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,[1] and was first mustered at Wethersfield, Connecticut, in March 1777 for service with the Continental Army. The regiment consisted of four troops from Connecticut, one troop each largely from Massachusetts and New Jersey, and two companies of light infantry.
2nd Continental Light Dragoons 2nd Legionary Corps
Active
1776–1783; reestablished 1978 by State of Connecticut
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 installations on Long Island. Some of the successful raids captured Fort St. George, Fort Slongo and Lloyd's Neck, Long Island.
Elements from the unit comprised George Washington's personal bodyguard. In 1778, when Loyalist agents and a crack British commando team shadowed Washington for weeks with the intention of kidnapping him, they had to abandon the operation because, according to the British Intelligence dispatches, "The 2nd Dragoons are (always) with him." The 2nd Dragoons also guarded the Head of the British Secret Services John Andre 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 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 waredit
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 and discharged on 20 November 1783, by proclamation of General Washington.[citation needed]
The 2nd Light Dragoons are prominent in Colonel John Trumbull's paintings of the American Revolution.[citation needed]
continental, light, dragoons, regiment, light, dragoons, redirects, here, regiment, light, dragoons, united, states, regiment, light, dragoons, united, states, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, add. 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons redirects here For the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons United States see 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons United States This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 2nd Continental Light Dragoons news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 1 and was first mustered at Wethersfield Connecticut in March 1777 for service with the Continental Army The regiment consisted of four troops from Connecticut one troop each largely from Massachusetts and New Jersey and two companies of light infantry 2nd Continental Light Dragoons2nd Legionary CorpsActive1776 1783 reestablished 1978 by State of ConnecticutCountry United StatesAllegiance ConnecticutTypeDragoonSizeRegiment of six troops120 men in 1780Part ofContinental ArmyNickname s Sheldon s HorseColorsBlue coat with buff facingsEngagementsBattle of Brandywine Battle of Germantown Battle of YorktownCommandersNotablecommandersElisha SheldonBenjamin Tallmadge Contents 1 Military action 2 After the war 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksMilitary action editThe regiment saw action at the Battle of Woodbridge Battle of Brandywine Battle of Kingston Battle of Schoharie The Battle of The Flocky site of the first cavalry charge on American soil Battle of Paoli Battle of Whitemarsh Battle of Morrisania Battle of Saratoga Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Yorktown 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 installations on Long Island Some of the successful raids captured Fort St George Fort Slongo and Lloyd s Neck Long Island Elements from the unit comprised George Washington s personal bodyguard In 1778 when Loyalist agents and a crack British commando team shadowed Washington for weeks with the intention of kidnapping him they had to abandon the operation because according to the British Intelligence dispatches The 2nd Dragoons are always with him The 2nd Dragoons also guarded the Head of the British Secret Services John Andre 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 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 editOn 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 and discharged on 20 November 1783 by proclamation of General Washington citation needed The 2nd Light Dragoons are prominent in Colonel John Trumbull s paintings of the American Revolution citation needed Notes edit nbsp Lemuel Cook The regimental national colors of the 2nd was taken by Banastre Tarleton in 1779 on 14 June 2006 it was sold at auction Sgt Elijah Churchill was awarded the Badge of Military Merit The last surviving member of the 2nd Dragoons was Lemuel Cook 1759 1866 References edit Our Past 2nd Continental Light Dragoons 2nd Continental Light Dragoons Second Continental Light Dragoons Official Website Retrieved 8 December 2017 External links edithttp 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2nd Continental Light Dragoons amp oldid 1221867996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
