The First Defenders depart from Pottsville, PA | April 17, 1861

Posted on by Jake Wynn

“The people flocked in by thousands… it seemed as if its whole population had been poured forth.” On a cold April day in 1861, Pottsville, PA came to a standstill as hundreds of young men marched to the railroad depot and into a civil war that had just begun. Crowds filled the streets, handkerchiefs waved from every window, and the sound of cheers followed the train as it pulled away. The soldiers went into history as the "First Defenders." Read the Full Story.

Podcast | Before Emancipation: Reconstruction Starts on the South Carolina Coast with Rich Condon

Posted on by Jake Wynn

In this episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, Jake and Molly are joined by public historian Rich Condon to explore the Port Royal Experiment - an early, improvised effort to build freedom during the Civil War. Long before Reconstruction formally began, formerly enslaved people tested land ownership, education, and self-governance in coastal South Carolina. Listen to the episode.

Massive political rally in Pittston, PA for Abraham Lincoln | November 1864

Posted on by Jake Wynn
1864 presidential election street violence Pittston PA Luzerne County Jake Wynn Public Historian Civil War

On the eve of the 1864 election, thousands jammed Pittston, PA for a Union rally - bands, parades, a cannon, and a “perfect jam” on the streets. Cheers for Lincoln, a speaker's biting wit, and street violence with pistols and brick-bats flying. Read the full story.

Wide Awake with poetry in support of Abraham Lincoln | Election of 1860

Posted on by Jake Wynn

In the lead-up to the Election of 1860, young Pennsylvanians rallied behind Abraham Lincoln as part of the Wide Awakes, a political movement determined to confront slavery and disunion. This poem, published in the Pittston Gazette, captures their enthusiasm and commitment. Learn more about how these young men supported Lincoln in this pivotal election. Read the full story.

A torchlight parade for Abraham Lincoln in Lykens, Pennsylvania | 1864

Posted on by Jake Wynn

On a fall evening in 1864, the streets of Lykens, Pennsylvania came alive with a torchlight parade in support of President Abraham Lincoln. As the Civil War neared its end, local residents rallied behind Lincoln's re-election, marching in solidarity through their mining town. This procession symbolized the region's deep commitment to the Union cause and Lincoln's leadership during one of the nation's most turbulent periods. Discover the historical significance of this event and its place in the broader context of the 1864 election. Read the full story.

A Luzerne County newspaper’s editorial about Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia | April 1865

Posted on by Jake Wynn

"The rebellion of American slavery against American freedom has just been beaten and crushed..."

The Gazette: Episode 1 – The War Begins

Posted on by Jake Wynn

Pittston responds to the astonishing news that Southern militia forces fired upon a Federal garrison in April 1861. The Civil War had begun.