"The Charge of the 15th Light Dragoons at the Battle of Emsdorf"

by David Rowlands

Image Size: 58 x 38 cm

16 July 1760: This regiment of light cavalry, mounted on light, active horses, was raised in 1759 in the London area. It went to join the British Army in Germany in 1760, and a few weeks later in its first action it won high distinction and suffered very heavy loss.

With Hanoverian and Hessian troops, the newly arrived British light cavalry attacked a French force of five battalions and a regiment of hussars near the village of Emsdorf, in Hesse. In hot weather, and struggling to manhandle their artillery, the French infantry withdrew through woods towards Langenstein, where they rallied. Emerging from the trees into an open plain they were immediately charged by the 15th Light Dragoons. Three times the regiment charged the enemy, who outnumbered them five to one. A complete battalion was captured, along with six guns and numerous colours.

The light dragoons wore distinctive caps, light 'jockey' boots and were armed with carbine, bayonet, pistol and sword. The drummers wore heavily laced green coats with hanging sleeves, and their drums bore the arms of the their Colonel. The enemy consisted of five battalions of two German regiments in the French army, the Infantry-Regiment Royal Baviere and the Infantry-Regiment Anhalt. German troops wore blue coats, with different facing colours, (in this case, black and straw colour respectively).