The 2nd Cavalry can trace its lineage back to the early part of the 19th century. They’ve been named Dragoons, Armored Cavalry, and Stryker Cavalry. Despite the name changes, the Regiment has the distinction of being the longest continuously serving mounted unit in the United States Army.

In the 1860s and 70s, more and more settlers entered the Inland Northwest. Conflicts between those settlers and Native American tribes at times turned violent. Most notably the Nez Perce War (1877) and the Bannock War (1878) were fought over the forced resettlement of those tribes. In this area of Washington, the Spokane and Colville reservations were created north of the Spokane River. Fear of the tribes leaving the reservation caused the local people to call for a permanent