Winter Lecture Series 2023: Nicholas "Nick" Biddle and Pennsylvania's Forgotten First Defenders

Complete Rosters of the 'First Defender' companies can be located at: www.pacivilwar....
Below are the names and birthdates of 96 of the 530 First Defenders.
If you would like, find a First Defender with whom you share a birthdate or a birth month, then, using the links provided below, try and discover more about his story and his fate.
1/3: Oliver C. Bobsyshell-Washington Artillery
1/11: Joseph Hettinger-Allen Infantry
1/22: Charles Pitman Potts-Washington Artillery
1/22: David Bechtel-Ringgold Light Artillery
1/25: Thomas H. Parker-National Light Infantry
1/30: Henry Wilson Derr-Allen Infantry
2/1: Bronson A.W. Rothrock-Logan Guards
2/2: John Augustus McLenegan-Ringgold Light Artillery
2/16: Edward Ebling-Ringgold Light Artillery
2/17: Harrison G. Bause-Ringgold Light Artillery
2/18: Charles William Abbott-Allen Infantry
2/20: Adam Faust, Jr.-Ringgold Light Artillery
2/22: Robert William Patton-Logan Guards
2/22: William Rapp, Jr.-Ringgold Light Artillery
2/24: William Henry Buckley-National Light Infantry
2/24: David A Smith-Washington Artillery
2/25: George W. Elberty-Logan Guards
2/28: Henry Printz-Logan Guards
3/1: Amos Forseman-National Light Infantry
3/3: Joseph T. Wilt-Allen Infantry
3/5: Reuben Snyder-Washington Artillery
3/6: James Wren-Washington Artillery
3/10: John Eyres Webster-Allen Infantry
3/11: Elias Eisenbise-Logan Guards
3/12: Samuel Beard-Washington Artillery
3/16: Philip Nagle-Washington Artillery
3/17: Ira Troy-National Light Infantry
3/17: Joel H. Betz-Washington Artillery
317: Charles B. Evans-Washington Artillery
3/20: Lewis Seip-Allen Infantry
3/20: Jesse J. Alexander-Logan Guards
3/27: George Hoxworth-Allen Infantry
3/30: George W. Knabb-Ringgold Light Artillery
3/31: Matthias Edgar Richards-National Light Infantry
3/31: Thomas Corby-Washington Artillery
4/1: Daniel M Dickinson-Ringgold Light Artillery
4/1: Henry Yerger-National Light Infantry
4/10: Lemuel Gries-Ringgold Light Artillery
4/26: Amos Drenkel-Ringgold Light Artillery
5/5: Charles J. Shoemaker-National Light Infantry
5/7: William M. Miller-Ringgold Light Artillery
5/13: William Sherwood-Logan Guards
5/24: Thomas G. Houck-National Light Infantry
6/1: Frederick M. Yeager-Ringgold Light Artillery
6/26: Henry Coleman-Ringgold Light Artillery
6/30: Joseph Gilmour-Washington Artillery
7/1: Curtis C. Pollock-Washington Artillery
7/26: Francis Stitzer-Washington Artillery
7/28: James York Russell-National Light Infantry
7/28: Jacob Bast-National Light Infantry
8/1: James Geidner-Allen Infantry
8/14: Heber S. Thompson-Washington Artillery
8/15: Uriah Good-National Light Infantry
8/15: Ignatz Gresser-Allen Infantry
8/21: James Patton McGinnes-National Light Infantry
8/26: Samuel Schneck-Allen Infantry
8/27: Daniel Kramer-Allen Infantry
8/27: Jonathan W. Reber-Allen Infantry
8/27: Nelson Drake-Washington Artillery
9/4: Albert Seyfert-Ringgold Light Artillery
9/9: Christopher Leoser-Ringgold Light Artillery
9/10: George B. Eckert-Ringgold Light Artillery
9/12: Henry J. Alspach-Washington Artillery
9/12: Victor Wernert-Washington Artillery
9/13: Charles A. Spangler-Ringgold Light Artillery
9/30: James McKnight-Ringgold Light Artillery
10/3: George A. Lerch-National Light Infantry
10/6: Jeremiah B. Brandt-Washington Artillery
10/9: William Francis Huntzinger-National Light Infantry
20/13: Solomon Goebel-Allen Infantry
10/19: George W. Silvis-Ringgold Light Artillery
10/20: John M. Nolte-Logan Guards
10/23: Edmund L. Smith-Ringgold Light Artillery
10/25: Alexander S. Bowen-Washington Artillery
10/26: Howard McIlvain-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/7: William T. Garrett-National Light Infantry
11/7: Cyrus Sheetz-Washington Artillery
11/7: James R. Hetherington-Washington Artillery
11/10: Hugh Stevenson-Washington Artillery
11/11: John L. Kennedy-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/13: Joseph Heister McKnight-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/17: Thomas Severn-Washington Artillery
11/17: Horatio N. Leader-Washington Artillery
11/21: William W. Clemens-Washington Artillery
11/23: Charles Slingluff-Washington Artillery
11/24: LaMar S. Hay-National Light Infantry
11/24: Jacob Hessler-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/24: Charles Muhlenberg-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/25: George W. Durell-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/28: Henry Fleck-Ringgold Light Artillery
11/28: Andrew S. Helms-Ringgold Light Artillery
12/8: William Galbraith Mitchell-Logan Guards
12/11: William Hyland Hodgson-National Light Infantry
12/22: Henry Storch-Allen Infantry
12/25: Samuel Hamilton-Ringgold Light Artillery
12/28: Gideon Frederick-Allen Infantry
For information and sources on how to research a Civil War soldier, visit
www.archives.g...
www.nps.gov/ge...
www.nps.gov/ci...
www.findagrave...

[@kimberleyannedemong5621]

I am a fan of John Hoptak & have been since I watched my first battle walk with him. Not only is he so knowledgeable he is a marvelous story teller. He imbues his lectures with passion life humanity. He draws his listeners in & keeps them engaged. He never disappoints me

[@markbruder7972]

Excellent presentation. I’ve read many American Civil War books and attended many lectures, never heard of this topic, but it’s obvious importance is evident. Thank you!

[@billbrenneman334]

THANKS John for shredding the Light on accurate true history , not the pr news even in 1863 . keep up the great work. Tell the boss you (persons) should get a raise.

[@jamesa.7604]

I really enjoy Ranger Hoptak's lectures. He is an excellent speaker and educator.

[@carolinechronowski6080]

John Hoptak is a great speaker and storyteller. Excellent lecture!

[@bikernu]

i am happy to be able to hear this presentation . Well done!

[@melaniesterling-oy6gb]

What happened to the lecture "Placing the Platform" from last Sunday???

[@carywest9256]

I bet Nick bittles was buried in a segregated cemetery, even though it's in Yankeedom.