El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-07-15
WASHINGTON ATE
WITH CITY TROOP
Philadelphia Crack Troop
Fought at Brandywine;
Formed in IVA.

/ The first city troop of the first Penn
sylvania cavalry is the only troop in
g the regiment not designated by letter.
8 BY a special act Of congress. troops Of
. cavalry organized prior TO 1875 are per
mitted TO retain their ancient rights
and privileges. This troop has been in
continuous military existence since
177i. and has taken part IN every war.
with the exception of the Mexican war.
I in which no volunteer cavalry was used
! The troop also retains an additional
second lieutenant with title Of cor
net. the only cOrnet in the United States
service The present cornet is J.
Conyngham Stevens, banker OF Phila-
deiphia-
Participated In Every War.
The troop was organized in liza as a
troop of light horse, by IS men pledged
10 the side of the colonies, and Is the ;
oldest organization in the United States
that has maintained continuous active
military existence. and taken part in
every war in which volunteer cavalry
have served It was engaged in the bat
ties OF Trenton. Princeton, BrandyWlne.
and Germantown. and was honored by
Gen. Washington with personal letters
of thanks in 1777 and 1880. On Sept. Il.
1887. Gen Washington was the guest
of the troop at a dinner given in his
honor at the city tavern. In the civil
war. unGeE command OF 1dDI James,
the troop was the only volunteer cav
airy accepted under the first call Of
president Lincoln for three months
service During the war the troop fur
nished 81 officers TO the union army. of
whom six died on the battle field The |
original troop standard presented by |
Capt. Markoe in 1775. and now pre-
served in the armOry, is the earliest ex-
ample of Is stripes being used on an
American flag
Escorts TO Presidents.
It is the right Of THIS troop to act as
escort TO the president whenever an Of
fetal visit is paid TO Philadelphia This !
service has been rendered to four diff
ferent presidents on u occasions since !
1900 10 November. 1918 The troop in /
full dress uniform. takes the right OF |
the line in all parades of ceremony. this |
custom being recognized by the militia 1
laws OF Pennsylvania as being one Of |
the rights reserved for the Organiza- I
ton
There are now on the active roll So /
members. The troop is commanded by /
Capt J. Franklin McFadden.
First Lieut. George G Thayer is con- |
nected with the William Cramp Ship l
Building company
Second Lieut. William I Forbes is in |
the banking business
DR.. Ward Brinton. OF the medical re- !
serve corps. is attached by special per- /
mission TO the troop.
In Camp Stewart
The first Pennsylvania cavalry. COM /
ma nded by Col. John P. Woods. OF J
Philadelphia, is iH Camp Stewart, about /
three miles beyond the city pump sta
ton. The camp IS now beyond the !
formative period. The regiment has no
horses yet The equipment Is the /
same as that issued the regular cavalry,
with the exception Of the zaOer which
is of the older curved pattern, instead
Of the new straight saber of the reEu-
lars.
Haul Water by Hand.
Thursday night 20 men Of the second
squadron. under Corp stephen Madden,
of troop II. went TO the pump station
and hauled street department tank
wagon OF water back 10 Camp Stewart |
The difficulty of procuring water was
absolutely new to the Pensylvanians,
and the walk of two miles was dlstaste- /
full TO cavalrymen Who do not care 10
walk at all
With the first Pennsylvania cavalry
is Lieut. Col Samuel r Gleaves Of the
fist United States cavalry, formerly Of
the militia bureau in Washington. D c
Troop II. Has NietrOIa.
Troop H. commanded by Capt Charles
G. McGOyern, OF PittsburG, had vic
trola in camp and amuse themselves
with impromptU musicales each eve
ming
First Lieut. James J. Firestone. troop
II. pharmacist. graduate Of University
Of Pittsburg, won his commission from
private through all grades. He has
qualified as expert with the pistol. and
with the rifle.
Second Lieut. John H Shenkel, troop !
H. is a bookkeeper in PittsburS-
First Sergt. Ralph H Gillen. troop
H. has been with the troop since 1912.
Capf- McGovern Is Years in Service.
Capt. Charles c. McGovern. troop II,
has been with the regiment % years
Sergt Fred Peters, troop H was for
merly with the fifth L. s cavalry.
Sergt Fred r. hoeber. entered the
regiment in 1904.
Sergt Walter S Kelley has served
one enlistment in the 144th L. s coast
artillery.
Corp. Stephen Madden served in the
fifth L. 5 cavalry. and is an eXtrOoper
of the famous Pennsylvania mounted