on the flagstaff. The Dutch Emigrant Artillery: Two emigre artillery companies in Dutch service were evacuated to Britain in 1795 at the end of the Nether]ands Campaign. They were reformed as "The Dutch Emigrant Artillery" in British service and sent out to Saint Domingue in June 1796.
The Governor's Company: To judge by the title this small local corps appears to have been a bodyguard or honour guard company for the protection of the British Governor of the colony. Noted as having been 62 strong in December 1795 while stationed at Port-au-Prince in the Western Province. The Royal English Gendarmes: Also known as the "Gendarmes Royal Anglais", it was a 225 strong local corps stationed at Mole Saint Nicolas in the Northern Province in December 1795. Sorry no other details. Note: The word "Gendarmes" cannot be easily translated into English, it literally means "men at arms" and is usually used to denote a heavy cavalry unit of guard status. In this case it may signify a unit recruited from the upper echelon of the colony. It should not be confused with the similar term "gendarmerie" which usually means "military police". The Colonial Cavalry Regiment: No details except for the title. The Duke of York Cavalry Regiment: This local corps is said to have been recruited from free coloureds and was 218 strong in December 1795 while stationed at Arcahaye. The Black Dragoons: No details except for title. The Prince of Wales's Regiment: Local corps recruited from free coloureds, was 85 strong in December 1795 whilst stationed at Saint Marc in the Western Province. The De Pester Foot Regiment: No details except for title. The Count O'Gormand Black Infantry: No details except for title. The Royal Constabulary Guides: Also known as "The Guides du Royal-Marechausee", it was a local military police force recruited largely from free coloureds, it was stationed in small detachments at posts throughout the colony to combat the brigandage endemic in the countryside. One detachment (29 strong) was stationed at Mole Saint Nicolas, a second (42 strong) at Saint Marc, a third (20 strong) at Mirebalais, a fourth (15 strong) at Grands Bois, a fifth (64 strong) at Croix aux Bouquets and a sixth (179 strong) at Port-au-Prince. Colonel Paul Cadusch, the commander of the Guides misguidedly attempted to turn the force into a regular cavalry regiment. The experiment was not a success, after operating in its new role for a brief period, the Guides were re-converted to it's original role. The Emigre Corps: Three local corps are simply described as "emigres", one unit (114 strong) was stationed at Saint Marc, a second (24 strong) at Arcahaye and the last (156 strong) at Port-au-Prince in December 1795. These units appear to have not been regarded as suitable for service in the field and were only used for static guard duty. It is difficult to distinguish "emigres" from "royalists", it maybe these units were composed of refugee planters whose estates had either been destroyed or occupied by the rebels. Or they may have been emigres who had fled from the colony at the onset of the rebellion and later returned with the British forces. The Royal Legion: A local corps recruited from free coloureds, in December 1795 it was 146 strong and stationed at Saint Marc. General Williamson is said to have accepted the Colonelcy of a local corps called "The Saint Marc Legion", can this be another name for this Legion? The "La Pointe Legion", commanded by a mulatto of that name, is said to have consisted of 3,000 men organised as one cavalry and two infantry regiments, could this be "The Royal Legion"? More British Raised Troops
Part 2 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo Part 3 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo Back to Table of Contents -- El Dorado Vol VII No. 1 Back to El Dorado List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1996 by The South and Central Military Historians Society This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. |