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

Wethersfield, Connecticut Wethersfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut. It is located immediately south of Hartford along the Connecticut River. Its population was 27,298 at the time of the 2020 census. Many records from colonial times spell the name ...

, 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.

Military action

The 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 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 The Battle of White Marsh or Battle of Edge Hill was a battle of the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought December 5–8, 1777, in the area surrounding Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania. The battle, which took the form ...

, 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 George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

'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 John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

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 leade ...

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 January 1, 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 June 9, 1783, at

Newburgh, New York Newburgh is a city in the U.S. state of New York, within Orange County. With a population of 28,856 as of the 2020 census, it is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown metropolitan area. Located north of New York City, a ...

and discharged on November 20, 1783, by proclamation of General Washington. The 2nd Light Dragoons are prominent in Colonel John Trumbull's paintings of the American Revolution.

Notes

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

Banastre Tarleton Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB (21 August 175415 January 1833) was a British general and politician. He is best known as the lieutenant colonel leading the British Legion at the end of the American Revolution. He later served in Portu ...

in 1779; on June 14, 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 Gi ...

was awarded the

Badge of Military Merit The Badge of Military Merit was a military award of the United States Armed Forces. It is largely considered America's first military decoration, and the second oldest in the world (after the Cross of St. George). The award was only given to non-c ...

. * The last surviving member of the 2nd Dragoons was

Lemuel Cook Lemuel Cook (September 10, 1759 – May 20, 1866) was one of the last verifiable surviving veterans of the American Revolutionary War. Early life and education Cook was born on September 10, 1759, in Litchfield County, Connecticut, to Henry 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 Ar ...

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