The Glorious Revolution - William of Orange's Order of Battle - Part 1: Horse

His Highness' Dragoons

As it turns out, it's difficult to find any detailed information about a military campaign that was nearly bloodless. However, since this campaign has a great deal of interest for me both for my interest in the era and because of its wargaming potential, I have spent a great deal of time now researching this subject. I humbly present my findings here, starting with all the information I can find on the cavalry that accompanied William of Orange in his invasion of England in November 1688. I owe all of this information to two main sources, both of which are cited below, with links. If anyone finding this blog has any further information that could plug holes, I'd love to hear it.

A few general observations first:

1. It appears that several of these regiments left a second squadron behind when they departed Holland. Those regiments whose November 1688 strength does not match their 1702 strength are noted below. 
2. A Dutch company of horse ideally comprised 60 soldiers and their horses, as well as 7 officers and support personnel who brought an additional 18 horses, for a total of 78 horses. But you will find that the companies of horse in the invasion army comprise only 52 horses, which seems to imply that the regiments were at 2/3rds strength, possibly to accommodate the transport of so many horses across the English Channel. However, I propose that this number 52 provides horses for 45 soldiers, plus a single horse for each of the officers and support personnel, which would mean that William of Orange's cavalry was at 3/4 strength during this invasion.
3. Likewise, Dutch dragoon companies had an ideal strength of 80 men with 86 horses, and Marwitz appears to be at roughly 2/3rds strength with 55 horses per company. I suggest that this could have provided horses for 50 dragoons, and a horse each for a Captain, Lieutenant, Cornet, and 2 Sergeants, but that is only a speculative guess.
4. That being said, the companies of the Guards and His Highness' Dragoons all appear to be up-to-strength. 

Horse

Unit Name	Co.’s	Horses	Coat/Lining	Notes
Garde du Corps	1	197	Red/blue	1.
Garde a Cheval	6	480	Blue/blue	2.
Nassau	3	156	Red/red	3.
Dragon de son Altesse	10	860	Grey/black	4.
Montpouillan	3	156	White/white	5.
Waldeck	4	208	Grey/red
Obdam	3	156	Grey/scarlet	5.
Flodorf	3	156	Grey/red
Gravemoer	1	52	Grey/green	6.
Sopenbrok	2	104	White/red	5.
Riedesel	3	156	?	7.
Oyen	2	104	White/green	8.
Zuilestein	2	104	White?	9.
Schack	3	156	?
Lippe	3	156	?
Heyden	3	156	White/red	5.
Ginkel	3	156	Grey/scarlet	5.
Bentinck	2	104	White/blue	10.
Marwitz Dragoons	8	440	Red/white	11.

Notes

1. Appears to have carried its full complement of 197 horses for 178 men.
2. Alias Garde te Paard. Appears to have left 3 companies behind.
3. Regimental Colonel was Prince Walrad van Nassau-Saarbrucken-Usingen, and may also be known as Nassau-Saarbrucken.
4. Alias His Highness’ Dragoons.
5. Appears to have left behind a second squadron.
6. Regiment comprised 5 companies in 1702, may have left most of its strength behind.
7. Regiment comprised 4 companies in 1702.
8. Later combined with Hoombergh in 1702.
9. Regimental Colonel was Willem Frederik van Nassau-Zuylenstein, and may also be known by that name.
10. Regiment comprised 6 companies in 1702, may have left other companies behind.
11. Uniform changed to Red/blue in 1690.

Works Cited

Marquess of Cambridge. “THE MARCH OF WILLIAM OF ORANGE FROM TORBAY TO LONDON—1688.” Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 44, no. 179 (1966): 152–74. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44222821.

Sapherson C. A. 19901988. The Dutch Army of William Iii. Leeds: Raider Books.

http://www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Sapherson_00.pdf 

Coming up next: William of Orange's Order of Battle - Part 2: Foot'

 

Soli Deo Gloria!