United States Cavalry
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The United States Cavalry was a horse-mounted cavalry force that existed in various forms between 1775 and 1942. The Plains Cavalry played an important role in extending American governance into western North America via the destruction of Native American tribes and acquisition of their lands during the Indian Wars, making way for settlers of primarily European origin.
The 1st Cavalry Division (United States) is the only division of the U.S. Army that retains the "cavalry" name, and the division retains one detachment of horse cavalry for morale and ceremonial purposes. The division is otherwise divided into 4 armored brigades and one air cavalry brigade, both of which contain subordinate units that perform traditional cavalry tasks.
The last horse cavalry charge by the U.S. Army took place against Japanese forces during the fighting in the Bataan Peninsula, Philippines, in the village of Morong in January 1942, by the 26th Cavalry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts. Shortly thereafter, the besieged U.S./Philippine forces were forced to slaughter their horses for food and the 26th fought on foot or in whatever scarce vehicles were available until the surrender of U.S./Philippine forces. For the remainder of World War II, U.S. Cavalry units were either mechanized with tanks and reconnaissance vehicles or fought as infantry.
The distinct Cavalry branch ceased to exist when it was absorbed into the Armor branch in 1951, during the Korean War. Other regiments of both armored and air cavalry exist in the U.S. Army. The patches on U.S. 1st Cavalry Division helicopters that served in Vietnam retained the symbol of a horse, symbolizing the mobility that characterized the original horse cavalry.
Chief, the Cavalry's last horse of the original tactical horses, died in 1968 at the age of 36.
There is still one Army Military Occupational Specialty that is active and has been since the early Cavalry days: 19D Cavalry Scout.
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[edit] Culture
The cavalry is classically employed in Western movies as a force that comes to save the "good guys", typically against hostile Indians. The cavalry usually wins except in movies about George Armstrong Custer. They are often accompanied by a bugle call, and the cry "Charge". The cry "Charge" is today also commonly used at US sports games with the same bugle call, one of the most instantly recognizable tunes in American culture, film and television, especially the 1950s and 1960s when Westerns were popular.
[edit] Tradition
The Cavalry, much like any other military force, has its own unique traditions and history. Among these traditions include the Order of the Spur, Cavalry Stetson, Saber Arch, Fiddler's Green poem, the song/rallying cry Gary Owen, and the Order of the Yellow Rose.
[edit] Cavalry unit distribution
American Revolution Era US Cavalry Regiments
- Philadelphia Light Horse {1774} (mustered into Federal Service} now the 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment Pennsylvania National Guard
- 1st Continental Light Dragoons {See Henry Lee}.
- 2nd Continental Light Dragoons aka {Sheldon's Horse-see Lemuel Cook and Elijah Churchill}.
- 3rd Continental Light Dragoons {See Baylor's Massacre on River Vale, New Jersey}.
- 4th Continental Light Dragoons {See William Washington}.
- Pulaski's Legion {1778-1780}
- Armand's Legion {1778-1783}
- Lee's Legion aka Lee's Partisan Corps
- Ottendorf's Corps part of which became Von Heer Provost Unit-see under Light Dragoons of the List of Continental Forces in the American Revolutionary War
1832/1833 and subsequent Cavalry Units
- Divisions
- Regular Army
- 1st Cavalry Division (United States) {Active}
- U.S. 2nd Cavalry Division {Inactive}
- 3rd Cavalry Division
- 15th Cavalry Division.
- National Guard
- 21st Cavalry Division; New York; New Jersey; Pennsylvania and Rhode Island Army National Guards.
- 22nd Cavalry Division; Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin Army National Guards.
- 23rd Cavalry Division; Alabama, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin Army National Guards.
- 24th Cavalry Division; Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming Army National Guards.
- Army Reserve.
- 61st Cavalry Division; New York and New Jersey.
- 62nd Cavalry Division; Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania.
- 63rd Cavalry Division; Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
- 64th Cavalry Division; Kentucky, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
- 65th Cavalry Division; Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
- 66th Cavalry Division; Nebraska, Missouri, Utah, and North Dakota.
- Brigades
- Regular Army
- 1st Cavalry Brigade; Currently designated as 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
- 2nd Cavalry Brigade; Currently designated as 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
- 3rd Cavalry Brigade; Currently designated as 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
- 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division [1]
- 4th Cavalry Brigade (inactive?) Note: There is no historical link between the 4th Cavalry Brigade and the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
- 5th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (inactive)
- 6th Cavalry Brigade (inactive) Note: There is no historical link between the 6th Cavalry Brigade and the 6th Cavalry Regiment.
- 21st Cavalry Brigade {Air Combat Training}
- National Guard
- 51st Cavalry Brigade; New York Army National Guard.
- 52nd Cavalry Brigade; Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
- 53rd Cavalry Brigade; Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin Army National Guards.
- 54th Cavalry Brigade; Kentucky and Ohio Army National Guards.
- 55th Cavalry Brigade; Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee Army National Guards.
- 56th Cavalry Brigade-Texas Army National Guard.
- 57th Cavalry Brigade; Iowa and Kansas Army National Guards.
- 58th Cavalry Brigade; Idaho and Wyoming Army National Guards.
- 59th Cavalry Brigade; Massachusetts and New Jersey Army National Guards.
- Regiments
- Volunteers
- "1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment" {Raised Spanish-American War; see Rough Riders}.
- "3rd US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment" (South Dakota National Guard-Raised Spanish AMerican War)aka "Grigsby's Cowboys".
- Regular Army
- U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment aka US Regiment of Dragoons founded 1832. Changed to the 1st Cavalry Regiment in 1861.
- U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment aka 2nd Regiment of Dragoons founded 1836. Changed from 2nd Dragoons to the 2nd Cavalry in 1861.
- US 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment aka Regiment of Mounted Riflemen founded 1846
- US 4th Cavalry {Armored Cavalry} Regiment; founded 1855; also see Ranald S. Mackenzie.
- U.S. 5th Cavalry Regiment-formerly 2nd US Cavalry Regiment formed 1855. Changed to 5th Cavalry in 1861}
- U.S. 6th Cavalry Regiment Founded 1861
- U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment Founded 1866
- U.S.8th Cavalry Regiment Founded 1866
- U.S.9th Cavalry Regiment-seeB Troop 9th Cavalry
- U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment see also Buffalo Soldiers. Founded July 28, 1866
- U.S.11th Armored Cavalry Regiment-Founded February 2, 1901
- U.S.12th Cavalry Regiment-Founded Febraury 2, 1901
- U.S. 13th Cavalry Regiment-see US 2nd Cavalry Division; also Pancho Villa. -Founded February 2, 1901. Later changed to the 1st Battalion/13th Armor.
- U.S. 14th Cavalry Regiment-founded Feb 2, 1901
- U.S. 24th Cavalry-later changed to 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (United States) of the 1st Cavalry Divsion
- 26th Cavalry Regiment (PS){Last Cavalry Charge of US Army in 1941}
- 27th Cavalry Regiment U.S. 2nd Cavalry Division inactivated 1951-see Buffalo Soldiers
- 28th Cavalry Regiment U.S. 2nd Cavalry Division inactivated 1951-see Buffalo Soldiers
- 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 40th Infantry Division Oregon National Guard
- 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, 1st BCT, MN, 34th Infantry Division
- 101st Cavalry Regiment NYNG
- 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 55th Bde/28th Infantry Division
- 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry, 56th Brigade/28th Div
- 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry, 32nd Brigade Combat Team, WI ARNG
- 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry, 33rd BCT
- 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry, 2-28 Pennsylvannia BCT
- 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry, 48th BCT, GA
- 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry, 2nd (IA) Bde, 34th ID
- 2nd Squadron, 116th Cavalry, 116th Cavalry Brigade, ID ARNG
- 124th Armored Cavalry {Texas National Guard-in 1940 last US Army Horse Cavalry Regiment}
- 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry (West Virginia), 30th BCT, NC
- 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry, 53rd BCT
- 1st Squadron, 158th Cavalry (RSTA), 58th BCT, Maryland
- 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry, 116th BCT (Virginia)
- 1st Squadron, 192nd Cavalry, 92nd BCT, PR
- 1st Squadron, 263rd Cavalry, 218th Infantry BCT, SC
- 1st Squadron, 279th Cavalry, 45th BCT, OK
- Army Reserve.
- 7th Squadron, 6th Cavalry, 244th AV Brigade
[edit] See also
- Buffalo Soldier African American cavalrymen
[edit] US Cavalrymen
- Edgar Rice Burroughs
- William Cody {Scout for US Cavalry}
- Henry Lee
- Harry A. "Paddy" Flint
- Wild Bill Hickok {Scout for US Cavalry}
- Stephen W. Kearney
- John P. Lucas
- Francis Marion
- George S. Patton
- Luke Short {Scout for US Cavalry}
- Forrest Tucker
