On this occasion the regiment, which forms the subject of this memoir, gained great honour; the Duke of Marlborough observed in one of his letters,--"_Never men fought better!_" and in his public despatch he states, "_They acquitted themselves with a bravery surpassing all that could have been hoped of them_." The author of the Annals of Queen Anne observed:--"All the troops of the confederates behaved themselves with great bravery and resolution; but among the HORSE the regiment of Brigadier CADOGAN distinguished themselves, having had the honour to charge first, which they did with that success, that they defeated four squadrons of Bavarian Guards, drove them through two battalions of their own foot, and took four standards; and this with the loss only of Lieutenant Austin and some few men killed."
The following description of the standards captured on this occasion is copied from the London Gazette.
"Nine standards of blue satin, richly embroidered with the Bavarian arms; six belonging to the Elector's own troops, and three to those of Cologne, having the following devices and mottoes."
1st. A laurel; motto, _Aut Coronari aut rumpi_.
2d. An olive-tree on a rock; motto, _Per Ardua Laurus_.
3d. A pillar reaching to the clouds; motto, _Tantum Umbra movetur_.
4th. A bear rampant; motto, _Ex Vulnere Crudelior_.
5th. A dove with a laurel branch; motto, _Uni servo fidem_.
6th. A chaos; motto, _Obstantia firmant_.
7th. A helmet with a feather on a pedestal; motto, _Ex duris Gloria_.
8th. An olive-tree shading serpents; motto, _Nocet Umbra nocenti_.
9th. A standard of the Elector's guards with the colour torn to pieces.
Four of these standards were taken by CADOGAN'S HORSE; the corps which captured the other five standards are not specified.
[Illustration: Brigadier-General Cadogan's Horse forcing the French Lines, 18th July, 1705:--
NOW FIFTH (THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES'S) REGIMENT OF DRAGOON GUARDS.]
After this victory the regiment was employed in several manœuvres; but it was not engaged in any action of importance until the battle of _Ramilies_, fought on Whit-Sunday, the 23d of May, 1706, when the French, Bavarians, and Spaniards, commanded by Marshal Villeroy and the Elector of Bavaria, sustained another decisive overthrow, and CADOGAN'S HORSE acquired new laurels in the contest. On this occasion the English cavalry were kept in reserve near the heights of Foulz until towards the close of the action, when they were brought forward, and the weight and fury of the charge of these heavy horsemen were irresistible; the enemy's squadrons and battalions were broken; and the British troopers,--strong men on powerful horses,--smote their antagonists to the ground with a dreadful slaughter. The victorious squadrons pursued their adversaries throughout the night, capturing officers and soldiers, colours, standards, and cannon; and thus, in a few hours, the French monarch's fine and well-appointed army was nearly annihilated, and its commanders escaped from the field with difficulty.