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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?
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 71
Dragoons mskes sense to me. During my first assignment in Germany, I was in 1-1 CAV...a regiment of dragoons. Not sure exactly what dragoons are, but I was very proud to be in the squadron.
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Some of my research has shown that the Red & White is indeed linked back to the time of the Dragoons. However not a Field banner to denote the Leader or a signal flag, Cavalry goes back many centuries and a common task for the early Dragoon or Lancer was to police the battle field as well after the battle. Many Guidons or Cavalry flags were white in nature ( easiest color to have back in the day ) and the flags were attached to the lances of those charged with dispatching wounded enemy on the battle field. Thus the top of the lance flag of white, would be soaked in the red blood of battle and the color stuck through out the years for the advancement of the Cavalry.
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SPC Stephen Wagner
I was just about to answer this question when I saw SGM Seurkamp already answered it. SGM Seurkamp is the man who taught me this information many years ago when I was studying for our units spur ride. Great to see you on here Top.
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Cpl John Sanheim
Actually the red over white swallow tail pennants predate the reasons you state - they were originally carried by lancers in the 16th Century - later became the lancer pennants in many Napoleonic armies - almost always (however there were some exceptions) RED over WHITE - even the Polish lancers whose national colors were white over red - bore the RED over WHITE pennants. Somewhere along the line of history these pennants became guidons adapted by the MOUNTED TROOPS (cavalry and light artillery) . During the American Civil War the guidons were replaced - (1862 regs) due to the fact that they resembled the Confederate fist national colors (stars and bars, red-white-red) and replaced by Stars and stripes in swallow tail design. Sometime after the war red over withe came into use again - not to say that many units never discarded the red and white guidons in the first place but like many Civil War flags they were often used until in total tatters . . .
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As I were . they had 3 different uniforms . 1. Red , black, green
2. Blue, red and white , and 3. Red , yellow , and white
2. Blue, red and white , and 3. Red , yellow , and white
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I thougt is was so when the battle gets to hot. They could cut the red offf and surrender.
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