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I've always wondered this. What is the history and tradition behind having a red and white, swallow-tailed guidon?
UPDATE: A member said it is because the US Cavalry traces it's linage to European Dragoons and Dragoons are often associated with red and white. This makes a lot of sense. So the next question is why are Dragoons red and white?
UPDATE: A member said it is because the US Cavalry traces it's linage to European Dragoons and Dragoons are often associated with red and white. This makes a lot of sense. So the next question is why are Dragoons red and white?
Cavalry
19D: Cavalry Scout
19C: Cavalry Officer
Military History
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 71
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That's not accurate. Only British dragoons wore red and white, and the did not carry colors like this. This seems to most closely match the red and shire pennants that were on the lance of virtually every lancer unit of the various 19th century European armies.
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Death before dishonor. The idea that the cavalry would rather die before surrendering to the enemy.
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PO1 Felix Rivera
That's just a thought. The same can be said for armor units. The idea is rooted in history but hats where the response should focus on
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The red represents blood before for surrender so red over white. Air Cav that my b.s
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SSG Carlos Madden
This states: "At the beginning of the Civil War cavalry guidons featured two horizontal bars, red over white." But it does not say why they are red and white. What is the reason red and white were chosen?
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Dragoons were created after Polish horseman known as Ułani. White and red are Polish national symbols and colors on their lances were usually reversed. Try this link and read it at least till 19th century Napoleonic wars and then read that link about dragoons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uhlan
Uhlans (/ˈuːlɑːn, ˈjuːlən/; Polish: Ułan; German: Ulan) were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The Polish Uhlans became the model for many general-purpose cavalry units throughout Europe in the early 19th century as use of traditional heavy cavalry declined. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies.[a]
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