Overview
The Philadelphia City Cavalry, also known as the Philadelphia City Troop, was a historic independent cavalry unit from Pennsylvania. With origins dating back to the Revolutionary War and service in the War of 1812, the troop was mustered into United States service during the Civil War under a special order from the War Department. The unit served the Union and was primarily active in the Eastern Theater, participating in several short-term campaigns and emergency responses between 1861 and 1864.
Organization & Service
The Philadelphia City Cavalry was mustered into U.S. service on May 13, 1861, with Captain Samuel J. Randall in command. The troop was attached to General Robert Patterson’s army and participated in the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, including movements near Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). The unit’s initial term concluded with its mustering out at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on August 17, 1861.
In May 1862, the troop again offered its services to the government, but its offer was not accepted at that time. On June 18, 1863, the Philadelphia City Cavalry was called into service once more during the Gettysburg Campaign. The troop was ordered to Gettysburg and was present during the battle, though it did not engage in active combat. This period of service ended on July 31, 1863. The troop was again mustered for duty from July 11 to July 17, 1864, in response to renewed threats of invasion in Pennsylvania.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Shenandoah Valley Campaign (1861), including operations near Martinsburg
- Gettysburg Campaign (1863) – present at Gettysburg, not engaged in battle
- Pennsylvania Emergency Service (July 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the Philadelphia City Cavalry during its Civil War service are not detailed in available primary sources. The unit’s service was primarily in short-term emergency roles, and it did not report significant losses in battle.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Samuel J. Randall
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the Philadelphia City Cavalry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its various terms of service, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names and, when available, additional details about each member’s service.
To view the complete roster, visit the Philadelphia City Cavalry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 2
- Pennsylvania State Adjutant General’s Reports
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Vol. 1, Federal Publishing Company, 1908