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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 >1 y ago
Responses: 72
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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Goose Ent
older than ulan, polish winged Hussars 1683 saved the day at battle of Vienna hence most European cavalry units adorne the end of their lances with the red and white pennon/pennant.
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I have heard two different versions. The first is; it represent cooperation between the US Cavalry and Indian Scouts. The other is something about "Blood Over Virtue" or something like that.
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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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It's our lineage to King and Queen of Battle. White is the traditional color of the Infantry of which we all belong and Red is for the Field Artillery... That's my official Hooah answer of the day.
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2nd Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment station at Bad Kissingen, West Germany from 1978 to 1981
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