The 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, also known as Sheldon's Horse after Colonel Elisha Sheldon, was commissioned by the Continental Congress on 12 December 1776, and was first mustered at

Wethersfield, Connecticut Wethersfield ( ) is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located immediately south of Hartford along the Connecticut River. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 27,298 at the time ...

, in March 1777 for service with the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

. The regiment consisted of four troops from Connecticut, one troop each largely from Massachusetts and New Jersey, and two companies of light infantry.

Military action

The regiment saw action at the Battle of Woodbridge,

Battle of Brandywine The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777, as part of the Am ...

, Battle of Kingston, Battle of Schoharie, The Battle of The Flocky (site of the first cavalry charge on American soil),

Battle of Paoli The Battle of Paoli, also known as the Battle of Paoli Tavern or the Paoli Massacre, was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 20, 1777, in the area surrounding present-day Malvern, Pennsylva ...

, Battle of Whitemarsh, Battle of Morrisania,

Battle of Saratoga The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) were two battles between the American Continental Army and the British Army fought near Saratoga, New York, concluding the Saratoga campaign in the American Revolutionary War. The Battle ...

Battle of Germantown The Battle of Germantown was a major engagement in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. It was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania, between the British Army led by Sir William Howe, and the American ...

, and the

Battle of Yorktown The siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown and the surrender at Yorktown, was the final battle of the American Revolutionary War. It was won decisively by the Continental Army, led by George Washington, with support from the Mar ...

. The unit almost never served as a whole. Usually individual troops were assigned as necessary. The regiment performed numerous raids from whaleboats against British and Loyalist targets on Long Island. Some of the successful raids captured

Fort St. George Fort St. George (or historically, White Town) is a fortress at the coastal city of Chennai, India. Founded in 1639, it was the first English (later British) fortress in India. The construction of the fort provided the impetus for further ...

, Fort Slongo and Lloyd's Neck, Long Island. Elements from the unit comprised

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

's personal bodyguard. In 1778, when Loyalist agents and British forces shadowed Washington for weeks with the intention of kidnapping him, they had to abandon the operation because, according to British intelligence dispatches, "The 2nd Dragoons are (always) with him." The 2nd Dragoons also guarded British Major

John André Major John André (May 2, 1750 – October 2, 1780) was a British Army officer who served as the head of Britain's intelligence operations during the American War for Independence. In September 1780, he negotiated with Continental Army offic ...

during his incarceration, trial and subsequent execution in Nyack, New York. The regiment's main patrol areas during the war were in Southern Connecticut and New York, where they intercepted British supplies and fought off bands of Loyalist partisans who preyed on local citizens. This duty earned them the nickname "Watchdogs of the Highlands". They also earned the sobriquet "Washington's Eyes", likely because of their spy work. Major

Benjamin Tallmadge Benjamin Tallmadge (February 25, 1754 – March 7, 1835) was an American military officer, spymaster, and politician. He is best known for his service as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He acted as lead ...

became a spy master who ran one of the most successful spy rings of the war, able to infiltrate the British military command in New York city.

After the war

On 1 January 1781, the regiment was reorganized by the dismounting of two of its six troops and re-designated the ''2nd Legionary Corps''. The regiment was furloughed 9 June 1783, at

Newburgh, New York Newburgh is a City (New York), city in Orange County, New York, United States. With a population of 28,856 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is a principal city of the Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh metropolitan area. ...

and discharged on 20 November 1783, by proclamation of General Washington. The 2nd Light Dragoons are prominent in Colonel

John Trumbull John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an American painter and military officer best known for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Revolut ...

's paintings of the American Revolution.

Notes

* The regimental national colors of the 2nd was taken by

Banastre Tarleton General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet (21 August 175415 January 1833) was a British military officer and politician. He is best known as the lieutenant colonel leading the British Legion at the end of the American Revolutionary War. He lat ...

in 1779; on 14 June 2006, it was sold at auction. * Sgt.

Elijah Churchill Elijah Churchill (September 5, 1755 – April 11, 1841) was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Early life Elijah Churchill was born on September 5, 1755, in Newington, Connecticut. His father was named Gil ...

was awarded the

Badge of Military Merit The Badge of Military Merit was an award for non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental Army. It is considered America's first military decoration, and the second oldest in the world (after the Cross of St. George). Non commissi ...

. * The last surviving member of the 2nd Dragoons was Lemuel Cook (1759–1866).

References

External links

* http://www.dragoons.info/ - official website of the Second Continental Light Dragoons * http://www.2dragoon.org/ - website of the Second Regiment Light Dragoons, Tallmadge's Troop reenactment group
Bibliography of Continental Army Dragoons
compiled by the

United States Army Center of Military History The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:2nd Continental Light Dragoons Military units and formations of the Continental Army Dragoons Light Dragoons Wethersfield, Connecticut