Pennsylvania First Defenders facts for kids
The Pennsylvania First Defenders were five special groups of volunteer soldiers from Pennsylvania. They were the first to answer U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s call. Their mission was to protect the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., right at the start of the American Civil War. These brave groups included the National Light Infantry and Washington Artillerists from Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Also, the Ringgold Light Artillery from Reading, Pennsylvania, the Logan Guards from Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and the Allen Infantry from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
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Protecting the Capital
The American Civil War began when Confederate soldiers attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Three days later, on April 15, President Abraham Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteer soldiers. He needed them to help stop the fighting.
The very first volunteer troops reached Washington, D.C. on April 18, 1861. It was 6:00 PM. These were the Pennsylvania First Defenders. There were 476 officers and soldiers in total. They stayed in the hallways and meeting rooms of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
Later that evening, the troops went to the Capitol basement. There, they received government weapons and ammunition. President Abraham Lincoln was there, along with Secretary of State William H. Seward and Secretary of War Simon Cameron. President Lincoln walked along the line, shaking hands with every single soldier.
A Dangerous Journey
On their way to Washington, D.C., the troops traveled by train. They boarded at Camden Station in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore was a large city where many people supported the Southern states.
Before a bigger riot happened the next day, the soldiers faced an angry crowd. People who supported the South threw bricks and stones at them. Many soldiers were hurt badly during this attack.
Nicholas Biddle's Story
One of the injured was sixty-five-year-old Nicholas Biddle. He was part of the Washington Artillerists. Nicholas Biddle was an African American man wearing a uniform. This made him an easy target for the angry crowd. He suffered a serious head wound that exposed his bone. Many believe he was one of the first people to bleed in the American Civil War.
Honoring the First Defenders
In December 1864, two members of the Washington Artillerists, Frances P. Dewees and Samuel R. Russel, wrote a letter. They sent it to Congressman A. G. Curtin of Pennsylvania. They explained how important the First Defenders' actions were at the start of the war. They asked for the men to receive a special medal.
On May 26, 1891, the government of Pennsylvania agreed. They set aside $1,500 to create these medals. Each medal was made of bronze. On the front, it showed the Capitol building. It also had the words: "First in Defence of the Capitol: April 18, 1861."
On the back of each medal, all five First Defender companies were listed. Below that, it said: "Medal of Honor Presented by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." Each medal also had the name of the soldier who received it.
