The U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment, known as the “Dragoons,” is one of the longest-serving and most battle-tested units in American military history. Since its founding in 1836, the regiment has earned a formidable reputation across nearly every major conflict the United States has faced—from the Florida swamps of the Seminole Wars to the deserts of the Middle East. With a legacy rooted in mobility, reconnaissance, and fierce combat, the 2nd Cavalry has evolved into a modern Stryker unit while honoring nearly two centuries of valor and service.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment was constituted as the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons on May 23, 1836, during a time of growing conflict with Native American tribes in the southeastern United States. Its first mission was in the Second Seminole War, where the regiment earned its reputation for aggressive pursuit and hard fighting in the unforgiving Florida terrain.
Just a decade later, the Dragoons were deployed in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), participating in key battles under General Winfield Scott. They fought with distinction at the Battle of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and notably at the Battle of Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, helping to drive American forces into Mexico City. For their gallantry, the regiment received several campaign streamers and began cementing a legacy of battlefield excellence.
During the Civil War, the unit—renamed the 2nd U.S. Cavalry—served with distinction on both sides of the Mississippi River. It was heavily engaged in campaigns including Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. Cavalry operations ranged from scouting and screening to full-scale charges against Confederate lines, with the regiment often serving in the vanguard of Union advances.
After the war, the 2nd Cavalry played a central role in the Indian Wars of the late 19th century. Operating across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, they fought against the Sioux, Cheyenne, Apache, and other tribes in campaigns such as the Powder River Expedition and the Great Sioux War. The regiment was part of the force that pursued Chief Joseph’s Nez Perce in 1877, and later helped bring the Indian Wars to a close with patrols throughout the expanding American West.
In World War I, the 2nd Cavalry deployed to France but was largely relegated to support roles as trench warfare dominated the battlefield. Despite the limited mounted role, the regiment provided critical military police and rear-area security functions during the final year of the war.
World War II saw a dramatic shift. As mechanization redefined warfare, the 2nd Cavalry adapted, eventually becoming part of General Patton’s Third Army. They were instrumental in the breakout from Normandy, the rapid drive across France, and the reduction of the German Saar defenses. Their most celebrated action came during the liberation of Czechoslovakia, when they conducted one of the final cavalry charges in American military history—on horseback—against German forces near the town of Hostouň.
After the war, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment became a key unit in the defense of Europe during the Cold War. Stationed in West Germany, they conducted border surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions along the East-West German frontier, constantly ready to respond to Soviet aggression. The regiment became a symbol of NATO’s forward posture, and its role in deterring war was pivotal throughout the decades-long standoff.
In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, the regiment led the VII Corps “left hook” into southern Iraq as the armored spearhead. In the Battle of 73 Easting, one of the most significant tank battles since World War II, the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment decimated Iraq’s Republican Guard, showcasing the lethal effectiveness of American maneuver warfare.
Following the September 11 attacks, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. They served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, executing security operations, training missions, and counterinsurgency campaigns in Baghdad, Mosul, and Kandahar. The regiment’s ability to adapt—transitioning from high-intensity combat to nation-building—demonstrated its tactical flexibility.
Today, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment is stationed at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, operating as a Stryker Brigade Combat Team under U.S. Army Europe and Africa. It plays a leading role in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, conducting multinational exercises and reassurance operations in Eastern Europe amid tensions with Russia. The Dragoons continue to project American resolve and allied unity across the continent.
