Note 38 — HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE THIRD, OR THE KING'S OWN, REGIMENT OF LIGHT DRAGOONS. (continued 2)

Extract of a brigade order issued by General Ponsonby.

'Boulogne, July 19th, 1814.

'Major-General Ponsonby takes this opportunity of expressing to the brigade the high sense he entertains of their uniformly excellent conduct, both in quarters and in the field. It is a circumstance as gratifying to him, as it is creditable to themselves, that, during the whole period of their service, they have, in no one instance, collectively or individually, incurred animadversion in general orders, and that no individual of the brigade has been brought to a general court-martial. With equal truth the major-general can assert, that upon every occasion which has presented itself of acting against the enemy, either regimentally, or in brigade, they have nobly sustained the superiority of the British cavalry, and fully justified the high opinion repeatedly expressed of them by His Grace the Duke of Wellington. The three regiments[52] will ever have to congratulate themselves on its having fallen to their lot to be in the brigade employed on the 22nd of July, 1812 (battle of Salamanca), in that glorious and effectual charge which contributed in so eminent a degree to decide the fate of the day, and to secure the signal and complete defeat of the French army.'

'The major-general concludes by stating, that he has applied to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent for permission for the three regiments to bear the word "SALAMANCA" on their standards and appointments, and to be styled "Salamanca Regiments."'