United States War of 1812 Cavalry Units

Introduction
The U.S. Cavalry was active from 17 November 1775 to 1951 as part of the Army.

At the beginning of the War of 1812, the U.S. Cavalry had one regiment of light dragoons with eight troops. Another regiment was added and the two were known respectively as the First United States Dragoons and the 2nd United States Dragoons. On March 30, 1814, these were combined into one Light Dragoons regiment, which was disbanded after the war. The retained officers and men were added to the Corps of Artillery.

In 1813, two battalions of volunteer cavalry were raised with 1,200 men in 14 companies.

For additional information, see the Wikipedia article, Cavalry (United State).

Dragoons
List of officers, p. 16.

A list of the companies for each dragoon unit is on the NARA website.

Dragoons

1st Dragoons

2nd Dragoons

Light Dragoons

1st Light Dragoons

2nd Light Dragoons

Component parts of the Dragoons were:

1 Colonel 1 Lieutenant Colonel 2 Majors 1 Adjutant 1 Quartermaster 1 Surgeon 2 Surgeon's mates 1 Sergeant major 1 Quartermaster sergeant 1 Principal musicians 1 Principal farrier 1 Riding master 8 troops 981 Strength of regiments 1 regiment 981 Total strength

Records and Resources

 * Fredriksen, John C. The United States Army in the War of 1812: Concise Biographies of Commanders and Operational Histories of Regiments, with Bibliographies of Published and Primary Sources. (Jefferson, North Carolina c2009). 303 pages. FS Library Book 973 M2


 * Gordon, William A, A Compilation of Registers of the Army of the United States, from 1815 to 1837..., (Washington: James C. Dunn, 1837), Digital version: Internet Archive with Light Dragoons officers, Recruiting Districts, states in each Military District, list of General Staff, Lineal Rank officers, and the West Point staff and cadets.


 * Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, From Its Organization, September 29,1789 to March 2, 1903, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903). Digital version: Internet Archive. Abbreviations, vol. 1, page 9. Army organization, vol. 2, page 560. Artillery and Engineer Regiments, vol. 1, page 50. Forts and soldiers homes, vol. 2, page 475. Battles, vol. 2, page 280, 298, 301, 391. Cavalry Regiments, vol. 1, page 65. Dragoon Regiments, vol. 1, page 79. Fencibles and mounted riflemen, vol. 1, 143. Infantry, vol. 1, page 81. Legion, vol. 1, page 139. Rangers and riflemen, vol. 1, page 141. Voltigeurs and Sea Fencibles, vol. 1, 143. War with Great Britain, vol. 281. Officers of Regular Army, killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, vol. 2, page 13. Quartermaster's Department, vol. 1, page 40. Record and Pension Office, 1892, vol. 1, page 45. Topographical Engineers, vol. 1, page 43.