WELCOME TO THE SECOND CAVALRY ASSOCIATION REGIMENTAL HISTORY CENTER
This is a Cavalry site. Many of the stories here are told in the words of the men who experienced them. No attempt has been made to "smooth the edges" or "soften the story" for the viewing public. In the same aspect, no attempt has been made to cover up the names of the men who fought and died, nor the circumstances that brought about their final acts. It is the task of the Cavalry to take the fight to the enemy and disrupt his ability to function - a task that we perform quite well. Family members seeking information about a loved one may find more than they had hoped for.
"...Men who fight know that it is not the fighting man's objective to get decorated or commended but to accomplish your mission at all costs of ignominy, oblivion, or even death....The greatest hero of all-time will always remain the "Unknown Soldier" chiefly because we know him or knew him so well. We can easily visualize his death with a machine gun still hot barreled in his lap where he slumped over for the last time. Or maybe he remains tangled in the wreckage of a plane. We have seen him a hundred times stretched out by the road always just about to do one more thing to make it safer for us. As we ride through liberated or surrendered towns or start telling our stories we may forget him because he is always so silent, so humble about his heroism into the ultimate. But in the long run we remember him a thousand times...." Excerpt from FOREVER FORWARD, the history of the 99th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, WW II.
*****DEDICATED TO ALL WHO SERVED*****
Saddle up and get ready to ride back through history with America's oldest continuously serving Cavalry Regiment. After surveying our hallowed halls, you too will understand the pride that is shared among those that served and those that continue to serve the Regiment in outposts around the world. The Second Regiment of Dragoons have withstood the test of time, and will continue to be an integral part of the U.S. military structure well into the future. We are, after all,
TOUJOURS PRET - ALWAYS READY!
David.Gettman December 5th, 2011
2d Cavalry Association Custom Print
Our gift to you for a donation of $150
Here is a chance to aid a veteran and/or his family and receive a beautiful and unique print from the 2d Cavalry Association.
Dr. Al Biglan recently sponsored a project to produce a unique custom print for the 2d Cavalry Association. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman August 15th, 2011
Numerous sources and contributors have combined to make this site what it is. To give proper credit to all would be near impossible for my limited time and resources and would bring to a halt any further work on the site. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman March 26th, 2012
Following is a list of links to numerous yearbooks from the 2d Cavalry Regiment.
TO VIEW EACH BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY, CLICK ON THE LINKS ABOVE EACH PHOTO
If you have a yearbook that is not listed that you would like to temporarily donate for scanning, or permanently donate to our 2d Cavalry Museum, please contact the WEBMASTER. Continue Reading »
TacomaDave January 20th, 2010
The following is a listing of all the sections contained on this site, for the most part in a time-line, and all the stories in each section, also for the most part in a time-line.
You can pick a particular section to browse, or a specific story, or better yet start at the beginning and work your way up through history to the present with the oldest continuously serving mounted regiment in the US Army today. Continue Reading »
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 save the file 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.
To see information on each photo: Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 22nd, 2009
Researched and Written by Wally Tomtschik
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.
The horses were treated with loving care and protected from harm, being used for transportation rather than in battle, with a horse holder holding the horses out of sight, hidden in the background. The horse holder would hold 4 horses. Dismounted, the other 3 Dragoons would fan out and cautiously approach the enemy.
Unlike light Cavalry, that went in with sabers clanking and the bugler blasting away, Dragoons went in very heavily armed and were masters of stealth, kind of like the “Navy Seals” of the Everglades. The Dragoons took great pride in their orange piping and hat cords, which differentiated them from Cavalry.
Learning their trade from the Seminoles in Florida, the Dragoons would quietly sneak up on an enemy, many times surrounding them. They would find cover and wait. When the time was right, they would close in and “tighten the noose” in unison with massive firepower, subduing the enemy. It was not easy for a white man to sneak up on an Indian, but the Dragoons could. Being the original policemen of new territories, there was not wanton killing of innocents, but those that chose to not live peaceably were killed in battle or brought to justice. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 21st, 2009
From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.
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.
After much insistence by the white people, a commission was appointed to make a treaty with the Indians in 1823. Under this treaty they were specifically limited to certain areas, and placed under the patronage of the federal government. The Indians did not like the provisions of the treaty, saying they were not given enough land upon which to live decently. There was much ill feeling between them and the settlers because of the difficulty of the latter in inducing the Indians to give up runaway slaves. After much persuasion, the chiefs reluctantly signed a treaty in 1833, whereby they agreed to remove to Arkansas and live among the Creeks. Their own people repudiated this treaty and positively refused to move to the new land. The chiefs were called together again in 1835, and when five refused to agree to the treaty, they were told by the commission that their names had been stricken from the rolls as chiefs. This of course heightened the ill feeling and suspicion of the Indians. In October, 1835, one of the friendly chiefs was murdered when he attempted to flee to the troops for protection. In December the Indian Agent, General Thompson, and an officer accompanying him were murdered just outside Fort King. A detachment of one hundred men, under Major Dade, while marching from Fort King to Fort Brooke, together with eight officers, was ambushed December 28, 1835, and all of the party killed, except two men who escaped. Plantations were attacked, and much of the state was soon laid waste by the bloodthirsty Indians. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 20th, 2009
From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.
Until the year 1833 our cavalry had an uncertain existence, the troops being raised for emergencies and disbanded when their services were no longer necessary. After the Revolutionary War, the first mounted troops to be organized in this country were four companies of light dragoons in 1792. This was later reduced to two companies and then under the act of 1798 increased to a regiment of eight companies. But this was short lived, for it was reduced again to two companies in 1800 which were mustered out in 1802. Another regiment of light dragoons was organized in 1808, and in 1812 a second regiment was organized. In 1814 these two regiments were consolidated into one, and in 1815 the men and officers retained were merged with the artillery. The cavalry ceased to exist until the First Dragoons was organized in 1833. At this time a system of promotion was established whereby officers could expect to remain permanently in the service and gain increased rank with the passing years.
To augment the force being assembled in Florida to fight the Seminole Indians, the Second Dragoons was organized in 1836. Following is an extract from the act of Congress raising the new regiment:
An Act authorizing the President of the United States to accept the services of volunteers, and to raise an additional regiment of dragoons or mounted riflemen…. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 19th, 2009
From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.
Even before the arrival of the Regiment for its first assignment, the men who became Company D had their first encounter near Micanopy, Florida on 10 June 1836. They drew “first blood” as members of the Regiment in July 1836 in a spirited engagement at Welika Pond, near Fort Defiance, Florida, on 19 July 1836.
In December 1836, the first four Company’s sailed from New York to Charleston, South Carolina, for immediate service in Florida. Company I joined them in Charleston, and Harney took command. The Regiment arrived at the mouth of the St. John’s River, Florida, in January 1837 and marched to Fort Mellon on Lake Monroe, arriving on 6 February. This post fell under attack only two days later, embroiling the Company’s almost immediately in the war.
On 9 September 1837, three Company’s of the Second Dragoons and two of Florida volunteers surrounded an Indian village. At first light, the force captured the village, including the important chief, King Phillip.
This action represented a shift in tactics. Garrisons had previously waited in forts and responded when attacked, only to find that the Seminoles had melted back into the Florida Everglades. Though some experts doubted the wisdom of employing mounted troops in that terrain, the Second Dragoons pioneered the practice of taking the battle to the enemy. The Indians responded by signing what would be a short-lived peace treaty. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 18th, 2009
From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.
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.
Micanopy, June 10, 1836.
GENERAL-“I have the honor to report that yesterday morning a party of Indians, estimated at one hundred and fifty or two hundred, made their appearance in front of this place, at the distance of about three-quarters of a mile. Their objective was evidently to draw us out; and not having any disposition to balk their views, I directed Captain Lee to take his company and skirt a hammock on the right of this post, and gain the left of the enemy. At the same time I directed Lieutenant Wheelock to mount with his dragoons, and make a corresponding movement on the left; and Lieutenant Humphreys, with a detachment of D and E Companies of Second United States Artillery, to move across the field in front, holding a six-pounder, with a few men in reserve. Continue Reading »
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