Eliott’s Carbine:

  

The military history of  General George Augustus Eliott has been well documented elsewhere but deserves a reprise here in the light of some perhaps lesser-known aspects of his technical expertise. 

Eliott  was educated at the University of Leiden in the Dutch Republic, and studied artillery and military theory at the Ecole Militaire of La Fere in France. Having served in the Prussian Army from 1735-36 he then transferred to the Engineers, taking part in the War of Austrian Succession during 1742-48. He was wounded at the Battle of Dettingen and again at the Battle of Fontenoy. Eliott became an Engineer Extraordinary in 1744, at Sheerness, before resigning from the Engineers in 1757 to serve during the Seven Years War as aide-de-camp to King George II from 1756-59.  On being appointed Colonel he was tasked with raising the regiment of the 1st Light Horse (later the 15th Light Dragoons) known as Eliott's Light Horse in 1759.

Eliott distinguished himself at the Battle of Minden (and was promoted Major General) and at the 1760 Battle of Emsdorf. In 1761 he took part in the capture of Belle Isle and a year later was 2iC at the capture of Havana. All of which served to prepare him for appointment in 1777 as Governor of Gibraltar and perhaps his greatest achievement, the defence of the Rock during the Great Siege of 1789 -1783. 

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Light cavalry were first introduced into the British Army in the mid 1750s; the official establishment taking place in 1759, (1st Light Horse). This period saw a range of carbines being used by the cavalry. These were all smooth-bore weapons, rifling would not become commonplace until the mid 19th century. The Light Dragoon Carbine, introduced by the Clothing Regulations of April 1755, had a cumbersome 37in barrel and a 17in bayonet. At around the same time the Pattern 1756 Cavalry Carbine 'without bayonet for horse' and the 'Blues Carbine' of 1755, intended for use by the Royal Horse Guards, had carbines more suitable for use by the heavy cavalry.  It had been recognised that light dragoons were intended to fight from horseback rather than on foot, making the need for a bayonet obsolete, and the sheer length of a 37in barrelled carbine was not ideal for use on horseback. Clearly the light dragoons required a bespoke weapon for the task they were required to fulfil on the battlefield and Eliott came up with the answer.

  

                                                            1st Light Horse aka Eliott's Light Horse

The initial version of the Eliott Carbine appeared in 1760. It had an overall length of 42.5in, a barrel length of 28.75in, a bore diameter of 0.67in and weighed between 6 1/2 and 7 lbs. very early examples were fitted with a 'dog catch' which was discontinued in 1765. After that date, locks which had been previously manufactured were modified with the removal of the catch and the lock filled in. It had a blade-style foresight located around three inches from the muzzle and no provision for a bayonet. It was a successful weapon, serving for 13 years before modification and then continuing in use throughout the American Revolution... and the Napoleonic War saw it gracing the field at Waterloo. Indeed some survived until 1840, when they were rifled and handed out to volunteers. The principal 1773 modification was the addition of a spring bayonet and a ramrod with a swell near the end, around which a groove was cut, which located on a protrusion at the front of the nose cap; to prevent the ramrod falling out.

 

The gun was manufactured at a cost of one pound, eighteen shillings and ten pence halfpenny, at a time when a cavalryman earned 2/6 a day before food, forage for his mount, etc,etc, were deducted. It should also be mentioned that gunsmiths also produced versions for the sporting community... no doubt at a significantly higher price. The gun also found favour with the East India Company and many extant copies bear their mark.

 

        

                                                         An East India Coy Eliott Carbine of 1808.

Not content with improving the operational effectiveness of the Light Cavalry carbines, Eliott went on to design the Light Dragoon pistol, a light, handy pistol with a nine inch barrel of .62 calibre, having an overall length of sixteen and a half inches. Its furniture was all brass and it was very similar to civilian pistols of the era.

 

       

                                                 A modern reproduction of the Eliott Light Dragoon Pistol.

Eliott's parting gift to the Light Horse was the development of the Eliott Light Dragoon saddle which was to become the most used saddle in the American Revolutionary War. 

So, as well as being a tough, thoroughly professional soldier, an Engineer, tactician and leader, Eliott attended to the nuts and bolts of soldiering with a flair for technical ability that was perhaps not typical amongst his peers. 

         

First published here, December 2024        Paul Hodkinson.