I thought I recalled this occurence in one of the peninsular memoirs - but didn;t think it was this work ... although I'm fairly sure there's mention in others

Narrative of the Campaigns of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Since Their Return ... - Page 28
by Charles Cadell - 1835 - 281 pages

On the 24th a general order arrived from the Horse Guards ... it was to cut off the men's queues. ... when by a signal, the whole were hove overboard, with three cheers

see p 28

http://www.google.co.uk/books?id=gBM8AAAAMAAJ

Best wishes

Ant