History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 41

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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1 First City Treep is the medern name of a company organized in oticipation of hostilities breaking ent between Americe and Great Britain by twenty-eight gentlemen of Philadelphia, on the 17th of No- ember, 1774. They adopted the title of the Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia. The original members were Abraham Markoe, Andrew Allen, Samuel Morris, James Messe, Thomas Leiper, William llall, amuel Penrose, Samuel Howell, James Hunter, James Budden, Joho Dunlap, John Mease, Robert Hlare, William Pollard, Henry Hill, John Boyle, William Tod, John Mitchell, George Campbell, Samuel Caldwell, evi Hollingsworth, Blair McClenachan, George Graff, Benjamin Ran- lelph, Thomas Peters, George Fullerton, Andrew Caldwell, William West, Jr.

These persone, equipped at their own expense, chose their own officers, ad volunteered their services to the Continental Congress. The officers vere as follows: Abraham Markoe, captain ; Andrew Allen, first lien- enant ; Samuel Morris, second lieutenent and adjutant ; James Mease, ornet; Themus Mense, first sergeant; William Hall, second sergeant; Samuel Penrose, third sergeant and quartermaster; Samuel Howell, irst corporal ; James Hunter, second corporal.

The uniform adopted at the organization was a dark-brown short oat, faced and lined with white; white vest and breeches; high-top boots; reund black hat bound with silver cord; a buck's tail, fastened n front or at the side of the hat ; housings browu, edged with white and the lettere "L. H." worked on them. The arms were a carbine, with white belt, a pair of pistole and holster, with flounces of brown cloth rimmed with white ; a horsemen's eword, with white helt.

Capt. John Markee presented to the company, in the enrly part of 775, a handsome silk standard, which embodied the earliest use of the hirteen atripes to symbolize the American colonies or States. The flag was forty inches long and thirty-four inches brend, the canton was twelve

It was stated when the dome of Lailson's circus, on Fifth Street near Prune, fell in, July 8, 1798, that a company of cavalry had been exercising in the ring a short time previously. It was during the period that

and a half inches long and mine and a half inches wide. The field of the flag was yellow, the achievement in the centre of the flag is azure, a round kaot of three interlacings, with thirteen divergent, wavy, bellied, double-foliated ends, or the scrolled edging of the shield was guld, with onter aud inner rims of silver. The crest, without a wreath, was a horse's head bay, with a white star in the forehead, bitted and bridled. Que supporter was an American Indian, with bow and quiver, grasping a gold rod upholding a lilne liberty-cap. The other supporter was an angel, or a figure of Fame blowing a trumpet. The motto beneath the shield, on a floating silver scroll, upon the upcurled ende of which stood the supporters, was " For these we strive." The monogram " L. H." was above the shield. A ruaning vine bordered the flag on all sides except that nearest the staff. The outside fringe was of silver bullion twist. The cutton of the flag ie "barry" of thirteen azure and argent (blue and silver). There are seven azure and six argent stripes, The staff was of rich dark wood in three ferruled divisions, screwing together with an upper ferrule and spear-head of solid silver. The knot of thirteen ends, the canton of thirteen stripes, are of most interesting historical significauce, because they present the first idea of thirteen stripes for a national flag. This flag was paid for in two separate bills, one on the 8th, and the other on the 16th, of September, 1775. It was probably finished some time before that period. In 1797, Mrs. Elizabeth Powel presented to the Troop a standard of bright bine eatin. The device, the same on both sides, was en eagle with outspead wings, painted in gold shaded with purple and red, and holding in its mouth a ribbon, on which is ioscribed the words "ad astra." A shield on the breast of this eagle has painted upon it the arms of Pennsylvania.

A detachment of the Troop was sent, in October, 1775, under com- mand of Quartermaster Levi Hollingsworth, to Fort Ticonderoga with "a quantity of money for Gen. Schuyler." About the same time Private Samuel Caldwell, with a detachment, escorted a wagon with five hun- dred thousand dollars' worth of money for the nee of the army in Massachusetts Bay. A detachment of the company served nuder Brig .- Gen. Hugh Mercer io New Jersey in August, 1776, The Troop was in service during the operatione in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which resulted in the battles of Trenton and Princeton in 1776 and 1777. They were discharged by Washington Jan. 23, 1777. The corps was in service again in September, 1779, and marched as far as Princeton. The members were under orders in June, 1780, and were employed frequently in eecert duty and other service during the Revo- lutionary war.

In the campaign of 1794 against the insurgents of the western conn- ties of Pennsylvania, who had opposed the excise laws of the United States (commonly called the whiskey war), the Troop was in service three months, and marched as far as Pittsburgh. In 1799 the Troop marched upon the Northampton expedition (the hot water war), and was on duty seventeen days.

In 1810 there were six troops of horse in the city, and they formed & regiment of cavalry, of which Robert Wharton, who had been captain of the Troop, was elected colonel.

In 1814, during the war with Great Britain, the Troop was upon vidette duty in Delaware and Maryland. They stretched over froor Monat Bull at Turkey Point, ou Chesapeake Bay, thurteen miles below Elkton, over to the Delaware. It was their duty to transmit any important intelligence, upon which, the alarm being sent to Fort Mifflin and the arsenal, six signal gune were ordered to be fired in quick succession, and the drums of the city were to be beat to arms. Upon this the orders by Brig .- Gen. Joseph Bloomfield, commanding the Fourth District, were that the militia should parade completely equipped for the field "right upon Chestnut extending southwardly ou Broad Street." The company wae in service from the 28th of August to the 12th of December, 1814. There were sixty-seven officers and members engaged in that duty.

At the breaking out of the Southern Rebellion the Treop tendered its services to the government on the 15th April, 1861. Over four thousand dellare was subscribed for the purchase of horsee and uniforme for new members, minor officers, and the company's servants, and also to form a company fund. The troopers were millstered into the service of the United States for ninety days on the 13th of May. The ordinary com- pany uniform was very handsome, hut was now inid aside, The dark- blue and erange of the United States dragoons, regular cavalry service,

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

war existed between the United States and France. There were a large number of volunteer military organizations at the time. The cavalry found no difficulty in the pleasant seasons of the year in obtaining lots and fields not far from the city for purposes of drill exercise, and might occasionally, as was done by the First City Troop, occupy a riding-school. It would be interesting to know what armory accommodations there were for the large regimental and battalion organizations which ex- isted after the Revolution. McPherson's Blues was composed of artillery, grenadiers, and light infantry, probably fifteen hundred men. Shee's Legion included a large number of independent companies. During the war of 1812, and afterward, there were seven companies of Washington Guards, two companies of Union Guards, and many inde- pendent single companies. These organizations had headquarters somewhere. The companies had places of meeting and drill, probably in the public rooms of taverns. In spring, summer, and autumn the broad walks in the State-House yard were much used, especially in the evenings, for marching and other exercises of volunteers.

Public-houses were the usual places for company armories, and as most of those organizations were scarcely ever in membership up to regulation, closets for accoutrements and racks for muskets would not take up much space.

One of the earliest volunteer companies to estab- lish an armory of its own separate from the accom- modations of a public-house, was the National Grays, Capt. Peter Fritz. The second story of the building at the southeast corner of Dock Street and Bank Alley [Gold Street] was secured for that purpose, and fitted up neatly with racks for arms and other military necessities. There was not much room for company drill, but for the preparation of ordinary parades the space was sufficient. About 1860 the company removed its armory to the southwest corner of Walnut and Ninth Streets. For the three months' service, in 1861, the Grays sent two companies, which were attached to the Seventeenth Regiment, Col. F. E. Patterson, viz., Company B, Capt. Peter Fritz ; Company II, Capt. John Maxwell.

was word. The Troop marched from the place of rendezvous on & lot back of the Academy of Music, on the 20th of May, took cars by Penn- sylvania Railroad, and proceeded to Carlisle, where it was attached to the Second United States Cavalry, commanded by Col. (afterward Maj .- Gen.) George HI. Thomas. In subsequent movements the Troop was attached to the division operating in Northern Virginia, under Maj .- Geu. Robert Patterson. It remained in service uutil August 14th, aud was then sent home.

The following is the roll of captains of the Light-llorse, which, after the Revolution, was known as the First Troop Philadelphia City Cav- alry : 1774-70, Abraham Markve; 1776-86, Samuel Morris ; 1786-91, Samuel Miley; 1792-94, Christian Febiger ; 1794-1803, John Duulap; 1803-11, Robert Wharton; 1811-17, Charles Roys ; 1817-25, John R. C. Smith ; 1825-27, Lyuford Lardner : 1827-42, William 11. Hart; 1842-47, John Butler ; 1850-63, Thomas C. James; 1866-69, Fairman Rogers ; 1869-77, M. Edward Rogers; 1877-78, A. Loudou, Snowden; 1878, Edward Burd Grubb.

About 1830, and afterward, the Washington Blues, Capt. William C. Patterson, and State Fencibles, Capt. James Page, occupied the third story of the building in Library Street, between Fourth and Fifth, formerly occupied by Labbe's saloon and danc- ing-school, and then used as a tavern, and called, by reason of its tenancy by volunteer organizations, "Military Hall." The Second State Fencibles, Capt. Murray, the Union Fencibles, Capt. Robert M. Lee, and other companies occupied that building. Just before the outbreak of the Rebellion, the Washington Blues, then commanded by Capt. John M. Gosline, had their armory in the third story of the building at the northwest corner of Sixth and Chestnut Streets, and there was recruited the regiment known as Gosline's Zouaves, Pennsylvania Volunteers.

After the first company of State Fencibles removed from Military Hall it established its armory in the Union Building, northeast corner of Eighth and Chestnut Streets. Subsequently the company re- moved to an upper story of the large iron-front building belonging to William M. Swain, of the Public Ledger, on the north side of Chestnut Street, west of Fifth, and immediately opposite the State- House. The Fencibles were drilling and exercising in that room at the outbreak of the Rebellion, and a contingent consisting of two companies were enlisted there for the three months' service.1

The Light Artillery Corps Washington Grays, under the command of Capt. Thomas P. McAdam and others, established their armory at the Union Building, corner of Eighth and Chestnut Streets, about 1837-38. They occupied the northern room in the fourth story, which was long and convenient for drill and exercise. The Philadelphia Grays, Capt. George Cadwalader, had

1 The company of State Feucibles was organized in 1813 by Capt. Clement C. Biddle, and marched on the 26th of August, 1814, under orders to the State of Delaware. After this company and others had arrived at Camp Bloomfield, at Keaoett Square, Pa., the first regiment of volunteer infantry was organized at camp. Cupt. Biddle of the Fen- cibles was elected colonel, and resigoed his company command. At this time the following were the officers: Hartman Kuhn, captain; Henry J. Williams, first lieutenant ; Isaac W. Norris, second lieuteosot ; Peter A. Canonge, third lieutenant; John M. Call, ensign; William Ker, William L Soatag, Joseph B. Mckean, William Young, William Phillips, sergeants; Thomas C. Rockhill, Edward D. Coxe, P. F. Foa- tanges, Thomas Willing, Jr., Joseph T. Clement, and John C. Patton, corporals.

Besides these sixteen officers there were one hundred nnd twelve privates and noe musician. The company served as part of the advance Light Brigade, under Brig .- Gen. Thomas Cadwalader, from the latter part of August until December, nud some of the soldiers until January, 1815. Capt. Kuhn was succeeded in command by James Page, who was a private at Camp Bloomfield. He was at the head of the company for many years. The organization was spirited and popular. It was effective on many occasions when the presence and support of military force was necessary for the preservation uf the public peace. Capt. Page resigned in 1860. In 1861 the company took its part in the three months' service, upon the requisitiou of the general government ; firet company under the command of Capt. John Miller ; second company, Capt, Theodoro Hesser. They were attached to the Eighteenth Infantry Regiment, commanded by Col. Francis E. Patterson. After the conclu- sion of the war, Julin W Ryan was elected captain, and the Fencibles grew so strong that a battalion was organized, of which Maj. Johu W. Ryan was for some yemis commander.

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the adjoining room on the same floor to the south. These companies in uniform accoutrements were so nearly alike that the easiest method to distinguish them was by the device on the diamond-shaped plate in front of their caps, or by the fact that one company had a brass guard chain on the back of the cap while the other had no such ornament. The Washington Grays removed after some years to the Franklin Build- ing in Sixth Street below Arch. They occupied that room, which was spacious, and extended over the whole building, for some years. At the outbreak of the Rebellion two companies were raised there for the three months' service. Subsequently the Grays removed their armory to the upper story of a building in Lardner [now Westmoreland] Street, between Broad and Fif- teenth, adjoining Horticultural Hall. The company occupied that apartment for drill and exercise at a time when practically, by virtue of an order under authority of the commander-in-chief of the National Guard, its distinctive organization-historic in char- acter, dating from 1824, of which its members had cause to be proud-was broken up, and the Washing- ton Grays became only an ordinary company in a regiment, and distinguished by a letter.1

After the Philadelphia Grays left Eighth and Chest- nut Streets, they fitted up an armory over a forwarding warehouse and depot in Market Street above Eighth, but were not long at that place. The resignation of Capt. George Cadwalader resulted practically in the breaking up of the company, not immediately, but as a necessary consequence. He had spent individually a great deal of money to keep up the spirit of the

1 The Light lofantry Corps Washington Graye was established April 19, 1822. The first commander was Capt. Jolin Swift. He was succeeded by Cephas G. Childs. Among subsequent commanders were Joseph Worrell, Cephas G. Childe a second time, Thomas McAdam, Peler C. Ellmaker. On the 12th of June, 1827, the name of the corps was changed frem Light Infantry to Light Artillery Corps Washington Graye. In 1843 the company was attached to the First Regiment of artillery. Although occasionally exercising with light artillery, the most of the services of the company was as infantry.

In 1861, Thomas P. Parry was commander, and in service during the three months' campaign in Virginia on the first requisition for troops in 1861, and attached to Cel. F. E Patterson's Seventeenth Pennsylvania Regiment. A second company was commanded by Capt. Alexander Murphy.

This company, by its fine military appearance, particularly attracted the attention of Gen. Lafayette on his visit to Philadelphia in 1824, and elicited come complimentary remarks. The corps elected Lafayette an honorary member at his request, and escorted him out of the city when he proceeded on the tour through the United States, Among the mili- tary servicen of the company were those given during the " Buckshot War" at Harrisburg in 1838, assistance in suppressing the riots in South- wark and Kensington in 1844, and at other times. The company ten- dered its services during the Mexican war, but the government did not accept. Several of its members and officers served with distinction in that contest. The company served in the field during the rebel raide in Pennsylvania in 1862 and in IS63. The Grays being an exceedingly well-drilled and disciplined body of soldiers in time of peace, proved to be when the Rebellion broke out a school for officers. The corps fur- nished to the United States army during the war eeven generale and one hundred and seventy-nine field and line officers, seventeen of whom were killed in battle. On the 19th of April, 1872, the Grays dedicated a monument to the memory of their comrades killed during the Rebel- lion at Girard Avenue and Broad Street.

organization, and to make it prominent among local corps. The flying artillery drills, for which the Phil- adelphia Grays were celebrated about 1842-43, were costly in the expense of horses, drivers, ammunition, etc.

Those exercises usually took place on the west side of the Schuylkill, back of Harding's Tavern, at the Upper Ferry, and beyond the narrow confines of Mantua village, which was then near the Schuylkill. The artillery had command of a large field of from twenty-five to thirty acres, where there was plenty of room for horses and men. The drills were usually witnessed by thousands of spectators.

The infantry corps, National Guards (now Second Regiment), was originally organized as a company on the 11th of December, 1840, by a number of citizens of what was then the district of Spring Garden. On the 7th of January of the following year (1840), Thomas Tustin was elected captain. The company made its first parade on the 22d of February, 1841, and mustered forty-eight muskets. In 1845, Capt. Tustin was succeeded in command by Stephen B. Kingston, and he in turn gave place, two years later (1847), to Peter Lyle, who was orderly sergeant of the original company, to whose efficient adminis- tration the corps owes its deservedly high reputation as a military organization. C'apt. Lyle tendered the services of the company for the Mexican war, but, owing to the supply of troops being greater than the demand, the government declined the offer.

After a score of years' prosperity, the corps, on the twentieth anniversary of its organization (Dec. 11, 1860), was formed into the Second Regiment of eight companies, with Peter Lyle as its colonel. On the 16th of April, 1861, the regiment, increased to ten companies, entered the three months' service as the Nineteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, with Peter Lyle, colonel; D. W. C. Baxter, lieutenant-colonel ; and Jeremiah W. Fritz, major, and remained in service twenty-two days over its term of enlistment. The captains were,-A, John T. Durang; B, A. J. Sellers ; C, Harmanus Neff; D, Joseph Ellis; E, James M. Leddy ; F, William A. Gray; G, William H. MacFerran ; H, William A. Thorp; I, Charles F. Maguire; K, George Magee, Jr. On the 3d of Sep- tember, 1861, the regiment was again mustered into service for three years, as the Ninetieth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, with Col. Lyle still at its head. During the period of its enlistment the regiment par- ticipated in the following battles : Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Thorough- fare Gap, Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Ilouse, Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Rnn, Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Spottsylvania, Laurel Hill, Guinea Station, Tolopotomy, North Anna, South Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, White Oak Swamp, Petersburg, Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Rail- road, Poplar Springs, Ream's Station, and Hatcher's Run. On its return home its muster-ont roll showed

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

twenty-one men of the original enlistment as the rem- nant of nearly nineteen hundred recruited or drafted and forwarded to the regiment.

From the Second Regiment sprang other organiza- tions that did excellent service during the war. The Philadelphia Fire Zouaves, known as the Seventy- second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. D. W. C. Baxter, was principally recruited and officered from the members of the old National Guards. They also organized, with the aid of the Union League, a battalion, in 1862, under Maj. Jeremiah W. Fritz ; Fifty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, under Col. W. A. Gray; One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. Har- manus Neff; and Two Hundred and Thirteenth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Col. J. A. Gorgas, all of which organizations rendered efficient services during the war. It has been computed that over one thousand officers have graduated from the ranks of the Old Guards, where they received their first instruction in the school of the soldier.

The company of National Guards was organized principally among persons engaged in the transpor- tation service of the State on the Columbia Railroad. Their headquarters were originally in the neighbor- hood of Vine and Broad Streets. The company at a subsequent period had its armory in an upper story of the large iron-front building on Chestnut Street above Fifth, which belonged to William M. Swain. About the beginning of the year 1856, the company being flourishing, the members resolved to take meas- ures to build and furnish an armory for their own use. The first step was to obtain a charter of incor- poration. This was granted by act of April 9, 1856, by which Peter Lyle, George Magee, D. W. C. Baxter, Robert B. Quayle, Jeremiah W. Fritz, F. E. Wilcox, Alfred J. Sellers, John T. Durang, William B. Car- lisle, John S. Davis, William P. Davis, David P. Weaver, William Lindsay, and their associates, then members of the company, and all other persons who should thereafter become members, were incorporated as the "Infantry Corps of National Guards of the City of Philadelphia." Among other powers they were authorized to acquire " a suitable lot of ground with building thereon for the purposes of an armory and other proper and needful ones connected with the affairs thereof, with the necessary and convenient furniture, fixtures, and appliances." Under this authority the company, in the year 1857, purchased a lot of ground on the south side of Race Street, between Fifth and Sixth, being sixty feet front and one hundred and thirty feet deep. A large, high three-story brick building was erected, occupying the entire lot, and quite imposing in appearance. On the : of armories became of immediate importance. The first floor the passageway is in the middle. On each city was in possession of two large market-houses, in the neighborhood of Broad and Race Streets, which had been unsuccessful as business enterprises. It was determined to put these buildings to military use. By ordinance of the 14th of November, 1861, side are rooms for officers' regimental headquarters, reading- and writing-rooms, drilling, dressing, meet- ing, and store-rooms. On the second floor is a large hall with a high ceiling, occupying nearly the whole

space from Race Street to Cresson's Alley. It has been used for a drill-room and other regimental pur- poses, inspections, and occasionally as a public hall for lectures, fairs, concerts, and meetings. The third story is a large drill- and equipment-room for com- pany accommodations. This building, popularly known as the National Guards' Hall, cost with the ground a large amount of money. It was not only the muster-place of the regiment for the three months' service during the war, but also for a three years' regimental organization, and during a portion of the war was occupied as a United States army hospital. After the reorganization of the militia of Philadelphia County, after the conclusion of the war, the National Guards resumed its old number, the Second Regiment of Infantry.

At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion there was great excitement in the city. On the 19tb of April City Councils passed resolutions "extending the hospitalities of the city of Philadelphia to Maj. Robert Anderson, his officers and soldiers;" also "resolutions of sympathy with the citizens of Balti- more and Governor of Maryland ;" also " an ordi- nance to provide for the families of the volunteers in the service of the United States;" also an ordinance for the protection and defense of the city; also a resolution appropriating the city halls for military purposes ; also a resolution recommending citizens to form companies for the purpose of drilling. The ordi- nance for the defense and protection of the city was prefaced by a preamble, which declared " at this un- paralleled crisis in our national affairs, it is eminently proper that the city of Philadelphia should be placed in a condition of defense against any attack that might be made. And as arms and other munitions of war may be required here for the proper equipment of the Home Guard that are at our own disposal and can be used, should the occasion arise, for our own defense. Serving also as a means of drill to such companies as might wish to practice, and thus be well prepared at any moment to respond to their country's call as efficient artillerists." Fifty thousand dollars were appropriated for the purchase of arms or other munitions of war for the use of a Home Guard, or any other company that may hereafter be formed for the defeuse of the city. One week afterward two hundred thousand dollars were added to the appro- priation. Volunteering for the Home Guard soon followed, and much more than a company was em- bodied. There were a sufficient number of companies to form a brigade, for which there was a brigadier- general and staff. An act of Assembly, passed May 16, 1861, authorized such a measure. The question

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 41

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992