2nd US Cav

In 1836 despite out cries about the expense of the Dragoon regiments a 2^nd regiment of Dragoons was approved on the 23^rd of May 1836 David E Twiggs was appointed Colonel of the regiment, and William S Harney Lt. Colonel plus 30 Captains Lieutenants and 2^nd Lieutenants for the 10 companies. Three companies each were to be recruited from New York, Virginia, and Missouri. The 10^th company, Company D, was transferred from the 1ts Dragoons and were already serving in Florida against the Seminoles under Captain Ashby. On the 19^th of July this company repulsed an attack on a supply train they were guarding at the cost of 1 man killed and 10 men wounded. Through the privations and disease typical of the Florida campaign this company was reduced to 1 officer and 19 men by the end of 1836. On Christmas day Companies E, F, G, and H sailed from New York to Charlestown SC where they were joined by Company I. From there they proceed under the command of Lt. Colonel Harney to Fort Mellon Florida arriving on the 8t^h of February 1837. Just 2 days later Companies E, F, G, and H along with some Artillery crews repelled a 3 hour series of attacks by the Seminoles with significant casualties on both sides including the death of Captain Mellon, 2^nd Us Artillery and the wounding of 6 dragoons and 8 artillery men. In April of 1837 Companies A, B, C, and K under the command of Colonel Twiggs reported to Jefferson Barracks where they begin training in mounted tactics. In August this Squadron received orders to march to Florida. Colonel Twiggs and the Squadron left St Louis on the 5^th of September and arrived in Jacksonville Florida in just 55 days a march of 1200 miles despite which the local newspaper reported that Officers men and horse appeared to be in extent condition showing a high state of order and attention. Service in the swamps of Florida was not suited to mounted troops and meant repeated scouts, skirmishes, ambushes, pitched battles and lengthy marches throughout the swamp. The Seminoles were intelligent, skilled, illusive, and determined foes. Although the Dragoons were in many instances successful they were unable to completely subdue the Seminoles. In late May 1839 Companies A, E, G, H, I, and K were pulled out and sent to Fort Mc Henry in Baltimore where they spent the summer and early fall recruiting, equipping and drilling. During their Stay they acquired a regimental band. In the fall they were reviewed by Inspector General Wool who reported that they appeared extremely well and were as fine looking men as he had ever inspected in the service of the United States. On the 10^th of November the Dragoons once again returned to Florida where they were involved in further campaigning. On the 17^th of October 1841 Companies A, D, E, F, and G were ordered to Fort Jesup Louisiana and Fort Towson Arkansas. The remaining companies were sent to Baton Rouge Louisiana on the 29^th of May 1842. During the Seminole War the Regiment lost 2 officers and 20 men killed in action. Five officers and 192 men died of the effects of climate or disease. While in Louisiana and Arkansas the Regiment began a strenuous schedule of training under Captain William J Hardee who had just returned from Europe where he studied European tactics. He now oversaw the tactical exercise and mounted drill of the regiment. He even managed to arm 4 companies located at Fort Jesup with lances. The remaining companies continued to practice with saber single shot pistol and carbines. With the end of the Seminole War Congress once again went into a penny pinching mode and on the 13^th of March 1843 the 2^nd Dragoons were ordered to turn over their horses to the 1st Dragoons and become a rifle regiment. Morale sank to an all time low however the Secretary for War intervened and reported that the sum saved was insignificant and pointed out that the frontier was to vast to be patrolled by one regiment of mounted troops. He was supported by petitions from Missouri and Louisiana legislatures and Congers retraced it earlier decision. This was also helped by US interest in the Pacific Northwest where Britain and the US vied for control of rich fur and timber recourses. The border was poorly defined her and led to some friction between the two countries. When the regiment heard that their horse were to be returned officers and men rejoiced and a gill of whiskey was issued to each man and much celebration ensued during which one officer who had mounted a cannon to be fired sat on the vent hole and when the gun went off was thrown several feet into the air and his uniform set on fire. In the following Years the 2^nd patrolled the border between the Republic of Texas and the US. With the election of James Polk in 1845 the United States annexed Texas and tensions mounted with the Mexicans who still clamed all of Texas south of the Neuces River as their territory. The Army of Observation was formed under the command of General Zachary Taylor in Louisiana. The Infantry was soon moved by ship to Corpus Christi Texas and 7 companies of Dragoons traveled overland to join them. The remaining companies went to Austin and San Antonio. The march to Texas in the mid summer heat was tough and the Dragoons started early in the mourning and halted early in the day. This was aggravated by some of the new saddles that had been issued causing sores and forcing the riders to dismount and walk. Upon their arrival they trained hunted and fished and raced their mounts. They also did a great deal of scouting. By October 1845 nearly half the US Army was concentrated in Texas. Finally on the 8^th of March 1846 the Dragoons and a battery of Horse Artillery headed south to be followed by the rest of Taylor’s army. On March the 16^th extinguished the fires that the Mexicans had set in Port Isabel to prevent its use by Taylor’s troops. The Column continued on to the Rio Grande. On the 24^th of April Companies C and F under Captain Thorton made contact with the Mexicans near La Rosia and gave chase. They were in turn attacked by a large force of Mexican Lancers. Lieutenant Mason and 8 men were killed and Captains Thorton and Hardee and the remainder of the command were taken prisoner. Taylor took to the field and left his camp protected by a small fort. Shortly afterward he received that the fort was being bombard by Mexicans Captain Charles may and a group of Samuel Walkers Texas Rangers returned to investigate. Walker and some of his men were sent under cover of Darkness to investigate. When they failed to return by daybreak May turned back toward Taylor. On his way he ran into 150 Mexican lancer and gave chase for 3 miles. He then returned to Port Isabel. The following night Walker also returned ad reported the Fort was holding its own. On 7 May 1846 Taylor headed to Matamoros. His right wing included most of the 2^nd Dragoons The next Day Mays squadron supported by an artillery battery fought 800 Mexican Calvary but was force to withdraw with several loses. Kers squadron was in support of the 8 Infantry also withstood an attack on the 9^th of May the fighting resumed at Resaca de la Palma when the Mexicans were discovered By Captain Ker. Captain May was again dispatched to charge the enemies batteries which he quickly did capturing the guns as well as a Mexican general. On the 18^th of May General Arista abandoned Matamoros and Dragoons under Captain Ker took the town shortly after this the Dragoons and the Texas Rangers scouted for and located the Mexican Army. For the next 2 months both sides reorganized some Companies went to Baltimore to recruit and Companies A an I who had been maintaining peace with the Indians and guarding supply lines rejoined the Regiment. The 2^nd Dragoons were involved in every fray of the war performing recognizance and pursuit of the enemy. And engaging enemy Infantry on foot on the 25^th of March Colonel Harney ordered some of them to dismount and join the Infantry on the right and left of Moreno Bridge near Vera Cruz. Follow an artillery bombardment and a foot attack Mounted Dragoons pressed home the attack with sabers and sent the enemy into full retreat. During the War a 3^rd dragoon Regiment was raised for the duration of the War but they saw little action and performed escort and scouting duties. Members of the Dragoons were the first troops to enter Mexico City when it fell. On the 29^th of June 1846 Command of the Regiment Passed to Colonel Harney when Twiggs was promoted. Following war the 2^nd Dragoons returned to Texas and resumed frontier Duties in Texas New Mexico and Arizona and California fighting the Apaches and Comanches and manning the various frontier forts in Texas. In 1850 Nathan Boone was appointed Lt. Colonel of the Regiment, a post he held until his retirement in 1853 On March 3^rd 1855 2 Regiment of cavalry were organized to be know as the 1^st and 2^nd US Cavalry to assist in controlling the far flung frontiers. Officers transferred from the 2^nd Dragoons to help form the Regiments included Captain May, 1st Lieutenant Wood, and 2^nd Lieutenants Stuart and bell to the 1^St Cavalry and Captain Hardee, First Lieutenant Oakes and 2^nd Lieutenant Evans to the 2^nd Cavalry. In August 1855 the Companies of the regiment in Texas assembled at Fort Belknap preparatory to transfer top Fort Riley Kansas. Companies A and G came from Fort McKavete Texas. And Companies C and F Came from Fort Chadbourne joining Companies B and I already stationed at that post. On the 26^th of August they left Fort Belknap to arrive at Fort Riley on the 28^th of September. Regiment Heat Quarters and band under Lt. Colonel Cook Arrived at Fort Riley after taking part in the Sioux expedition. The Sioux Indians had signed a treaty on the 17^th of September of 1851, which stipulated they would be responsible that their people did no harm to whites. The government in turn agreed to prevent white men from wandering through Sioux Country and pay them annuities for 10 years But immigrants kept traveling through the country and killing the game. With no again became hostile and several soldiers near Fort Laramie Wyoming were killed and the War department sent an expedition against them. Company s D, E, H, and K remained in the field and at Forts Randal and Kearney after the expedition the remainder of the Regiment was lead out from Fort Riley to quell domestic disturbances in eastern Kansas. Lt. Colonel Cooke left the Post with 6 companies on the 20^th of August 1856 for Lecompton Kansas. The On August 1857 An expedition was organized against the Mormons in Utah under the command of Colonel Albert Sydney Johnston It consisted of the 2^nd Dragoons, the 5^th and 10^th Infantry and 4^th Artillery and began the March to subdue the Mormons in Utah. The march was terrible with bitter cold weather horses and Mules froze to death still the Dragoons pushed on over the South Pass to Fort Bridger where they passed a winter of suffering. On the 14^th of June 1858 Command of the regiment passed from Colonel Harney to Colonel Cooke. Harney was promoted to Brigadier General. On the 21^st of April 1859 of April leaving Camp Floyd Utah Company E under Captain Campbell was ordered to Santa Calra as protection to travelers to California and to investigate Indian depredations in the area. Upon arrival at Mountain Meadows 150 miles south of Camp Floyd they discovered many human skeletons scatted about. On the 15^th of August 1859 Company G under Lieutenant Gay received word of a camp of hostile Indians at Devils Gate Canyon. After a rapid March of 2 hours he reached the village and launched an attack killing several Indian. The rest to the Indians took Shelter in the rocks and the Dragoons dismounted to continue the fight. The battle lasted over an hour and a half till the Indian fire gradually ceased. It was estimated that he Indians were 150 strong and lost 20 killed while the Dragoons had 6 wounded During 1860 Sectary of War Floyd decide to ascertain the practicality of moving troops the Pacific coast. The Regimental Headquarters the band an companies B, E, and H left Camp Floyd Utah and arrived at Porto Neuf Bridge Oregon on the 21^st of June 1860 and began to escort immigrants along this route. The Navaho Indians in New Mexico had become hostile by 1860 and Companies G and I were dispatched arriving at Fort Garland and Eutaw Creek on the 27th of July. Taking to the field as part of the Navaho Expedition in September the continued pursuit of the Indians till the 28^th of October during which time they captured 2,000 sheep, 200 horses and killed 6 Indians. In 1861 the 2^nd was redesignated the 2^nd US Cavalry and called east to take part in the Civil War.