Pottsville in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
In Memory of the First Defenders and Nicholas Biddle
Photographed By Frederick Bothwell, December 2019
1. Marker is mounted on Southwest face of monument plinth
First man to shed blood in the Civil War April 18,1861
Erected 1951 by Erected by the Citizens of Pottsville.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 18, 1861.
Location. 40° 41.04′ N, 76° 11.934′ W. Marker is in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in Schuylkill County. Memorial is on West Market Street (Pennsylvania Route 209) 0 miles west of North 5th Street, in the median. The marker is affixed to the Southwest face of a monument in the median strip of West Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pottsville PA 17901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Spanish War Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); Yuengling -America's Oldest Brewery (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); John O'Hara (about 600 feet away); John K. "Jack" Schneider (about 600 feet away); Joseph L. Warne, M. D. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mahantongo and South Second Streets (approx. 0.2 miles away); Burd Patterson (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Pott (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pottsville.
More about this marker. The monument has four bronze military figures around its plinth
this page online
Regarding In Memory of the First Defenders and Nicholas Biddle. According to other sources, the first U.S. casualty at the outbreak of hostilities was Daniel Hough, an Irish immigrant soldier who died at Fort Sumpter on April 14, 1861, four days before Nicholas Biddle, who was injured during a civil disturbance at a train station in Baltimore several days later.
Also see . . .
1. Nicholas Biddle; The Civil War's First Blood. HistoryNet website entry (Submitted on April 17, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. First Casualty of the Civil War Disputed. Irish Central website entry (Submitted on December 31, 2019, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas.)
Additional keywords. Claimed Historic First, Historical dispute
Library of Congress
2. Nick Biddle,
of Pottsville, Pa., the first man wounded in the great American Rebellion, "Baltimore, April 18, 1861"
Photo by W. R. Mortimer
Photo by W. R. Mortimer
Photographed By Frederick Bothwell, December 2019
3. Inscription Below First Defenders Marker
"Love, honor, renown, and lasting remembrance for those who fought for freedom and an imperiled country. May posterity profit by their example. DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI" ("It is sweet and proper to die for one's country" is a line from the Odes of the Roman poet Horace.)
Photographed By Frederick Bothwell, December 2019
4. Pottsville Civil War Monument
The monument and the figure atop the column face northeast. The Defenders/Biddle marker is mounted on the southwest face of the plinth. The four uniformed figures atop the plinth represent an Infantry soldier with a rifle, a Cavalryman with a saber, an Artilleryman with a ramrod, and a sailor with a sailor hat.
Photographed By Frederick Bothwell, December 2019
5. Medallion On Base Of Monument
This medallion is mounted on the northeast face of the base.
The Mebane Greeting Card Co., Wilkes-Barre, PA.
6. Early Postcard (ca 1930-1945)
Image found in online collection of Boston Public Library, Print Department. There appears to be a large marker on the northeast face of the monument which is now missing.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2019, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. This page has been viewed 579 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 31, 2019, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. 2. submitted on January 20, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 31, 2019, by Frederick Bothwell of Georgetown, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
