The Second Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. 75 THE SECOND TROOP PHILADELPHIA CITY CAVALRY. BY W. A. NEWMAN DORLAND, A.M., M.D., F.A.C.S. Major, Medical Corps, U. S. Army; formerly First Lieutenant and Surgeon of the Troop (April 1, 1898-November 10, 1903.) [For references see pp. 90-9^.1 (Continued from Vol. XLVIII, page 382.) Less than two months after the notable and unique parade of December 26,1799, the Second Troop partici- pated in the first celebration of Washington's birthday as a national holiday, which occurred in Philadelphia on February 22, 1800, under the auspices of the Pennsyl- vania Society of the Cincinnati.440 The Troop on this occasion held the place of honor in the line of parade, acting as the escort of the State Society of the Cincin- nati. The following was the announcement issued by the Society of the Cincinnati for this memorable event.441 11 CINCINNATI. "At a meeting of the Pennsylvania State Society of the Cincinnati, held at the State House, in Philadelphia, on the 21st of December, 1799, Brigadier Gen. Mac- pherson in the chair, [the following card was author- ized] : '' In pursuance of a resolution of the Standing Com- mittee of the Penn. Society of the Cincinnati, the mem- bers of the Cincinnati belonging to our Sister States, who may be in the city on Saturday the 22d instant; such officers of the late Eevolutionary army, not members of the Society; the officers of the late army, navy, and militia, are respectfully invited to join in a procession, to be formed at the State House precisely at 12 o 'clock 76 The Second Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. of said day, by the Penna. Soc. of Cincinnati, and pro- ceed from thence to the Eeformed Church,442 in Eace Street, where an Eulogium on the character of General Washington will be delivered before the Society, by one of its members. The procession will return in the same order in which it proceeds to the church.'' A subsequent notice states that,443 "Ladies and Gen- tlemen who have been furnished with cards of admis- sion to the German Church in Eace-street on Saturday next, are respectfully informed that no person with a transferred ticket will be admitted.'' The procession left the State House at the stated hour and moved down Chestnut Street to Third, to Eace, and up Eace to the German Eeformed Church near Fourth Street, where an eulogium upon the virtues of the late President was pronounced by Major William Jackson, the former Captain of the Second Troop.444 Among the distinguished gentlemen present on this occasion were President John Adams, Vice-President Thomas Jefferson, members of the Senate and House of Eepresentatives, and his Excellency Eobert Lister, the British Minister. The procession moved in the following order:— "Capt. McKean and the First City Troop Volunteer Cavalry, dismounted. "Music in mourning. Gen. Taylor with the Artillery. Gen. Macpherson. Capt. Higbee's company of Grenadiers. The Blues. Music in the centre playing ' Washington's March.' Germantown Light Infantry. Second City Troop Volunteer Cavalry. A led horse, caparisoned in full war-trappings, bearing a portmanteau, holster, saddle, and having thrown around him a pair of military jack-boots, a uniform coat, a sword, and a cocked hat. The Second Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. 77 The Society of the Cincinnati, having their badges covered with black ribbon. Officers of the army and navy. Officers of the militia of the city and county. This was the last notable event in Captain Singer's administration of the Troop, although he continued in office two years longer. It is interesting to note that at this time, and for many years thereafter, it was customary for the First and Second City Troops, in addition to their individual troop drills, to drill and parade together, and also at times, until the dissolution of the organization in 1800, in company with the Mac- pherson Blues, to whom they were attached.445 The first spring drill of the Second Troop in 1800 occurred on April 25, in obedience to the following order.:—446 "BSIPThe Second Troop of Philadelphia Cavalry, will meet on Friday next, 25th inst., at four o'clock in the afternoon, at the Menage in Chestnut street; com- pletely equipped. "ABRAHAM SINGER, Capt." A few days later the Troop reflected its staff of officers at the annual election, which was held in re- sponse to the following notice:—449 "The Second Troop of Philadelphia Cavalry, will meet on Monday evening next [May 12], at Mr.Ogden's tavern, Chestnut street, at seven o 'clock in the evening, for the purpose of electing officers, agreeably to the militia law. "ABRAHAM SINGER, Capt. "May 10, [1800]." Save for the customary Fourth of July celebration and the dissolution of the Macpherson Legion in the midsummer season, nothing of importance in the mili- tary line occurred until the Fall meeting of the Troop, 78 The Second Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. on October °1, 1800, pursuant to the following sum- mons :—450 "SECOND TEOOP OF CITY CAVALEY. "The members will meet at Mr. Ogden's tavern, in Chestnut street, on Friday evening [October 31], at 7 o 'clock. "ABRAHAM SINGER, Capt. "October 30, [1800]." In 1801 a new militia law was passed by the State Legislature, which in many of its provisions, failed to meet with popular approval. This law marked the es- tablishing of the pernicious system of "militia muster- ing," which was destined to last for over two score years, to the detriment of the militia and the scandaliz- ing of the communities the country over. By this law all men enrolled in the militia were compelled to turn out for muster on five different days in the year or be fined one dollar for every non-attendance.451 This obligation was the cause of considerable murmuring, since it necessitated the loss of valuable time from business duties, and predisposed to drunkenness and rioting. Numerous complaints were recorded, especi- ally among the infantrymen,452 who were drawn from the poorer classes, and could ill afford the time or the money collected as fines. The advent of Thomas McKean, Jun., as Brigade Major, marked the beginning of an era of a revival of interest and activity in the city military affairs. Al- most his first act upon assuming his office was the issu- ance of the following stirring notice:—453 ' * CITY MILITIA *' The discipline of the Brigade and a due collection of the FINES that may be incurred by absentees on the approaching days of muster, essentially depending on an adherence to the organization enjoined by law— The gentlemen commanding the different Eegiments and The Second Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. 79 Troops of Horse, will, it is confidently anticipated, re- port forthwith such vacancies as are in their respective corps, selecting and recommending at the same time, proper characters to fill the offices. This early inti- mation, published at the desire of the General of the Brigade, will, it is hoped, be indulgently received and promptly attended to by his brother officers. " THOMAS MCKEAN, JUNIOR/54 "Brigade Major. "Feb. 13,1802." In accordance with the usual custom, the officers of the First Division of Pennsylvania Militia assembled at noon on July 4,1802, at the State House, in uniform and with side arms, to congratulate the Governor of the Commonwealth on the anniversary of the day of Na- tional Liberty.455 Owing to the increasing pressure of business, Cap- tain Singer relinquished the command of the Second Troop, in 1802, after a term of service covering nine years of unusually active military life. He was suc- ceeded by Joseph Borden McKean, the Attorney Gen- eral of the State, who, however, officiated as Captain but a few months and was succeeded, early in 1803, by Thomas Willing Francis. CHAPTEB XV CAPTAIN JOSEPH BOBDEN MCKEAN.456 Joseph Borden McKean, eldest son of Governor and Chief Justice Thomas McKean (born March 19, 1734; died June 24, 1817) and Mary Borden (born in 1744; died March 12,1773) was born in Newcastle, Delaware, on Sunday, July 28, 1764. He acquired his education in the College of Philadelphia [University of Pennsyl- vania], which institution he entered in 1779, graduating in 1782, and subsequently receiving his Master ?s degree on May 30, 1811. Taking up the study of law, he was 80 The Second Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. admitted to the Philadelphia bar on September 10, 1785, and to the Chester County bar the same year. On July 30, 1785, he took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania. On April 13,1786, when 22 years old, he was married, in the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, to Hannah (Born December 12, 1764; died in Philadelphia, March 2, 1845, in her 81st year), daughter of Colonel Samuel Miles (died Dec. 29, 1805,) and Catherine Wister. Six days later, on April 19, 1786, he was elected a member of the First City Troop, of which organization he was the First Corporal in 1794, during the "Whisky Insur- rection. He was re-elected to this office in 1796, and on August 15,1803, was commissioned Second Lieutenant. He was placed on the Honorary Eoll of this Troop on November 19,1803. On account of his services during the Whisky Insurrection, McKean with about thirty other members of the three City Troops became in- volved in a quarrel with William Duane, Editor of ((The Aurora," in 1799, which ultimately became a political issue. The suit instituted by Duane, finally resulted in an acquittal. On October 31,1789, Mr.