COUNT RUMFORD. 109 



driven from power. At this critical time he accepted 

 the commission of lieutenant-colonel in the British 

 army, and returned to America with a view of rallying 

 for a final stand such forces as he might find capable 

 of organisation. He took with him four pieces of 

 artillery, with which he made experiments during the 

 voyage. His destination was Long Island, Xew York, 

 but stress of weather carried him to Charleston, South 

 Carolina. " Obliged," says Pictet, " to pass the winter 

 there, he was made commander of the remains of the 

 cavalry in the Koyal army, which was then under the 

 orders of Lieutenant-General Leslie. This corps was 

 broken, but he promptly restored it, and won the confi- 

 dence and attachment of the commander. He led them 

 often against the enemy, and was always successful in 

 his enterprises.'"' 



About the middle of April Thompson reached Xew 

 York, and took command of the King's American 

 Dragoons. Colours were presented to the regiment on 

 August 1, a very vivid account of the ceremony being 

 given in Eivington's "Royal Gazette" of August 7, 1782. 

 Prince William Henry, afterwards King William IV., 

 was there at the time. The regiment passed in review 

 before him, performing marching salutes. They then 

 returned, dismounted, and formed in a semicircle in 

 front of the canopy. After an address by their chaplain, 

 the whole regiment knelt down, laid their helmets and 

 arms on the ground, held up their right hands, and took 

 a most solemn oath of allegiance to their sovereign, and 

 fidelity to their standard. From Admiral Digby the 

 Prince received the colours, and presented them with 

 his own hands to Thompson, who passed them on to the 

 oldest cornets. " On a given signal the whole regiment, 

 with all the numerous spectators, gave three shouts, the 



