US 2nd Cavalry

By Crusader1307

Between 1808 and 1815, The United States Army only maintained (2) Light ''Dragoon'' Regiments (Mounted Infantry). Used to help pacify Native American Hostilities, both saw active service during The War of 1812. Summarily, both were disbanded in 1815. When the need arose for Light Mobile Infantry once again due to American Expansion into The Western Regions of The Country, The 2nd Regiment of US Dragoons were raised under US Presidential Order in 1836 (Andrew Jackson). The Regiment (6) Companies of which totaled roughly 500 Officers and Men, was first deployed to fight in both Seminole Indian Wars in Florida Territory (1836).

Garrisoned next in Missouri Territory, The Regiment fought in The Mexican War of 1846-1848. The Regiment earned a place in History from Charging Mexican artillery position at both The Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de La Palma. In addition to the capture of many Enemy Cannon, The 2nd also captured a Mexican General.

Spending the 1850s on The Western Frontier, The fame of The 2nd was such that many graduating West Point Officers wished to be assigned to The Regiment, who were the only US Army Unit actively engaged in daily combat duties with Native American Tribes. Many future Civil War Generals got their early war experiences with The 2nd. By 1860 however, The US Army dissolved the traditional Dragoon Regiments in favor of Cavalry Regiments. They became The 2nd US Cavalry Regiment.

With the outbreak of The American Civil War in 1861, Cavalry was seen as an immediate need in The East. The 2nd was transferred to The Cavalry Corps. of The Army of The Potomac. The Regiment participated in (15) major Battles of the War and many countless skirmishes with The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

It was The 2nd Cavalry that was assigned to counter any moved made by famed Confederate Cavalier JEB Stuart and his Cavalry Corps; keeping them from reinforcing General Robert E. Lee too late at The Battle of Gettysburg (1863). This is seen as a major cause for The Confederacy's loss of that epic engagement.

History would yet again cast it's hand on The 2nd Cavalry. After The War, 1,000 Troopers were assigned to The Western Frontier to help with the increase (and unchecked) activities of hostile Native American Tribes. A detachment of 80-Men were under command of US Army Lieutenant James Fetterman, who in 1866 – boasted he could ''quell'' The Sioux Tribe with ''100 men''. The resulting ''Fetterman Massacre'' resulted in the death of all of The 2nd Cavalry. The 2nd was also detached to participate in The Bug Horn Campaign in 1876. Their engagement The Battle of Powder River (1876) resulted in their delay to support The 7th US Cavalry – which met it's fate at The Battle of The Little Bug Horn (1876).

The 2nd Cavalry also participated in attempting to capture The Nez Perce Tribe and Chief Joseph, who was trying to get his Nation to the relative ''safety'' of Canada, from Montana. After a series of battles (most of which were won by The Nez Perce), The 2nd was able to force the Tribe into submission.

During The Spanish-American war of the 1890s, The 2nd was again deployed, and fought along with The 1st US Cavalry Volunteers (''Rough Riders'') when they captured Spanish position on San Juan Hill. The Regiment was sent home to Texas, where it remained until World War I. The Regiment was greatly reduced to overseas deployments in 1917, but it went ''over there'' nonetheless, serving with distinction in several key battles (still using their Cavalry Mounts).

The 2nd would fight in World War II, this time replacing their obsolete Horses for Tanks and related Armored Vehicles. They were detached to General Patton and his Armored Corps. And were present at The Battle of The Bulge (1944). after The War, when the period known as The Cold War developed, Th e 2nd was posted in Germany, serving in reconnaissance and surveillance duties.

The War on Terrorism (2001 forward), saw The 2nd ''Dragoon Battle Group'' being created to use The 2nd Cavalry on scouting and armored warfare missions. They fought in several key battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have also served as active participants with The United Nation Peacekeeping Mission throughout Europe. The 2nd Cavalry are also considered a ''Stryker'' Regiment, or rapid, self-contained strike force.