The Gentlemen of Gloucester

This is an account of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, a Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit founded in 1774 and still going strong. Stodgy in some ways, wild and fun-loving in others, the Troop is a fascinating organization that reflects the quirkiness that makes Philadelphia unique among major American cities. By 18th-century tradition, Troopers serve without pay and elect their own officers, all with a blend of Quaker humility and Cavalier panache.