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 of the Philadelphia Light Horse, known today as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. 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. 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==