Philadelphia Cavalry in the Civil War

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Philadelphia Cavalry in the Civil War
Samuel P. Bates History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers)

On the 15th of April, 1861, the day of the President's call for seventy-five thousand men, the Troop tendered their services to Governor Curtin; but the government not requiring cavalry, it was only after great difficulty that they obtained, through the influence of Major General Patterson, a special order from the War Department in their favor, and were mustered into service on the 13th day of May, 1861, for three months. The following constituted the company:

Thomas C. James	Captain	Angier, W. R.	Private
Richard B. Price	First Lieutenant	Ashhurst, H.	do
William Camac	Second Lieutenant	Bell, S. Jr.	do
F. Rogers	First Sergeant	Bickley, R.	do
W. D. Smith	Second Sergeant	Blanchard	do
S. J. Randall	Third Sergeant	Borthwick, J.	do
R. Morris, Jr.	Fourth Sergeant	Brown, J. A., Jr.	do
M. E. Rogers	First Corporal	Brinton, J. P.	do
C. F. Lening	Second Corporal	Budd, T. M.	do
R. E. Randall	Third Corporal	Burk, J. R.	do
E. A. Lewis	Fourth Corporal	Butler, W. H.	do
G. Dunn	First Bugler	Cadwalader, C. E.	do
J. Nosher	Second Bugler	Caswell, J. H.	do
F. D. Wood	Farrier	Conover, A. M.	do
Agen. John	Private	Carpenter, E. N.	do

THE FIRST TROOP

Cochran, G. Private Mitchell, H. P. Private
Cooper, E. S. do Paxton, J. R. do
Davis, W. S. do Pemberton, A. J. do
Devereux, R. G. do Pemberton, C. do
Ellis, R. do Potter, W. H. do
Evans, G. G. do Reakirt, E. L. do
Evans, H. Y. do Relf, J. D. do
Fassitt, J.B. do Richard, C. E. do
Frazier, N., Jr. do Riddle, D. H. do
Gilpin, G. do Rivinus, D. C. F. do
Goddard, H. B. do Seitzinger, F. S. do
Gray, R. E., Jr. do Sloan, A. V. do
Grigg, J. W. do Sloan, B. H. do
Harper, J. H. do Smith, Cooper do
Haseltine, J. H. do Smith, E. W. do
Haven, N. P. do Smith, S. E. do
Hensley, A. do Taggart, C. F. do
Horner, A.T. Jr. do Tevis, E. L. do
Howell, W. H. do Thompson, J. do
Jacobs, S. H. do Tucker, H. do
Kane, R. P. do West, J., Jr. do
Kuhn, H. do Wetherill, F. D. do
Kuhn, J H. do White, E. W. do
Keyser, C. S. do Whitehead, G. I. do
Lieper, C. L. do Whilling, C. M. do
Lowber, E., Jr. do Wilson, R. P. do
M'Makin, L. do Wood, J. P. do
Merritt, W. H. do Wood, W. W. do
Middleton, G. do Wurts, W. N. do

As soon as they could be furnished with equipments, they were ordered to Carlisle. Leaving Philadelphia on the 29th of May, they reached the latter place on the night of the 30th, and were attached to the command of Colonel George H. Thomas. On the morning of the 31st, they moved, remaining over night at Shippensburg, where they were handsomely entertained by the ladies of that place, and reaching Chambersburg the next day, went into Camp M'Clure. For four days it rained incessantly, and the material composing the troop was fully tested, receiving unqualified praise from Colonel Thomas, who stated " that they had set an example to the Regulars, and one which he was pleased to say, had had very happy results." On the 7th of June, they moved from Chambersburg to Greencastle, where they remained five days, and thence to Williamsport. On the 17th, General Cadwalader being ordered to cross the Potomac, his command advanced as far as Falling Waters, where a slight skirmish took place, and the confederates retreated. In the evening the division was ordered back to the river, but owing to some error in the orders, the troop and Colonel Dare's regiment remained out until the next day. Major General Patterson here joined, and took personal command of the column, and on the 2d of July, the entire army re-crossed the river. Proceeding about four miles, the enemy's out-posts were encountered; a section of Captain Perkins' battery under Hudson">Lieutenant Hudson, was brought promptly into action, and was supported by the troop. Early in the morning, the advance came suddenly upon the confederate lines, which opened with a heavy and destructive fire; at this moment General Patterson rode to the front, and gave an example that enspirited and nerved his troops, it being the first time they had been under fire of either artillery or musketry. The next day, July 3d, Martinsburg was taken without opposition. The army remained there until three o'clock on the morning of the 16th, when they advanced to Bunker Hill, the Troop being this day in their saddles over fifteen hours. At two o'clock A. M. of the 17th, the advance was continued, and about noon they occupied Charlestown. On the 21st July, the entire command moved to Harper's Ferry, and on the 3d of September the Troop crossed the river to Sandy Hook, where they remained until ordered to Philadelplia. While at this point, they guarded Keily's and Antietam fords and Charlestown road, and with Captain William M'Mullin's Rangers, were the only three months' troops remaining.

The Troop were mustered out of service on the 17th day of August, 1861, with the strongest and kindest encomiums paid by their commander, Colonel Thomas, for military capacity, strict attention to duty, promptness and bravery. On this, as on every previous occasion, they were mounted and equipped at their own cost. Sixty-three of their number returned as officers in the National army, all of whom served with distinction in the different positions which they occupied, from Lieutenants to Generals. Many sacrificed their lives to save their country and put down rebellion, among whom were Captain Thomas C. James, Colonel of the Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, General David B. Birney, Majors Taggart and Morris, and Captains Ash and Kuhn. The Troop promptly tendered their services in May, 1862, under the requisition of the President for more troops, and the, call of the Governor of Pennsylvania, following close upon the disasters in the second battle of Bull Run, which, however, were not accepted. No sooner had the news of the second invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee, in June, 1863, reached the city, than the Troop proceeded promptly to Harrisburg, and tendered their services on the 16th of June; they were accepted on the 18th, and ordered by Major General Couch to Gettysburg, to impede and observe the movements of the approaching enemy. They were driven from South Mountain and Gettysburg on the 26th, and the next day from York to Wrightsville. After a slight skirmish, they retreated across the Susquehanna river to Columbia. On the same day, Captain Samuel J. Randall was appointed Provost Marshal of Columbia, where the Troop remained on duty until the 4th of July, when they proceeded to Harrisburg. On the 2d of July Sergeant Robert E. Randall was ordered to cross the river with thirty men, and to follow and watch the movements of the retreating rebels, which was continued until they reached Gettysburg on the night of the 3d of July. They did not, however, take part in the battle. On the 31st of July, 1863, they were, by order of General Cadwalader, relieved from duty. The following are the names of those who constituted the Troop during this term of service:

Samuel J. Randall	Captain	Driscol, D. J.	Private
Zantzinger	Surgeon	Eastrick, W.	do
M. E. Rogers	First Sergeant	Field, Francis	do
J. Francis Maher	Second Sergeant	Frame, N. G.	do
Robert E. Randall	Third Sergeant	Frazier, P.	do
E. L. Reckirt	Fourth Sergeant	Gray, R. B.	do
John W. Grigg	Fifth Sergeant	Harrison, A.	do
James West, Jr.	Sixth Sergeant	Hayes, R. S.	do
J. A. Brown, Jr.	First Corporal	Howell, W. H.	do
Alexander Hensley	Second Corporal	Hubbell,	do
H. B. Goddard	Third Corporal	Jennison, J. M.	do
J. P. Wood	Fourth Corporal	Jessup, A. D.	do
A. C. Cattell	Fifth Corporal	Johnson, J. L.	do
F. W. Guist	Trumpeter	Kempton, J. C.	do
Ashhurst, H.	Private	Martrie, F. M.	do
Allen, H. W.	do	Mason, R. S.	do
Barclay, A. C.	do	Mellor, A.	do
Barton, F.	do	Mercer, H. W.	do
Bishop, C. B.	do	Merritt, W. H.	do
Brothwick, W. A.	do	Mitchell, T.	do
Brooke, C. W.	do	Morris, George	do
Brown, P. A.	do	Neff,	do
Canby, W. H.	do	Newhall, George H.	do
Colkert, George	do	Newhall, G. M.	do
Conover, A. M.	do	Oakman, George	do
Davis, W. S.	do	Oakman, T. C.	do
Devereux, R. G.	do	Passmore, G. Y.	do
Diehl, H. C.	do	Reckirt, Theodore	do
Diehl, Thomas C.	do	Rhodes, C. M.	do

PHILADELPHIA CITY CAVALRY

Roberts, A. Private Wagner, J. D. Private
Rogers, W. E. do Watts, H. M. do
Sharr">Sharr, E. H. do Welsh, J. L. do
Smith, C. S. do White, E. W. do
Smith, H. G. do Wilkins, J., Jr. do
Snowden, A. L. do Wistar, Jones do
Stevenson, C. do Wood, W. W. do
Tevis, A. do Wright, Theodore do
Thompson, A. L. do

Their services were again tendered and accepted on the 11th of July, 1864, and were continued until the 17th, during another threatened invasion of the State. Appreciating the great importance of cavalry, and proper instruction in this branch of service, they, at their own expense, and without any assistance from either the City or the State government, built an Armory and riding school, at a cost of upwards of thirty thousand dollars, The Troop is the oldest military organization in the United States, except the Ancient Artillerists of Boston. Aside from the Mexican war, they have always been in active duty when either the General, State, or City government required military aid.

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Cochran, G.	Private	Mitchell, H. P.	Private
Cooper, E. S.	do	Paxton, J. R.	do
Davis, W. S.	do	Pemberton, A. J.	do
Devereux, R. G.	do	Pemberton, C.	do
Ellis, R.	do	Potter, W. H.	do
Evans, G. G.	do	Reakirt, E. L.	do
Evans, H. Y.	do	Relf, J. D.	do
Fassitt, J.B.	do	Richard, C. E.	do
Frazier, N., Jr.	do	Riddle, D. H.	do
Gilpin, G.	do	Rivinus, D. C. F.	do
Goddard, H. B.	do	Seitzinger, F. S.	do
Gray, R. E., Jr.	do	Sloan, A. V.	do
Grigg, J. W.	do	Sloan, B. H.	do
Harper, J. H.	do	Smith, Cooper	do
Haseltine, J. H.	do	Smith, E. W.	do
Haven, N. P.	do	Smith, S. E.	do
Hensley, A.	do	Taggart, C. F.	do
Horner, A.T. Jr.	do	Tevis, E. L.	do
Howell, W. H.	do	Thompson, J.	do
Jacobs, S. H.	do	Tucker, H.	do
Kane, R. P.	do	West, J., Jr.	do
Kuhn, H.	do	Wetherill, F. D.	do
Kuhn, J H.	do	White, E. W.	do
Keyser, C. S.	do	Whitehead, G. I.	do
Lieper, C. L.	do	Whilling, C. M.	do
Lowber, E., Jr.	do	Wilson, R. P.	do
M'Makin, L.	do	Wood, J. P.	do
Merritt, W. H.	do	Wood, W. W.	do
Middleton, G.	do	Wurts, W. N.	do

Roberts, A.	Private	Wagner, J. D.	Private
Rogers, W. E.	do	Watts, H. M.	do
Sharr">Sharr, E. H.	do	Welsh, J. L.	do
Smith, C. S.	do	White, E. W.	do
Smith, H. G.	do	Wilkins, J., Jr.	do
Snowden, A. L.	do	Wistar, Jones	do
Stevenson, C.	do	Wood, W. W.	do
Tevis, A.	do	Wright, Theodore	do
Thompson, A. L.	do