| 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1812 — 1814 |
| Disbanded | May 12, 1814 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Type | Dragoons |
| Size | Regiment |
| Weapons | Sabers Pistols |
| Campaigns | War of 1812 |
| Commanders | |
| Sole Commander | James Burn |
The 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons was a unit of the U.S. Army in the early nineteenth century. It was first activated in 1812. The regiment was consolidated with the 1st Regiment of Light Dragoons on May 12, 1814, forming the Regiment of Light Dragoons.
An act of Congress on January 11, 1812 authorized an additional regiment of light Dragoons. [1] By June 1812, the regiment had been activated. [2]
Although the regiment was organized on January 11, 1812 the regimental colonel, James Burn, was not appointed until April 25. Secretary of War William Eustis delayed recruiting for almost a month, then allowed recruitment of only three out of twelve companies. No clothing or equipment was supplied until September and October. The regiment was not fully equipped until December. Purchase of horses had been ordered in March but by September only half the regiment was mounted; many of its mounts were unfit for service. Eustis scattered the regiment from the Ohio River to New England. One company disappeared from the War Department's records. [3]
While stationed at Sackett's Harbor, New York, both the 1st and 2nd Regiments had their strength increased by the transfer of soldiers from the 26th Infantry Regiment. [4]
Neither the 1st Regiment nor the 2nd Regiment were used as consolidated units during the War of 1812. Generals frequently used their assigned dragoons as escorts, couriers and scouts rather than fighting men. [5]
William Henry Harrison ordered Colonel John B. Campbell of the 19th Infantry to lead a force which included Major James Ball's squadron (including Captain Samuel Hopkins's troop) of the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons from Fort Greenville, Ohio to attack a cluster of Miami Indian villages on the Mississinewa River. On December 17, 1812, Campbell's force attacked and destroyed the principle village. The Miami counterattacked before dawn on December 18 and, although Campbell and his soldiers persevered, they suffered ten dead and thirty-eight wounded. Campbell retreated to Fort Greenville. The expedition suffered the loss of over one hundred horses and more than three hundred men were disabled by frostbite. More than one hundred dragoons were temporary or permanent but non-fatal, casualties. [6] [7]
On April 28, 1813, General Procter and Tecumseh attempted to lure U.S. troops, including Major Ball's re-constituted 2nd Squadron into a battle outside Fort Meigs, Ohio. The U.S. forces held their ground inside the fort and the British and Indians broke off the attack. [6] [7]
The regiment participated in the attack on Fort George, Upper Canada in May 1813.
An American named James Rouse and 2 other American Dragoons of the 2nd Regiment ventured out of fort George around July 9, 1813 to capture a British commander named Captain Jacob A. Ball. James Rouse and his 2 fellow dragoons raided the house where captain Ball was staying at. Rouse and his dragoons captured Jacob A. Ball and 8 of his fellow British guards. James Rouse and his dragoons returned back to Fort George safely with all 9 British prisoners including Captain Ball. [8]
On July 30, 1813. Major James Ball and his Dragoons of the 2nd Regiment escorted Colonel Wells to Fort Stephenson to relieve Major Croghan who was about to be besieged by a large combined British-Indian force. While the Dragoons were continuing to travel on the road, they are ambushed by British-allied Indians. Major Ball ordered his dragoons to charge and the Dragoons charged with their sabres killing 17 Indian warriors. The Indians retreated leaving the American Dragoons the victors on the field. The American Dragoons suffered none killed or wounded. [9]
On September 27, 1813, Ball and his dragoons, although dismounted, accompanied Harrison on his invasion of Canada at Amherstburg. The squadron captured a bridge over the Aux Canards River. [6]
On October 25, 1813. At least 25 Dragoons from the 2nd Regiment took part in an amphibious guerrilla raid with American militia privateers in a raid on British shipping. The American Dragoons and militia rode in some small boats and a bigger boat called the Smuggler Catcher. The Dragoons and militia captured 7 boats and their cargo, then withdrew back to American territory with their prizes. On December 30, 1813. All the militia privateers got their share of the prize money, but the Dragoons did not receive any of the prize money. [10]
The Battle of Lundy's Lane, also known as the Battle of Niagara, was a battle fought on 25 July 1814, during the War of 1812, between an invading American army and a British and Canadian army near present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, and one of the deadliest battles ever fought in Canada, with approximately 1,720 casualties including 258 killed.
The Battle of Crysler's Farm, also known as the Battle of Crysler's Field, was fought on 11 November 1813, during the War of 1812. A British and Canadian force won a victory over a US force which greatly outnumbered them. The US defeat prompted them to abandon the St. Lawrence Campaign, their major strategic effort in the autumn of 1813.
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The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans defeated a British force and captured the Fort George in Upper Canada. The troops of the United States Army and vessels of the United States Navy cooperated in a very successful amphibious assault, although most of the opposing British force escaped encirclement.
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The Regiment of Riflemen was a unit of the U.S. Army in the early nineteenth century. Unlike the regular US line infantry units with muskets and bright blue and white uniforms, this regiment was focused on specialist light infantry tactics, and were accordingly issued rifles and dark green and black uniforms to take better advantage of cover. This was the first U.S. rifleman formation since the end of the American Revolutionary War 25 years earlier.
Where can you find troops more efficient than Morgan's riflemen of the Revolution or Forsyth's riflemen of the last war with Great Britain?
Under the designation Regiment of Light Dragoons existed two different units of the U.S. Army in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, respectively. A first unit of its name was short lived, established just prior the Quasi-War with France, in 1798 and discharged in 1800.
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