In 1861 all Federal cavalry was reorganized into six regiments with the 2nd Dragoons becoming the 2nd Regiment of Cavalry. Their uniform facings were to be yellow, but the cherished dragoon orange was permitted to be ‘worn out’ enabling the regiment to prolong the thorough execution of the order for more than two years.

At the first battle of Bull Run seven troops of cavalry covered the Federal retreat preventing a large portion of the army being captured.