First Defenders Memorial (Allentown, PA)

Union

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Erected 1917 to commemorate the patriotism and courage of the officers and men of Allen Infantry Allentown, Pa. who, with four other companies of Pennsylvania Militia April 18, 1861 rushed to the defense of the national capital and became the First Defenders Roll of Allen Infantry [names] On the 13th of April 1861, Fort Sumter fell and Civil War between North and South was begun. Flushed with success, the Secessionists now trained their guns across the Potomac upon the undefended Capital of the country and planned to seize the government, the public buildings, records, stores and moneys at Washington. On the 15th of April, President Lincoln called the militia of the loyal states to its defense. On the 17th, the Allen Infantry, a militia company formed in 1859 by Captain Thomas Yeager, uniformed, armed and partially equipped, composed of Pennsylvania Germans, ever patriotic and always prompt to hasten to their country's defense, proceeded in response to the President's call, 50 rank and file, to Harrisburg, and on the 18th of April, with the National Light Infantry and the Washington Artillerists of Pottsville[,] the Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading and the Logan Guards of Lewiston, were there sworn into the service of the United States. At noon of the same day their march on foot through Baltimore in thin column of twos, from Bolton Station to Camden Station, a distance of two miles, was opposed by a mob of thousands, infuriated at what they regarded an invasion of the sacred soil of Maryland. At 6 o'clock in the evening of the same day, The 18th Day of April 1861, the five companies arrived in Washington to the great joy and relief of the President and all loyal men. They were fully armed and equipped the same evening and barricaded the Capitol buildings in which they were quartered and which were illuminated by order of the President. Rumor exaggerated their numbers; the illuminations and the rumors prevented the threatened seizure of Washington by the Secessionists. These five companies numbering 476 men (later recruited to 538) were the first troops to reach the seat of government at the beginning of the War of the Rebellion, and so earned the distinction of being the Nation's First Defenders. Their prompt appearance and occupation of Washington saved the public buildings, records, treasury and the Capitol, and the result of the great conflict would in all probability have been different if the secessionists had succeeded in their plan to take and occupy the Capital. The painful march through hostile Baltimore was accomplished without fatality, although numbers of the men in the five companies bore bruises on their limbs and bodies. In the Allen Infantry, Corporal Gresser, and Privates Derr, Jacobs, Hittle and Wiegandt were struck with stones and bricks and received injuries from which they suffered for weeks. The Allen Infantry became Company G of the Twenty-Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers; continued on guard in Washington for three months and more; and was mustered out of the service on the 23rd of July, 1861. These soldiers re-enlisted and served during the entire war.

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