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RARE 14TH US CAVALRY, 2ND BATTALION GUIDON, "IN

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
RARE 14TH US CAVALRY, 2ND BATTALION GUIDON,  IN
PURSUIT OF PANCHO VILLA". 25" x 42" red over white bunting, double applique red & white numbers. This style of cavalry guidon dates back to mid 19th century prior to Civil War. This is rare example with January 1916 dated Philadelphia Quartermaster label. The 14th US Cavalry has long distinguished service record. When this flag was issued, unit was stationed on Mexican border in Texas. On May 5, 1916, three privates of unit William Cohen, Stephen J. Coloe, and Lawrence K. Rogers were attacked and killed at small garrison at Glenn Springs, TX by Mexican bandits under Pancho Villa. The 14th then joined General John J. Pershing's expeditionary forces into Mexico as Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa and his forces chasing bandits throughout the Mexican plains and never catching many. The regiment then returned to Texas, where it began the task of patrolling the border until 1918, when it was called into service in Europe. The Treaty of Versailles was signed before the regiment could cross the Atlantic and the regiment resumed its border patrol mission. The issue of red over white guidons for U.S. Army mounted units began in 1833 when Congress authorized the creation of mounted units. At the time, such units did not carry the Stars and Stripes into battle and, using old Polish lance pennants as a pattern, the red over white guidons came into being. These flags would be issued to the two regiments of Dragoons, the Regiment of Mounted Rifles and the U.S Cavalry regiments raised in 1856 as well as those raised in 1861. The red over white guidons would remain in use with mounted regiments until 1862 when these were replaced by Stars and Stripes guidons. Those guidons saw extensive service (and so many were made that hundreds were issued as flank markers for infantry regiments) but in 1883, the red over white guidon was reinstated for mounted forces. The 14th Cavalry Regiment was created in February 1901 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Its first deployment was in the Philippines between 1903-1902 fighting against the Filipino insurgency. After coming home in 1906 they were returned to the Philippines in 1909. In July 1942, the regiment was deactivated and its men and equipment were transferred to the new 14th Armored Regiment of the 9th Armored Division. However, in July 1943, the regiment was reactivated as the 14th Cavalry Group at Fort Lewis in Washington. They fielded light armor, jeeps and other vehicles with reconnaissance as their main mission. In late August 1944 they sailed for Europe and laned on Omaha Beach in late September. They then joined the Allied push across France to the German border. After its two squadrons had been split and detached to infantry divisions, in early December the regiment was reconstituted and sent to guard the Losheim Gap in the Ardennes. Four days later, on December 16, 1944, the Germans launched the Battle of the Bulge and the 14th Cavalry was a prime target of German infantry and armor. Pushed back as with other American units, they reassembled the survivors and were attached to the 7th Armored Division. One of the most famous pictures of German troops in the Bulge with captured and destroyed American vehicles are those of the 14th Cavalry. Re-equipped and with replacements, the regiment joined the Allied push to reduce the Bulge and afterward they were assigned to George Patton's Third Army for the drive into Germany. The 14th Cavalry Group ended the war at the border of Austria. With the war in Europe over, the regiment was reorganized as the 14th Constabulary Regiment and tasked with police duties in Germany. In 1948, they were redesignated as the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment remaining in Germany until 1972. Its colors were then cased and they were replaced by the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was reactivated in 2000 as a Stryker light armored vehicle test unit and with five squadrons. Of these, after service in Iraq and Afghanistan, they have been split up and added to other existing units with the 5th Squadron being listed as inactive. Typically, red over white guidons had the main unit designation in the red and a company or troop letter in the white. As this guidon has the digit "2" this could be for its Second Battalion, possibly its headquarters command. The 14th Cavalry had battalions and companies as sub-units until May 1960 when they were redesignated as squadrons and troops, so this guidon should date to before 1960. CONDITION: very good overall, several scattered holes on affecting aesthetic, good colors. (02-19473-28/JS). $300-400.