Early 102nd Cavalry Insignia
Essex Troop Dress Helmet
ESSEX TROOP HISTORY
Before WWII- 102nd Cavalry
History of the Essex Troop
The Essex Troop was first organized
as a private group under the leadership
of Colonel James E. Fleming. The
original purpose of the Troop was to
provide a mounted honor guard for
civic occasions. The Troop's first
public appearance was on
Thanksgiving Day in 1893, when it was
reviewed by Governor Leon Abbett.
Early in the history of the Troop, it
was seen that its best interests would
be served by association with the
National Guard. On the night of May
17, 1893, the Troop was sworn into the
New Jersey National Guard and
designated "Cavalry," Company A.
One year later it became the "First
Troop".
In 1895, Colonel Fleming was
succeeded as Commander by Captain
Frederick Frelinghuysen. On March 4,
1913, after having been extended and
redesignated as "First Squadron
Cavalry", the honor of escorting
Woodrow Wilson in his inauguration as
President of the United States was
extended to the Troop, The Regiment.
The Troop received its baptism of
fire during the Mexican Border
Campaign. After serving for six months
in this campaign, the Troopers had
scarcely sheathed their sabers, when,
on July 28, 1917, they were again
called into federal service. The Troop
then became Headquarters Troop and
Companies A and B of the 104th
Military Police of the 29th Division.
Shortly after the Division arrived in
France it was ordered into the
Meuse-Argonne offensive, on
September 29, 1918. On July 23, the
216th MP Company containing 35 of
the original troopers was mustered out
of service at Camp Dix, N. J.
Captain Lewis B. Ballantyne
reorganized the Essex Troop as a
Squadron of Cavalry in 1920. In 1921,
the squadron was expanded and
designated the 102nd Cavalry
Regiment. Captain Ballantyne was
raised to the rank of Colonel and
placed in command of the Regiment. In
1937, Colonel Henry L. Moeller became
the Regimental Commander.
The rest is WWII History............
The Essex Troop was first organized
as a private group under the leadership
of Colonel James E. Fleming. The
original purpose of the Troop was to
provide a mounted honor guard for
civic occasions. The Troop's first
public appearance was on
Thanksgiving Day in 1893, when it was
reviewed by Governor Leon Abbett.
Early in the history of the Troop, it
was seen that its best interests would
be served by association with the
National Guard. On the night of May
17, 1893, the Troop was sworn into the
New Jersey National Guard and
designated "Cavalry," Company A.
One year later it became the "First
Troop".
In 1895, Colonel Fleming was
succeeded as Commander by Captain
Frederick Frelinghuysen. On March 4,
1913, after having been extended and
redesignated as "First Squadron
Cavalry", the honor of escorting
Woodrow Wilson in his inauguration as
President of the United States was
extended to the Troop, The Regiment.
The Troop received its baptism of
fire during the Mexican Border
Campaign. After serving for six months
in this campaign, the Troopers had
scarcely sheathed their sabers, when,
on July 28, 1917, they were again
called into federal service. The Troop
then became Headquarters Troop and
Companies A and B of the 104th
Military Police of the 29th Division.
Shortly after the Division arrived in
France it was ordered into the
Meuse-Argonne offensive, on
September 29, 1918. On July 23, the
216th MP Company containing 35 of
the original troopers was mustered out
of service at Camp Dix, N. J.
Captain Lewis B. Ballantyne
reorganized the Essex Troop as a
Squadron of Cavalry in 1920. In 1921,
the squadron was expanded and
designated the 102nd Cavalry
Regiment. Captain Ballantyne was
raised to the rank of Colonel and
placed in command of the Regiment. In
1937, Colonel Henry L. Moeller became
the Regimental Commander.
The rest is WWII History............
1890's Essex Troop Shako
1930's Full Dress Uniform- Essex
Troop
Troop