First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Trooper 1878 BMM33

THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS MET IN SEPTEMBER 1774, IN THE HALL OF THE CARPENTER’S COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA.

A COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE WAS ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF PHILADELPHIA TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF RESISTING THE BRITISH AND TO CARRY OUT THE NONIMPORTATION RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONGRESS.THE ELECTED COMMITTEE FIRST MET ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOVERMBER 17, 1774, IN THE STATE HOUSE. THAT EVENING THREE OF THE MEMBERS, TOGETHER WITH TWENTY-FIVE OTHER GENTLEMEN, GATHERED ACCORDING TO TRADITION IN THE CARPRENTERS HALL AND FORMED THE LIGHT HORSE OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, A NAME THAT WAS LATER CHANGED TO FIRST TROOP PHILADELPHIA CITY CAVALRY.

THIS PURELY VOLUNTEER CAVALRY TROOP WAS FIRST ORGANIZED IN DEFENSE OF THE COLONIES. TODAY THE TROOP IS THE OLDEST ACTIVE MILITARY UNIT IN CONTINUOUS SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES. NOT LONG AFTER THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON REACHED PHILADELPHIA, CAPTAIN MARKOE PRESENTED THE TROOP WITH THE STANDARD THAT WAS CARRIED BY THE TROOP IN THE BATTLES OF TRENTON, PRINCETON, BRANDYWINE, AND GERMANTOWN. THE TROOP CONTINUED TO SERVE UNDER GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON FOR MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN 1863, THE TROOP WAS MUSTERED INTO SERVICE AND JOINED THE U.S. 2ND CAVALRY AT CARLISLE. THE UNIT SAW ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF FALLING WATERS WHERE THEY BECAME ENGAGED WITH THE CONFEDERATES AND AIDED IN DRIVING THE ENEMY FROM THE FIELD. THE TROOP CONTINUED TO SERVE DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND SAW ACTION IN AND AROUND HARRISBURG AND GETTYSBURG. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE CIVIL WAR THE TROOP SERVED AS GUARD OF HONOR AND ESCORT FOR PRESIDENT LINCOLNS FUNERAL PROCESSION IN PHILADELPHIA.

FROM 1789 TO 1981, THE TROOP HAS SERVED AS CAVALRY ESCORTS FOR UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON TO RONALD REAGAN.

THE TROOP UNIFORM: A BEARSKIN MOUNTED HELMET, THE SKULL OF BLACK LEATHER, WITH WHITE METAL COMB AND SIDE ORNAMENTS. WHITE METAL FRONT PLATE WITH BRASS EAGLE, CHIN SCALES (WHITE METAL BACKED WITH LEATHER). A ROUND JACKET OF DARK BLUE CLOTH, ORNAMENTED WITH WHITE CORD BRAIDING AND SILVER BUTTONS THE COLLAR OF SCARLET CLOTH. THE SHOULDER BELT OF WHITE LEATHER AND SILVER FITTINGS, THE CARTRIDGE BOX OF BLACK LEATHER WITH A SILVER PLATE. THE WAIST SASH CREAM COLOR AND RED STRIPES.

THE BUST IS BASED ON THE COMPLETE FIRST TROOP PHILADELPHIA CITY CAVALRY UNIFORM WORN BY TROOP HARRY P NORRIS MUSTERED IN DECEMBER 2, 1872 ACTIVE UNTIL APRIL 4, 1881. NORRIS DIED FEBUARY 1892. THE HELMET STORAGE BOX WITH HIS NAME AND DATE. THE UNIFORM IS ON DISPLAY IN THE CRAMER MUSEUM.