Stephen Moylan Stephen Moylan ( 1737 – April 11 , 1811 ) was an Irish American patriot leader during the American Revolutionary War . He had several positions in the Continental Army including Muster - Master General , Secretary and Aide to General George Washington , 2nd Quartermaster General , Commander of The Fourth Continental Light Dragoons and Commander of the Cavalry of the Continental Army . Early life . Stephen Moylan was born to a prominent Catholic family in Cork , Ireland . His family sent him to be educated in Paris . Moylan then worked in Lisbon for three years in the family shipping firm . He settled in Philadelphia in 1768 to organize his own shipping firm . He was one of the organizers of the Friendly Sons of St . Patrick , an Irish - American fraternal organization , and served as its first president . Revolution . Moylan joined the American Continental Army in 1775 and was appointed Muster - Master General on August 11 , 1775 . Although his experience in the shipping industry afforded the United States a well qualified ship outfitter , who would help fit out the first ships of the Continental Navy . On March 5 , 1776 , he became secretary to General George Washington . He was promoted to Colonel and was appointed Quartermaster General in the American Continental Army on June 5 , 1776 . He resigned from this office on September 28 , 1776 . However , he continued to serve as a volunteer of General Washington ' s staff through December of 1776 . Moylan was appointed to command the 4th Continental Light Dragoons , also known as Moylan ' s Horse on January 3 , 1777 at Philadelphia . The regiment would be noted for taking the field in captured British Red Coats . However , they would see action in green coats at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11 , 1777 and the Battle of Germantown on October 4 , 1777 and end the year by protecting the Cantonment at Valley Forge . Col . Moylan succeeded General Pulaski as Commander of the Cavalry in March 1778 . Moylan ' s Horse would see action at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28 , 1778 . In the campaign of 1779 Col . Moylan and the 4th Dragoons would be stationed at Pound Ridge , New York and see action when the British raided Norwalk , Connecticut on July 11 , 1779 . Col . Moylan and the 4th Dragoons took part in the Battle of Springfield , New Jersey on June 23 , 1780 and General Anthony Wayne ' s expedition at Bull ' s Ferry , New Jersey on July 20 , 1780 . Col . Moylan commanded his Dragoons at the Siege of Yorktown in October 1781 , after which he was to take the cavalry to the Southern Campaign . However , his failing health caused him to leave the field and return to Philadelphia , where he constantly appealed to the Continental Congress to man , equip and maintain the Continental Dragoon Regiments . He was rewarded for his service by being breveted to brigadier general on November 3 , 1783 . Later life and family . Moylan was married to Miss Mary Ricketts Van Horne on September 12 , 1778 , and had two daughters , Elizabeth Catherine , and Maria . His two sons died as children . Stephen Moylan died in Philadelphia , April 11 , 1811 , and is buried there in St . Mary ' s Churchyard .