For the commemoration of the Centennial, the Governor of Pennsylvania issued official invitations to the Governors of these 13 states requesting their co-operation. On July 4, 1876, the Centennial parade consisted of a formation, which, up to that time, had never been attempted. Each state was represented by one of its own military commands. “The Centennial Legion” was born.
The following is a list of the original commands together with their location and year of origin:
New Haven Grays 1816 – Connecticut
American Rifles 1875 – Delaware
The Clinch Rifles 1852 – Georgia
Fifth Regiment Infantry 1774 – Maryland
Boston Light Infantry 1798 – Massachusetts
The Amoskeag Veterans 1854 – New Hampshire
Phil Kearney Guards 1868 – New Jersey
Old Guard City of New York 1826 – New York
Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry 1793 – North Carolina
State Fencibles Infantry 1813 – Pennsylvania
First Light Infantry Regiment 1818 – Rhode Island
Washington Light Infantry 1807 – South Carolina
Norfolk Blues Artillery 1828 – Virginia