In the former industrial heart of Pottsville, Pennsylvania sits a plain brick building that’s easy to miss today. Built in 1851, it was once part of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad’s passenger depot – a travel hub in this Coal Region town. Back then, just up the hill stood the American House, a busy hotel that welcomed travelers and soldiers passing through.
On April 17, 1861, this depot became the center of one of the most unforgettable moments in Pottsville’s history. Just five days earlier, South Carolina forces had fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, starting the Civil War. The news spread fast, and it lit a fire across the North. Here in Pottsville, that meant action.
Two local militia units – the Washington Artillerists and the National Light Infantry – answered President Lincoln’s call for troops. On that cold, rainy day, 230 men prepared to leave town, bound for Washington, D.C.
People came from all over Schuylkill County to see them off. The Miners’ Journal newspaper described it like this:
“The people flocked in by thousands from all parts of the county… it seemed as if its whole population had been poured forth to witness the departure of our gallant volunteers.”
The men gathered at their armories in the city, then began their march down Centre Street toward the railroad depot at 12:30 p.m. The streets were lined with cheering crowds. Women waved handkerchiefs from every window. Families called out last goodbyes as the soldiers passed by.
The Miners’ Journal wrote:
“At the depot, the crowd was immense and it was almost impossible to force your way through it. The tops of the passenger and freight cars, the roofs of the depot and neighboring houses, were black with spectators. Never had so great a concourse assembled on any one occasion before in Pottsville.“
The Pottsville Cornet Band played “Hail Columbia” and “Yankee Doodle” as the train pulled away. Then:
“As the train slowly left the depot, cheer upon cheer went up from the assembled thousands… there were some who could not prevent the tear from starting in the eye, when called upon to bid farewell to all their friends.”
The volunteers from Schuylkill County rode the rails to Harrisburg, then on to Baltimore on April 18, where tensions were already running high. As they marched through the city the next day, they were met with hostile crowds yelling taunts and threatening violence.
Pottsville resident Nicholas Biddle, a 65-year-old African American serving as an orderly to Captain James Wren of the Washington Artillerists, became one of the first casualties of the Civil War when the mob hit him in the head with a brick.
A day later, Massachusetts troops following their path were attacked – what became known as the Pratt Street Riot, leaving more than a dozen people – soldiers and civilians – dead.
The men from Pottsville, joined by other small units from across Pennsylvania, made it safely to Washington, D.C. They were among the first troops to reach the capital and became known as the First Defenders.
Their departure was just the beginning. Over the next four years, more than 13,000 men from Schuylkill County would serve in the US Army and US Navy. More than 600 never came home.
After the Civil War, many soldiers returned through the same depot they had departed from in 1861. Today, this Philadelphia and Reading Railroad building is the only surviving railroad structure in Pottsville that dates back to the Civil War era.
Passenger trains stopped running regular service to Pottsville in 1981, but this 19th century depot still stands – one of the last physical reminders of the day Pottsville sent its first volunteers off to save the Union.
Below is the full article describing the First Defenders departure from Pottsville.
From the Miners’ Journal, April 20, 1861:
DEPARTURE OF VOLUNTEERS
The Washington Artillerists and National Light Infantry left on Wednesday last for Harrisburg, in obedience to the call of the President.
During the whole day the greatest excitement prevailed among our citizens, and the scene at the armories of the respective companies was quite lively and spirited. New recruits were rolling in at every moment, and lists were soon swelled to above the requisite number.
The Artillerists numbered 130 rank and file, and the Infantry somewhat above 100 men – many who wished to volunteer their services were prevented from doing so on account of the short notice at which the companies were ordered off.
The day was very cold, raw, and disagreeable; but notwithstanding this, the people flocked in by thousands from all parts of the county, and it seemed as if its whole population had been poured forth to witness the departure of our gallant volunteers, who with a noble spirit of self sacrifice, have exchanged the comforts of home, for the fatigue and labor of a soldier’s life.
About half past 12 o’clock the concourse of people that had assembled about the armories of the two companies was so great, that it was with difficulty that a place was cleared for them in the street.
Everybody was pressing forward, and all striving to speak a parting word and take a final leave of their friends, with whom they were compelled to separate.
As the companies proceeded down Centre Street, to the depot of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, they were greeted with cheers from the thousands who lined each side of the street, and a perfect ocean of handkerchiefs waved by the ladies, who had taken possession of all the windows, and every available situation along the street.
All the stores were closed and business entirely suspended.
At the depot, the crowd was immense and it was almost impossible to force your way through it. The tops of the passenger and freight cars, the roofs of the depot and neighboring houses, were black with spectators. Never had so great a concourse assembled on any one occasion before in Pottsville.
The Pottsville Cornet band, which had escorted the companies to the depot, immediately before the starting of the cars played “Hail Columbia” and “Yankee Doodle.”
As the train slowly left the depot, cheer upon cheer went up from the assembled thousands. The men were in good spirits, but there were some, who though possessed of manly hearts, who could brave toil and danger without complaint or fear, who could endure suffering with stoical indifference, but who could not prevent the tear from starting in the eye, when called upon to bid farewell to all their friends.
The Washington Artillerists and the National Light Infantry will constitute one of the finest bodies of men from Pennsylvania. They are mostly composed of fine, able bodied young men in the vigor of health. They leave us with the best wishes of one and all who remain behind, and a heart-felt prayer will be tendered for their safety while absent.
Read more about the Pottsville and the Civil War
Pottsville, PA celebrated “First Defenders Day” as a tribute to its Civil War veterans
Nicholas Biddle | An African-American Civil War hero from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
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The Philadelphia and Reading Depot still stands in Pottsville according to today’s article and your photograph taken in March. Where can I find it in Pottsville?
103 E Union St