In the decades after the Civil War, Pottsville celebrated “First Defenders Day,” April 18th, as one of its most important holidays.

On that day in 1861, citizen soldiers from Schuylkill County were among the Pennsylvanians racing to protect the nation’s capital from possible rebel attack in the first days of the Civil War.

The members of the units who risked life and limb for their country in a time of intense peril earned the nickname “First Defenders.” Many later lost their lives on the battlefield later in the conflict.

This newspaper headline from April 18, 1900 shows one of the celebrations of the surviving First Defenders in Pottsville.

The Miners’ Journal editors wrote of the day:

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Schuylkill’s Heroes

At no time in the history of our city was a more hearty welcome given to any body of men than our citizens are prepared to given today to the visiting members of the National Association of the First Defenders. Our people, men and women alike, have entered into the spirit of the reunion with a zest and an earnestness which speaks well for the patriotism of our community.

The spirit of ’61 is still a strong factor here, and the boys in blue of the Civil War, the aged men of today, will tread our streets with firmer steps because of the general rejoicing in their honor…

As these our First Defenders were the first in the field, they deserve every honor that can be conferred upon them. Pottsville does herself honor in honoring these brave men.

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The tradition of First Defenders Day continued well into the 20th century, with commemorations taking place in the 1950s and 1960s, with the 100th anniversary of the Civil War.

The tradition eventually died out, unfortunately. We’ve documented over the last few years the shameful number of Confederate battle flags that have proliferated around the Coal Region in recent decades.

Maybe its time to bring back this tradition of celebrating Schuylkill County heroes who fought and died to save the nation in its worst hour of peril?

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