The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-10-10
THE CUEEIS RECIMEIT.
HiStOJ d the PamOUS German Command OI
Whieh Victoria Has Been Made COlOnel.

cent appointment Of his grandmother,
Queen Victoria, to the chief command Of
one Of his cavalry regiments has been
ridiculed in some quarters, but those who
know the standing Of that regiment in
the German army can well understand
how high 4 compliment was thus paid
her majesty, A sketch Of the history
Of the First Guard Dragons Is
given in the September number Of the
Nineteenth Century by Colonel Lonsdale
Hale. The regiment, together with two
others Of similar character, was formed
in 1915 by King Frederick William the
Third from the three national cavalry
regiments in place Of the existing light
cavalry regiments, In order, as the king
said, mot only to give to the provinces to
which these regiments belong, and to
which they owe their origin, fresh
proof Of my kindly feelings toward them,
and which they deserve, but also to testify
my satisfaction with the spirit shown by
the Light Guard Cavalry regiments dur.
ing the war;" The three regiments thus
formed were the Guard Lancers, the
Guard Dragons, and the Guard Hussars.
The men and horses were selected with
special care, those Of the former who had
received the Iron Cross being first chosen,
and the preference then given to any who
had served during the war. The Dragon
regiment did no fighting until 1865, but
from the first 1t was always regarded as
an admirable school for soldering, and
was special favorite with the sovereign.
For two years Il was commanded by the
late Prince Frederick Charles, in lS47 by
Prince Waldemar Of Prussia, and in 1864
the late emperor was attached to it for the
purpose Of receiving training in cavalry
duties. At the time Of the reorganization
Of the German army in 1850 q second
guard dragoon regiment was formed, the
old one being given the title Of First
Guard Dragons. The latter received its
baptism Of fire at Koniggratz, where it
distinguished itself by furiously charging
the Austrian lancer regiment Of the En-
peror Alexander.
But the fame Of the First Guard Dra-
COON regiment rests chiefly upon its bril-
liant achievement at Mars-la-Tour in 1870.
At one stage Of the great battle at that
point, on August 10, the fate Of the right
wing Of Prince Frederick Charles army
hung for a time in the balance. The
Fourth French corps had driven back with
terrible slaughter, that portion Of the Ger
man line opposed to it, and two infantry
regiments following.up the attack, were
forcing the Germans pell-mell into the
valley from which they had issued dur
ing the day. The situation was the most
critical when, as last resort, word was
sent to Count Won Branderburg IL, who
was in command Of the guard cavalry
division, to charge the French with his
brigade. He answered that the First
guard dragoon regiment was the only part
Of his brigade with him, and that he could
not hope TO succeed against the unbroken
masses Of the French infantry unless
left to choose tie moment for the charge.
The reply Of the general was, "Your regi-
ment may, It Is true, not succeed, but II Il
delays the enemy for ten minutes, and
falls even to the last man, It will have
fulfilled It's task and duty" The count
thereupon gave the order and the regi-
ment, after gAlloping short distancepar-
allel TO the enemy's line, turned sharply
and under heavy FIRE Of infantry from
the front and Of mitrailleuses from the
left flank, threw itself headlong upon the
advancing masses. It penetrated the
hostile line, throwing It into confusion
with the result that It retired to its old
position, and the day was saved. But Of
Of the First dragons five-sixths Of the Of
ficers, third Of the men, and half Of the
horses were killed and wounded. OF the
former the only unharmed survivors were
three second ieutenants. The colonel
was mortally wounded, and the second in
command and the three squadron leaders
killed. As the survivors gathered togeth-
er after the charge the colonel, greeting
them with cheer for the king, sank
from his horse and in few hours later
was dead. In 1872 the emperor, when
inspecting the regiment, said: "nthis at
tack had not been made who knows
whether we might have been here" 1t
was brilliant feat, worthy to be classed
with the famous charge Of the light brig
ade at BalaklAVa, and in making her
majesty chief Of the First guard dragons
the Emperor William has done her as
great honor as he has the regiment.