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!
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 and 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. Continue Reading »
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.
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. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 20th, 2009
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. Continue Reading »
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 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. Continue Reading »
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. Continue Reading »
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. Continue Reading »
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. Continue Reading »
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. Continue Reading »
2d Dragoons
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