- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
- Location
- N.E. Pa. 100 miles N. of gettysburg
The Washington Artillerists and the National Light Infantry, both recruited from Pottsville Schuylkill County Pennsylvania, became known as the first defenders. Both units arrived in Washington on April 18, 1861 and were two of the first units to enter the Capital.
One of Schuylkill County's claim to fame is having the first casualty of the Civil War. The First Defenders went from Harrisburg to Baltimore by train, arriving in Balt. they had to march across town to another railroad station. There they would board another train with a direct line to Washington. As the men marched through town. the mostlty unarmed recruits were assulted by a mob of southern sympathizers. Some began hurling rocks and bricks. One of the missiles found it's mark when it struck Nicholas Biddle, the colored servent of Captain James Wren of the Washington Artillery. Biddle was struck on the head by a brick, receiving a serious gash, along with the honor of being the first person to shed blood in the defense of the Union. The irony was that Biddle a black servant for a white Union officer, was the first to shed blood in a war which historians have noted as a conflict aimed at the destruction of slavery...
(Schuylkill Living Magazine)
One of Schuylkill County's claim to fame is having the first casualty of the Civil War. The First Defenders went from Harrisburg to Baltimore by train, arriving in Balt. they had to march across town to another railroad station. There they would board another train with a direct line to Washington. As the men marched through town. the mostlty unarmed recruits were assulted by a mob of southern sympathizers. Some began hurling rocks and bricks. One of the missiles found it's mark when it struck Nicholas Biddle, the colored servent of Captain James Wren of the Washington Artillery. Biddle was struck on the head by a brick, receiving a serious gash, along with the honor of being the first person to shed blood in the defense of the Union. The irony was that Biddle a black servant for a white Union officer, was the first to shed blood in a war which historians have noted as a conflict aimed at the destruction of slavery...
(Schuylkill Living Magazine)
Bringing the