The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, also known as the First City Troop, is a unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. It is one of the oldest military units in the United States still in active service and is among the most decorated units in the U.S. Army. Accordingly, the Troop operates under a number of principles of self-governance unique in the U.S. military, including the election of unit members and officers, voluntarily forgoing pay for military service to the country, continuing to practice horse cavalry skills and tactics, and recruiting a high percentage of its members from veterans of prior active duty service across all branches (many of whom resign past officer commissions to join), as well as older civilian mid-career professionals.[1]
An 1812 illustration of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry by John Lewis KrimmelCaptain Joseph Lapsley Wilson of the First City Troop circa 1894First Troop Armory in 1863
It is the only U.S. military unit that owns its own armory building, built with private funds in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.
As of November 2017, the troop had 46 active members (33 drilling with the A-1/104th CAV), up from 35 in 2014.[1]
The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, or "First City Troop", was organized in 1774 as the Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia, often referred to as the Philadelphia Light Horse, one of the first patriotic military organizations established in the American Revolution.
Abraham Markoe was the founder and the first Captain[2] of the Philadelphia Light Horse, known today as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.[3]
Early members came from a number of local social organizations, including the Schuylkill Fishing Company, the Schuylkill Company of Fort St. Davids, the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Society of the Sons of St. George, and especially the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club. Captain Samuel Morris was Gloucester's first president and Captain Robert Wharton its last.
John J. Pershing said that "no National Guard organization in the country did more, relatively, in the First World War than" the First City Troop.[4]
Today, the First City Troop deploys overseas with the Pennsylvania National Guard in support of Army operations. Since 9/11, the unit has deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, Egypt, and Kuwait, with elements of the unit additionally deploying to Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, Europe, and Latin America. Membership is by election. Soldiers on the active roll continue to donate their drill pay back to the unit, in order to maintain a tradition of voluntary service.
^ abPhillips, Michael (October 15, 2014). "Philadelphia Is Looking for a Few Good Gentlemen". New York. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
^. FTPCC web site. First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-01. Abraham Markoe, a Danish subject, was chosen to be the first Captain because of his energy in organizing the Troop and his previous Danish military experience. Though prevented from open participation in the War as a result of the Neutrality Edict issued by then King Christian VII of Denmark, Captain Markoe took an active part in the defeat of the enemy by all other available means.
^Johnson, Robert (2006). Saint Croix 1770–1776: The First Salute to the Stars and Stripes. AuthorHouse. p. 20. ISBN978-1-4259-7008-6. This same Abraham Markoe, in 1775, organized the Light Horse Troop of Philadelphia, and presented the troop with what is considered the first flag with thirteen stripes representing the thirteen colonies.
^Hudson, Richard L. 1980. "At Ease, Troopers: Fall Out for Caviar and Pickled Herring. That's the Order Often Heard at Elite Philadelphia Club, A Unit of the National Guard." Wall Street Journal. February 29, 1980. Page A1
Further reading
Brooke, George, III. With the First City Troop on the Mexican Border. Philadelphia: 1917.
Clark, William P. Official History of the Militia And the National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania from the Earliest Period of Record to the Present Time. 3 vols. Philadelphia: 1909–1912.
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. By-Laws, Muster Roll, and Papers Selected from the Archives of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, 1840.
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. History of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry; From Its Organization November 17th 1774 to Its Centennial Anniversary .... Philadelphia: Hallowell, 1875.
Hendler, Charles J., compiler. Official History of the Militia and National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania. 4 vols. Philadelphia: 1936.
Hudson, Richard L. 1980. "At Ease, Troopers: Fall Out for Caviar and Pickled Herring- That's the Order Often Heard at Elite Philadelphia Club, A Unit of the National Guard." Wall Street Journal. February 29, 1980. Page A1, A26.
McBarron, H. Charles, Jr. (March 1951). "First Troop Philadelphia Light Horse, 1809-1815". Military Collector and Historian. 3: 14–16.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Risley, Clyde A.; James P. Simpson; and John R. Elting. "Light-Horse of the City of Philadelphia, 1776-1777." Military Collector and Historian, 23 (Winter 1971), pp. 121–122.
"A Return of the First City Troop, 1799." Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 23 (1899), p. 127.
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry also known as the First City Troop is a unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard It is one of the oldest military units in the United States still in active service and is among the most decorated units in the U S Army Accordingly the Troop operates under a number of principles of self governance unique in the U S military including the election of unit members and officers voluntarily forgoing pay for military service to the country continuing to practice horse cavalry skills and tactics and recruiting a high percentage of its members from veterans of prior active duty service across all branches many of whom resign past officer commissions to join as well as older civilian mid career professionals 1 An 1812 illustration of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry by John Lewis KrimmelCaptain Joseph Lapsley Wilson of the First City Troop circa 1894First Troop Armory in 1863It is the only U S military unit that owns its own armory building built with private funds in Philadelphia s Rittenhouse Square neighborhood As of November 2017 the troop had 46 active members 33 drilling with the A 1 104th CAV up from 35 in 2014 1 Contents 1 History 2 Campaign credit 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory EditThe First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry or First City Troop was organized in 1774 as the Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia often referred to as the Philadelphia Light Horse one of the first patriotic military organizations established in the American Revolution Abraham Markoe was the founder and the first Captain 2 of the Philadelphia Light Horse known today as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry 3 Early members came from a number of local social organizations including the Schuylkill Fishing Company the Schuylkill Company of Fort St Davids the St Andrew s Society of Philadelphia the Society of the Friendly Sons of St Patrick the Society of the Sons of St George and especially the Gloucester Fox Hunting Club Captain Samuel Morris was Gloucester s first president and Captain Robert Wharton its last During the Revolution the troop fought in the battles of Trenton Princeton Brandywine and Germantown It often served as George Washington s personal bodyguard The unit also saved James Wilson at the Battle of Fort Wilson riot During the American Civil War the First City Troop was called into active duty several times beginning with the 1861 Campaign that led to the First Battle of Bull Run During the Gettysburg Campaign the company under the command of future U S Speaker of the House Samuel J Randall performed scouting duties leading into the Battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania in late June before being redeployed to York County following a brief skirmish on June 26 1863 The company later screened Columbia Wrightsville Bridge against the Confederate forces of John Brown Gordon John J Pershing said that no National Guard organization in the country did more relatively in the First World War than the First City Troop 4 Today the First City Troop deploys overseas with the Pennsylvania National Guard in support of Army operations Since 9 11 the unit has deployed to Bosnia Iraq Egypt and Kuwait with elements of the unit additionally deploying to Afghanistan the Persian Gulf Europe and Latin America Membership is by election Soldiers on the active roll continue to donate their drill pay back to the unit in order to maintain a tradition of voluntary service The troop draws its membership from Troop A 1st Squadron 104th Cavalry Regiment 28th Infantry Division United States Pennsylvania Army National Guard Campaign credit Edit Flag of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Facade of the First Troop armoryRevolutionary WarBattle of Trenton Battle of Princeton Battle of Brandywine Battle of Germantown New Jersey 1776 New Jersey 1777 Pennsylvania 1777Civil War Peninsula Campaign First Battle of Bull Run Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Gettysburg Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg Shenandoah Battle of Appomattox Virginia 1861 Virginia 1862 Virginia 1863 Virginia 1864 Maryland 1863 Pennsylvania 1863War with Spain Puerto RicoWorld War I Battle of Ypres Lys Champagne Marne Aisne Marne Oise Aisne Meuse Argonne Champagne 1918 Lorraine 1918World War II Northern France Central EuropeOperation Enduring Freedom Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary StreamerSee also Edit Philadelphia portalCity guardReferences Edit a b Phillips Michael October 15 2014 Philadelphia Is Looking for a Few Good Gentlemen New York Wall Street Journal Retrieved October 21 2014 History Philadelphia 1774 1775 FTPCC web site First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Archived from the original on 18 August 2010 Retrieved 2010 09 01 Abraham Markoe a Danish subject was chosen to be the first Captain because of his energy in organizing the Troop and his previous Danish military experience Though prevented from open participation in the War as a result of the Neutrality Edict issued by then King Christian VII of Denmark Captain Markoe took an active part in the defeat of the enemy by all other available means Johnson Robert 2006 Saint Croix 1770 1776 The First Salute to the Stars and Stripes AuthorHouse p 20 ISBN 978 1 4259 7008 6 This same Abraham Markoe in 1775 organized the Light Horse Troop of Philadelphia and presented the troop with what is considered the first flag with thirteen stripes representing the thirteen colonies Hudson Richard L 1980 At Ease Troopers Fall Out for Caviar and Pickled Herring That s the Order Often Heard at Elite Philadelphia Club A Unit of the National Guard Wall Street Journal February 29 1980 Page A1Further reading EditBrooke George III With the First City Troop on the Mexican Border Philadelphia 1917 Clark William P Official History of the Militia And the National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania from the Earliest Period of Record to the Present Time 3 vols Philadelphia 1909 1912 First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry By Laws Muster Roll and Papers Selected from the Archives of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry 1840 First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry History of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry From Its Organization November 17th 1774 to Its Centennial Anniversary Philadelphia Hallowell 1875 Hendler Charles J compiler Official History of the Militia and National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania 4 vols Philadelphia 1936 Hudson Richard L 1980 At Ease Troopers Fall Out for Caviar and Pickled Herring That s the Order Often Heard at Elite Philadelphia Club A Unit of the National Guard Wall Street Journal February 29 1980 Page A1 A26 McBarron H Charles Jr March 1951 First Troop Philadelphia Light Horse 1809 1815 Military Collector and Historian 3 14 16 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Risley Clyde A James P Simpson and John R Elting Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia 1776 1777 Military Collector and Historian 23 Winter 1971 pp 121 122 A Return of the First City Troop 1799 Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 23 1899 p 127 Scharf John Thomas Thompson Westcott 1884 History of Philadelphia 1609 1884 Phila Lippincott Meschter G Andrew The Gentlemen of Gloucester A New Look at the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Agamemnon Publishing 2015 External links EditOfficial website First City Troop in the Spanish American War Initial roster Gentlemen of Gloucester39 57 12 N 75 10 42 W 39 953246 N 75 178415 W 39 953246 75 178415 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry amp oldid 1168007243, 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