The Regimental birthday is celebrated on 23 May each year. On 23 May 1836, the Congress of the United States declared “be it enacted, that there shall be raised and organized, under the direction of the President of the United States to accept the service of volunteers and raise an additional Regiment of Dragoons or mounted riflemen and be it further enacted that there shall be raised and organized under the direction of the President of the United States one additional Regiment of Dragoons or mounted riflemen to be composed of the same number and rank of the officers, noncommissioned officers, musicians, and privates composing the Regiment of Dragoons now in the service of the United States, who shall receive the same pay and allowances, be subject to the same rules and regulations and be engaged for the like terms and upon the same conditions in all respects what-so-ever as are stipulated for the said Regiment of Dragoons now in service.”
On June 15, 1836, the Headquarters of the Army in Washington D.C. went on to issue General Order Number 38, which declared that : “the Second Regiment of Dragoons will be recruited and organized with as little delay as practicable, and the several officers appointed will report for orders and recruiting instructions to the Colonel of the Regiment, who will establish his recruiting headquarters at some central position and report to the Adjutant General.”