Authority to raise a second regiment of cavalry was granted by an Act of Congress dated January 11, 1812. The authorized strength of the regiment was to be twelve troops, each troop consisting of: 1 captain, 1 first lieutenant, 1 second lieutenant, 1 cornet, 4 sergeants, 6 corporals, 2 musicians, 1 saddler, 1 farrier, 1 blacksmith, and 64 privates. The total authorized strength of the regiment was to be 58 officers and 948 other ranks. James Burn was appointed Colonel of the regiment of April 25, 1812. [4] The 2nd Regiment served in the Northern Theatre as did the 2st but one squadron did serve in the west. A squadron under Major J.V. Ball, augmented with volunteer (militia) light dragoons, participated in an action against hostile Indians at the Mississineway River in December 1812. Ball's command later formed part of the garrison of Ft. Meigs in April and May of 1813. Ball's squadron remained under Harrison's command, being reported at Cleveland and the Lower Sandusky in July. In,September, 1813, this squadron, now dismounted, formed part of the force commanded by Harrison which invaded Upper Canada. They did not see action in the Battle of the Thames, remaining in the Sandwhich area. The strength of Ball's command is variously given as-between 100 and 150 men. [5] A major portion of the 2nd Regiment participated in the American occupation of the Niagara peninsula in April, 1813. On June 5, hear Stoney Creek, Colonel Burn and the 2nd Regiment were stationed near the American force of General Chandler which was attacked and captured in a night action by a greatly inferior British detachment. Burn did not move to support Chandler in this action giving as his reason an ignorance of infantry tactics. On July 24, 20 troopers of the 2nd Regiment were part of the American force under Colonel Boerstler which surrendered at Beaver Dams. In August of 1813, the major portion of the American Army in the Niagara was transferred to the eastern end of Lake Ontario and the 2nd Regiment accompanied them. [6] The 2nd Regiment came under the command of General James Wilkinson who attempted a two-pronged invasion of Lower Canada in the Autumn of 1813. A squadron of the regiment under Major Woodford was present and in action at the Battle of Chrysler's Farm on November 11, 1813, when a small British force severely mauled Wilkinson's force. This squadron may or may not have mounted a cavalry charge against the British 49th Foot. The British account of the battle says that they did; the American account says that they didn't. A detachment of the 2nd accompanied General Hampton's force which attempted to reach Montreal via the Champlain River valley. This detachment was present at the Battle of Chateaugay but saw no action. [7] On May 12, 1814, the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons was amalgamated with the 1st Regiment to form the Regiment of Light Dragoons. US Light Dragoons War of 1812 Introduction The First Regiment of Light Dragoons The Second Regiment of Light Dragoons The Regiment of Light Dragoons (Combined) Uniforms and Equipment Illustrations Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 23 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1978 by Jean Lochet This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com