Uncle Sam’s Lazy Dogs (United States Light Dragoons or USLD nickname)

The United State Light Dragoons were activated in 1808 and saw action in the War of 1812. “USLD” appeared on their caps, and this was widely joked as “Uncle Sam’s Lazy Devils” or “Uncle Sam’s Lazy Dogs.” This was printed in the American Telegraph (Bridgeport, Brownsville, Fayette County, PA) on June 19, 1816, and was widely reprinted:
 
“UNCLE SAM’S LAZY DOGS. Uncle Sam is a cant phrase significant of the United States; as John Bull signifies England.—The origin of it seems to be this. In the year 1807, I think it was, there was authorized by law, the raising of a regiment of light dragoons.—The initial letters, U. S. L. D. were painted on their caps, meaning the United States Light Dragoons. A countryman seeing a regiment of them passing enquired of a bye-stander what they were “The are UNCLE SAM’S LAZY DOGS,” don’t you see it on their caps! This story soon got amongst the soldiers, and they have ever since denominated the United States ‘Uncle Sam.’”
 
The year “1807” is incorrect—it should be “1808”—but the other information might be accurate.
 
The United State Light Dragoons were in the Greenbush camp in late August 1812 (see below), and this was near Albany and Troy, New York. This predates the “Uncle Sam” remark, which probably occurred on October 1, 1812, involving Troy meat packer Samuel Wilson stamping “EA - US” on his barrels, standing for “Elbert Anderson” (the general contractor) and “Uncle Sam” (Samuel Wilson, a joke on the usual “United States”).
   
“U. S. L. D. implies Uncle Sam’s Lazy Devils” was printed in The Tickler (Philadelphia, PA) on May 26, 1813. “Uncle Sam’s Lazy Devils” was also used in Canada about this time (May 1813).
 
The “USLD” on the United States Light Dragoons caps is shown in the Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms (1996).
 
   
Wikipedia: Regiment of Light Dragoons (United States)
Under the designation Regiment of Light Dragoons existed two different units of the U.S. Army in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, respectively. A first unit of its name was short lived, established just prior the Quasi-War with France, in 1798 and discharged in 1800.
 
The second unit under this designation was activated in 1808. During the War of 1812, it was temporarily designated as the 1st Regiment of Light Dragoons when the War Department created an additional similar regiment. On May 12, 1814, the additional regiment was consolidated with the 1st Regiment, which reverted to its unnumbered designation. The regiment was consolidated with the Corps of Artillery on May 17, 1815.
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Service
Neither the 1st nor the 2nd Regiment were used as consolidated units during the War of 1812. Generals frequently used their assigned dragoons as escorts, couriers and scouts rather than fighting men.
 
Wikipedia: 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons
The 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons was a unit of the U.S. Army in the early nineteenth century. It was first activated in 1812. The regiment was consolidated with the 1st Regiment of Light Dragoons on May 12, 1814, forming the Regiment of Light Dragoons.
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The regiment participated in the attack on Fort George, Upper Canada in May 1813.
 
Newspapers.com (Part one)
Newspapers.com (Part two)
28 August 1812,  The Enquirer (Richmond, VA), pg. 2, col. 5:
(Con. ) HARTFORD, Aug. 19.—(...) The company of light dragoons under the command of capt. Morgan, were ordered from this city (Pg. 3, col. 1.—ed.) to the camp at Greenbush. There are between 40 and 50 in the company, high spirited and resolute young men, who will not fail to honor the profession of arms. (...) Mercury.
 
Newspapers.com
3 September 1812,  The United States Gazette, pg. 4, col. 4:
Extract of a letter from an officer in the army of the United States, to the Editor of the Gazette, dated
Greenbush, opposite Albany, Aug. 26, 1812.
I arrived here on Saturday last, from the Narrows, harbour of New York, with the 15th regiment, Pike, 700 strong. The whole army here at present is about 2,000, composed of the 15th, 13th and the greater portion of the 6th Infantry: together with a detachment of the cavalry, col. Byrn, and the light dragoons. We are now all encamped, and I assure you, we deem it the most agreeable spot this side of Canada. It is rumoured we are shortly to march toward the Lakes.
 
Newspapers.com
15 October 1812, The Sun (Pittsfield, MA), pg. 3, col. 2:
MILITARY MOVEMENTS.
TROY, OCT. 13.
Last Saturday evening a part of the 25th regiment of U. S. Infantry, commanded by col. Cutting, arrived here from Greenbush and encamped at the upper part of this village, and on Sunday morning proceeded on their way to Plattsburgh—a train of 22 large waggons accompanied it, and last evening a company of U. S. Light Dragoons also from Greenbush, arrived in thi village and will proceed on their way to Plattsburgh this morning.
 
Newspapers.com
12 November 1812, The Sun (Pittsfield, MA), pg. 1, col. 3:
TROY, NOV. 3, 1812.
On Sunday afternoon passed through this village, from Greenbush, on their way to Plattsburgh, a corps of U. States Light Dragoons, consisting of about 220.
 
26 May 1813, The Tickler by Toby Scratch ‘Em (Philadelphia, PA), pg. 3, col. 3:
John Miller, Esq. Govenour of the Commonwealth of Catfish, has received an official despatch from Karl Schmidt, (late commandant of the Philadelphia Hurraws, now of the *U. S. L. D.) dated “Indian Village not far from Tonnewonta Creek,” ...
*U. S. L. D. implies Uncle Sam’s Lazy Devils.
   
19 June 1816, American Telegraph (Bridgeport, Brownsville, Fayette County, PA), pg. 4, col. 3:
UNCLE SAM’S LAZY DOGS.
Uncle Sam is a cant phrase significant of the United States; as John Bull signifies England.—The origin of it seems to be this. In the year 1807, I think it was, there was authorized by law, the raising of a regiment of light dragoons.—The initial letters, U. S. L. D. were painted on their caps, meaning the United States Light Dragoons. A countryman seeing a regiment of them passing enquired of a bye-stander what they were “The are UNCLE SAM’S LAZY DOGS,” don’t you see it on their caps! This story soon got amongst the soldiers, and they have ever since denominated the United States “Uncle Sam.”
 
11 August 1817, The Albany Gazette and Daily Advertiser (Albany, NY), pg. 3, col. 1:
“UNCLE SAM.”
This expression, which originated during the war, from the initials “U. S.” on the soldiers’ knapsacks, has come into general use. The Indians at the west, from hearing it often used, have imbibed the idea that it is actually the name of the president; and while at Sackett’s Harbor, a considerable number of Indians and Squaws, crowded round the president, wishing, as they expressed it, “to shake hands with UNCLE SAM.”.
 
Canadiana
Souvenit Book And Program for Military Encampment
GIven by the Ladies’ Committee of the Wentworth Historical Society
Drill Hall,
Hamilton, Ont.
November, 1895
Pg. 25:
They settled in South Grimsby, near the present town of Smithville. ...
(...)
Hon. henry Griffin, who died in Grand Haven, Mich, in 1891, was a son of Smith Griffin, and used to tell many stories of the War of 1812, which he remembered well, though only six years old when the war commenced.
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One day he and another small boy were playing in a field near the road, when a troop of United States Light Dragoons rode by.  When they had passed the boys, who had noticed the letters on their caps, parodied their name, and called out “Uncle Sam’s Lazy Devils.” One of the officers turned and rode twoard the fence, brandishing his sword. The courage of the boys ran out at their toes, and they lost no time in running to the wood beyond the field.
(This event would have been about May 1813.—ed.) 
 
Google Books
Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms
By WIlliam K. Emerson
Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press
1996
Pg. 99:
When horse soldiers returned to the army in 1808 as light dragoons, they ornamented their helmets or caps with the separately outlined, two-inch high letters USLD, with the US above the LD, and with blue feathers and white tips. To match their uniform trimmings these letters should have been of white metal, either silvered brass or pewter. Excavated examples, however, have been found in both pewter and in unsilvered brass. John B. McMaster mentions these letters: “It was about this time [1812] that the phrase Uncle Sam became popular. Just when or where it originated is not known. One story, believed in 1812, is that when a regiment of light dragoon was raised in 1808, the letters USLD on their caps was interpreted by some wag as Uncle Sam’s Lazy Dogs, The (Pg. 100.—ed.) contact of the milita with the regulars in 1812 gave the phrase greater currency, and it became popular.”