David.Gettman January 23rd, 2009
A tribute to the troopers of the 2d Dragoon’s, past, present, and future.
This is a Windows Media File of about 30mb. It may take a few minutes to load. If you don’t have a high speed cable connection, it is recommended you right click on the file and save it to your computer for play.
Click here to view video: OLD SOLDIER
Many of these photos I pilfered from members photo albums on DRAGOON BASE. Several were sent to me by veterans of the regiment, or by their surviving relatives, and then some have just been laying around the house forever. I hope you enjoy them.
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David.Gettman January 22nd, 2009
Dragoons used different tactics than Cavalry. In the old history of the 2d Dragoons, very few of their number actually were killed. They were masters of using the land and could live off the land very comfortably.
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David.Gettman January 21st, 2009
Spain ceded Florida to the United States on July 17, 1821. Emigration from adjoining states began at once, but it was found by the new settlers that the most desirable land was occupied by the Seminole Indians, who were originally Creeks from Georgia. According to the census by the superintendent of Indian affairs in 1822, there were less than 5,000 of these aborigines, including 800 negro slaves. Their village consisted of log or palmetto huts surrounded by cleared fields of less than twenty acres.
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David.Gettman January 19th, 2009
Even before the arrival of the Regiment for its first assignment, the men who became Company D had their first encounter near Micanopy, Florida. They drew “first blood” as members of the Regiment in July 1836 in a spirited engagement at Welika Pond, near Fort Defiance, Florida, on 10 June 1836.
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David.Gettman January 18th, 2009
The first baptism of fire for the regiment occurred at Micanopy, Florida, on June 10, 1836. Company D, under Lieutenant Wheelock, First Dragoons, was stationed at the stockade at this place as a part of the garrison under Major Heiliman, Second Artillery. About 200 Seminole Indians led by Osceola attacked early in the morning, hoping to draw out the troops and then capture the stockade. Lieutenant Wheelock mounted his dragoons and enveloped the enemy right, while one of the companies of artillery moved around the enemy left. Meanwhile another detachment of the Second Artillery held the front with a six pounder. After severe fighting the enemy was driven away and the troops returned to the stockade. For great courage in their first fight the men were commended by the President.
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David.Gettman January 17th, 2009
Again on July 19, 1836, Company D, under Captain James A. Ashby, who had just joined the day before, took an important part in the fight at Welika Pond near Fort Defiance. With twenty-six men from his company and a detachment of artillery, Captain Ashby was escorting a train from Fort Drane to Fort Defiance when attacked by Indians just outside the latter place. In the first part of the fight Captain Ashby was severely wounded but refused to leave his post until the battle was won. After arrival of reinforcements from the fort, the Seminoles were driven from the vicinity and the train proceeded to the post. For this gallant conduct here Captain Ashby was breveted to major.
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David.Gettman January 16th, 2009
Having been organized pursuant to G.O. No. 80, W.D., November 30, 1836, Companies E, F, G, and H left Fort Columbus, N.Y., December 27, on the transport America for Fort Monroe, Virginia, where they picked up Companies A and I. After stopping on the way at Charleston, S.C., the transport arrived at the mouth of the St. Johns River in east Florida about the middle of January, 1837. Company A now took station at Fort Micanopy; Company E, at Fort Mellon; Companies F, G, and H at Fort Call; and Company I at Fort Heileman, all in east Florida. Company D, which was already a veteran organization when the other companies arrived, had been stationed at Fort Heileman, east Florida, since August, 1836.
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David.Gettman January 15th, 2009
Colonel Twiggs and his staff remained in Washington until April 1, 1837, when they moved the headquarters to New Orleans, La. After a month at this place, they sailed up the Mississippi River to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where they arrived May 30. Companies B and C also left Washington in April for New Orleans, where they were organized as units upon arrival. Company K was organized in that city during the month of March. All three of these companies sailed for Jefferson Barracks in the latter part of May. The men of these organizations together with a number of recruits now began intensive training for field service both in mounted and dismounted tactics.
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David.Gettman January 14th, 2009
After three months of strenuous preparation under Colonel Twiggs at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, the regimental headquarters and Companies B, C, and K left there by marching September 5, 1837, for the field of action in Florida. The line of route passed through Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Rosses Landing, Tennessee, and Milledgeville, Georgia, and they arrived in Jacksonville, east Florida, October 31. Leaving that place the next day, they reached Fort Mellon on Lake Monroe, east Florida, November 26, where they remained only a few weeks before beginning the campaign.
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