Rough Riders and the Irish Dragoons

[Philip S]

I took a picture this afternoon of a recruiting poster for an honor guard to the Irish Dragoons in the National Civil War Museum (Harrisburg, PA). The recruiting address was in Philadelphia. I wonder what unit this was.

[Brian P.]

There were a few militia Cav units that called themselves "The Irish Dragoons" during the War Between the States. This particular unit is the 13th Cavalry which was formed in Pennsylvania to be the Cavalry attached to Meagher's famous "Irish Brigade". The "Rough Rider" unit mentioned in the poster is more than likely just a recruiting tool to entice young Irish men to join up "for fun and adventure"! Here's a reference for Gallagher's "Irish Dragoons":

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:G3cDz7RPrAMJ:files.usgwarchives.net/pa/philadelphia/military/pcw0006.txt+union+army+irish+dragoons+col+gallagher&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[Larry Emrick]

This makes for fascinating reading and the record of losses in virtually all units is particularly poignant because of the very high numbers of troopers who died from disease and other causes. presumably such as the officer who drowned when his horse fell on him at a ford, compared to deaths in combat.
Another noteable fact is the number of engagements in which these units participated/
Larry

[Philip S]

Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders were familiar to me. Apparently the term Rough Riders is older. I wonder how long it has been existance.

[Pat Holscher]

Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders were familiar to me. Apparently the term Rough Riders is older. I wonder how long it has been existance.

Around here you'll sometimes see local historians claim that the 1st U.S. Vol Cav stole that name from the 3d U.S. Vol Cav, a Wyoming outfit, which was called "Terry's Rough Riders" by the local press. I doubt that the name was stolen, it was probably a semi popular nickname for any flamboyant volunteer cav outfit at the time.

[Brian P.]

Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders were familiar to me. Apparently the term Rough Riders is older. I wonder how long it has been existance.

Don't the British call their horse breakers/riding instructors "rough riders"? I think that it is a fairly old term.