U.S. Army Dragoons Patrol San Diego Avenue, in Old Town San Diego by RD Riccoboni. US Army Dragoons. 1840's Soldiers on horse back in Old Town San Diego California painted by RD Riccoboni. In the early days (1840's), the only mounted unit in the US Army was the 1st Dragoons. In 1849, the 2nd Dragoons were formed, as was another unit called the Regiment of Mounted Rifles. Dragoons were mounted infantry in California. They carried a weapon known as a musketoon in the early days, which was a shortened musket. Later, they carried carbines. They basically used their horses to move them from place to place, not for fighting.Most, if not all, of their fighting was done dismounted. RD Riccoboni is an insightful, American born artist (California, 1960) influenced by a plethora of sights, sounds, surprising colors, textures and emotion ranging from traditional to modern. This self-taught artist acquired his drive and inspiration from encouragement given him by family, friends and public school teachers. Riccoboni’s profound love for art and architecture and history are evidenced in his paintings and drawings. Riccoboni’s landscape and cityscape jump with vivid fields of color and powerful composition and his portrait artwork captures the essence of a person’s spirit, the love given from animals in surprising color. Visit the artist's studio #18 in Spanish Village Art Center at Balboa Park in San Diego California.