First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry

05/25/2026

For almost 250 years the Troop’s members have been putting their lives on the line in defense of Liberty. Today we honor the memories of the Troopers and other service members who sacrificed their lives for that cause.

05/07/2026

in 1898, members of the "Pennsylvania Division" were sworn into Federal service for the Spanish American War.

On April 21, 1898, the United States declared war against Spain and President William McKinley called for 125,000 volunteers, triggering the largest call to arms in the United States since 1861. Four days later Pennsylvania Gov. Daniel Hastings ordered the National Guard of Pennsylvania, or NGP, to muster at Mount Gretna in Lebanon County for state service.

With no legal requirement for the National Guard to serve beyond the coastal boundaries of the country, 97% of those enrolled in the NGP volunteered for federal service and were allowed to enroll as complete units. Pennsylvania was given a quota to assemble 10,800 men for war service, and between May 6 and July 22, 12,000 officers and men were mustered in.

The Division itself did not enter service during the war, but several of it's subordinate units did. Though no Pennsylvania National Guard units would serve in the fighting in Cuba itself, Pennsylvania soldiers of the 4th and 16th Infantry, along with its three artillery batteries, and the mounted cavalrymen of Governor’s Troop, Sheridan Troop and First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry would see action in Puerto Rico, and the "Fighting Tenth" Infantry would see action in the Philippines. Today battle streamers can be seen for these mobilizations on the colors of individual companies across the state, and the battalion/group colors of the 1st Battalion 110th Infantry Regiment, 1st and 2d Battalions 112th Infantry, and 213th Regional Support Group.

For more on the 28th Infantry Division and the Spanish American War, check out this article: https://www.pa.ng.mil/Site-Management/News-Article-View/Article/3384370/pa-guard-mobilized-for-spanish-american-war-125-years-ago/

04/21/2026

Many of our followers are familiar with First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry and their very distinct uniforms. But did you know this historic unit is the only one of its type in the nation - complete with an official designation by the National Guard Bureau?

03/17/2026

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! ☘️

On Saturday, Troopers served as the color guard for the 255th annual gala for the Society of The Friendly Sons & Daughters of St. Patrick - Philadelphia, PA. Taoiseoch (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin was the guest of honor.

Troopers present at the gala are featured in the photograph with Taoiseach Martin before the portrait of President Ulysses S. Grant, whose maternal grandfather was born in County Tyrone. In 1879, after his presidency, he became the first U.S. President to visit Ireland.

03/10/2026

03/05/2026

John Dunalp (Trooper #11), served as the Troop’s fifth Captain. In commemoration of Ireland’s historic and cultural ties with the United States, Ireland’s postal service, An Post, produced a stamp with his likeness. The First City Troop provided the image used for this commemorative stamp. 🇺🇸🇮🇪☘️

Linked article:
Ireland’s postal service, An Post, commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence with a Feb. 26 stamp featuring John Dunlap, the Irish immigrant who printed the first copies of the document.

The nondenominated (€3.95) stamp covers the rate for standard letters sent internationally.

“The history of modern Ireland is inextricably linked with that of the US,” An Post said, adding that more than six million Irish-born people have emigrated to the United States since 1820.

John Dunlap emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia much earlier, around 1757, as a young boy and apprenticed as a printer and bookseller with his uncle, William Dunlap.

Dunlap eventually bought his uncle’s printing business and served as an officer during and after the Revolutionary War.

On the night of July 4, 1776, he printed approximately 200 broadside copies of the Declaration of Independence. Only a small number of these “Dunlap broadsides” survive today.

In addition to government printing, Dunlap published newspapers, books and official documents, including journals of the Continental Congress. He later printed the U.S. Constitution in partnership with David Claypool.

Ireland and the United States have recognized the ties between the two countries on several previous stamp issues. James Hoban (1755-1831), the Irish-American architect of the White House, is honored on a 1981 joint issue between the two countries (United States Scott 1935-1936 and Ireland Scott 504).

Subjects of other joint issues between the two countries include singer John McCormack (United States Scott 2090 and Ireland Scott 594) and immigration to the United States from Ireland (United States 3286 and Ireland 1168).

Ireland issued four stamps (Scott 389-392) in 1976 to celebrate the American Bicentennial, and in 2024 issued a stamp (Scott 2427) recognizing 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the United States.

When discussing the new Declaration of Independence stamp, An Post said: “Today, as before, government relations between the United States and Ireland are based on shared ancestral ties and values in politics and economics; in medical research and education; and in extensive cooperation in culture and the arts.”

The self-adhesive stamp measures 30 millimeters by 40.5mm. Royal Joh. Enschede printed the stamp by lithography in sheets of four.

A first-day cover is included with the issue. The pictorial postmark shows the text “America 1776 2026” set in a script typeface.

The American Declaration of Independence 250 Years stamp and FDC are available through the An Post website at www.anpost.com/shop.

https://www.linns.com/news/world-stamps-postal-history/ireland-stamp-recognizes-the-250th-anniversary-of-the-american-declaration-of-independencerl

Society of The Friendly Sons & Daughters of St. Patrick - Philadelphia, PA | irish_immigration_philly | irishedition

The stamp features John Dunlap, the Irish immigrant who printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence.

02/21/2026

John Dunlap, fifth Captain of the Troop.

Trooper #11

Few passersby stop to look at the tarnished, old plaque the Society of Professional Journalists placed on the building 50 years ago. Yet, it marks an important American Revolution site.

01/29/2026

Please join us in supporting the Museum of the American Revolution (MAR) for USA TODAY’s Best Museum contest. Founded in 1774, the Troop participated in the battles and efforts that established our nation. Please help the MAR, an organization sharing that story, reach the top of the list!

You can vote daily all the way through February 9th.

The Museum of the American Revolution is located in Philadelphia just steps away from Independence Hall and serves as a portal to the region's many Revolutionary sites. The museum offers immersive galleries, a vast collection of period objects, and programs to help visitors gain a deeper understandi...

01/03/2026

Princeton (3 Jan 1777)
Trenton was reoccupied on December 30. The Troop performed critical reconnaissance the next day. Twelve Troopers under Colonel Joseph Reed, the Adjutant General, captured eleven dragoons within sight of the enemy’s main army. As Lord Cornwallis occupied the lines across from Trenton, Washington slipped the Army out at night and marched on Princeton. Units of Pennsylvania Militia, the rear of the Continental Army, were panicked and routed by fifty British dragoons during the night march. The dragoons then encountered twenty-two Troopers aligned abreast blocking the road. After consideration the dragoons withdrew and the Troop marched on Princeton.

During the climax of the Battle of Princeton, General Washington, with many Troopers by his side, led the counterattack against the British. The Troop charged in “the fine Fox-chase” and the Army routed three British regiments that day. General Washington withdrew the Army to Morristown before Cornwallis could bring up his superior forces. The successful rear guard action by the Troop saved the artillery train. “The ten days that changed the world” were over. It would be four long years until Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown but the Republic would prevail. General Washington relieved the Troop on January 23rd and they returned to Philadelphia.

https://firsttroop.com/history/

Photo Credit: PA National Guard (https://www.pa.ng.mil/Site-Management/News-Article-View/Article/3685576/first-troop-philadelphia-city-cavalry-to-celebrate-250th-birthday/)

12/26/2025

“Sullivan was supported by the brigades of Brigadier General St. Clair, Colonel Glover and Colonel Sargent and the batteries of Captains Neil, Hugg, Moulder and Sargent; Greene, by the brigades of Brigadier Generals Stephen, Mercer, Lord Stirling and de Fermoy, Captain Morris’ Philadelphia troop of light horse and the batteries of Captains Forrest, Bauman and Hamilton.”

https://www.trentonhistory.org/His/battles.html