Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War

Look for your ancestors in this PA genealogy database of American Civil War soldiers - infantry, cavalry & artillery rosters, histories, biographies, draft, journals, letters, medal of honor recipients, prisoners of war (POWs), & pensions of our Pennsylvania military ancestors. Use this free Pennsylvania database to help with your genealogy search.

PA Civil War > First Defenders

PA Civil War Volunteer Soldiers

First Defenders - First Five Companies

First Defenders of Pennsylvania

In response to President Lincoln's first call to arms in April, 1861 after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, the men of the National Light Infantry, Allen Infantry, Logan Guards, Ringgold Light Artillery, and Washington Artillery left Pennsylvania and were the first volunteer troops to reach Washington at the start of the American Civil War. These first five companies became known as the First Defenders.

First Defenders PA Regiment Companies

National Light Infantry
Pottsville, Schuylkill County
Allen Guards
Allentown, Lehigh County
Logan Guards
Lewistown, Schuylkill County
Ringgold Light Artillery
Reading, Berks County
Washington Infantry
Pottsville, Schuylkill County
Regimental History

First Defenders PA Books

First Defenders

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