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.
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.
