Thank you for posting the Civil War Anniversary Party on this list. My great grandfather John Hartman was one of the First Defenders. He lived in Pottsville and responded to Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. I think he was a member of the National Light Infantry that went to D.C. in April of 1861. After the three months there he returned to Pottsville and then became a part of the 96th PA Regiment. John Hartman was wounded in the thigh during the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Some time after the war he and his family moved to Colorado. I would love to be able to come celebrate with you but it is a long way from Montana where I live. Myrle Theimer Billings, MT > First Defenders Day > April 18, 2011 > > This program will be held at the Sovereign Majestic Theater on Monday, > April 18 > at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.00. > For many years following the April 18th, 1861 departure of the First > Defenders > for the defense of Washington, the old vets held reunions every year. > > At the Historical Society we will portray an event where 4 old veterans of > the > First Defenders reminisce about their departure for Washington and their > confrontation march through the streets of Baltimore, facing an angry mob > of > secessionists. On this march Nick Biddle the black servant of Capt, James > Wren > was struck by a brick and the blood that ran down his head was the first > to be > shed. Ironically by a black man!. > > In this Living History Program Will be: > > Tom Shay, Cressona, Tom will speak about the history of the first > defenders. > > Stu Richards, Orwigsburg, Portraying Matthias Edgar Richards, A member of > Pottsville’s National Light Infantry. Richards later became a Major in the > 96th > P.V.I. > > Tommy Symons, Primrose, Portraying, Valentine Sticther, A member of > Pottsville’s Washington Artillery. > > Mark Pflum, Gibraltor, Pa., Portraying, James Mast of the Ringgold Light > Artillery of Reading. He was a private in the Ringgolds and went on to > become a > lieutenant in Durell's Battery. He then joined the regular army after the > War, > but seems to have left it without permission. He finished out his life as > the > editor of the Slatington newspaper. > > Gary Weaver, Egypt, Pa., Portraying Ignatz Gresser, a member of the Allen > Infantry of Allentown. Gresser later earns the Medal Of Honor with the > 128th > Pennsylvania Infantry. > > Karen Esak, West Hazelton, Portraying Miss Gulla Meredith, who witnessed > the > departure of the First Defenders from Pottsville. > > Bryan Dunnigen, West Hazelton, Benjamin Bannan, Editor of the Miners > Journal. He > will be master of ceremonies for the program. And introduce each of the > old > vets. > > Mary Ann Lubinsky, Secretary > Historical Society of Schuylkill County > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

It isn't that close to CA either, but I can be with you in spirit. GrGrandfather Reuben Ramsey was in a unit called 1st Pa for a few months and then went to Danville, with his brother, Uriah Ramsey to enlist in the 93rd Pa Inf.several days after the main rgmt was formed. Apparent reason was to serve under their uncle, Capt. Joseph Ramsey, commanding Co. H. Later, Reuben got a head wound at Marye's Heights from which he recovered and rejoined his unit. He served through the war.I'm not sure about Uriah, his brother, but found that Capt Joseph Ramsey was in and out and then in again with a different unit. He was a Lt Col by the time the war was over. That was a rarity it seems. Ramsey descendants ever since were Pvts (grunts). The other serving GrGrandfather was in the 28th Alabama Inf. wounded twice and served to the surrender. (also a pvt) As you may imagine, we have some fun family reunions. ron On 4/15/2011 1:23 PM, Myrle Theimer wrote: > Thank you for posting the Civil War Anniversary Party on this list. > > My great grandfather John Hartman was one of the First Defenders. He lived > in Pottsville and responded to Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers. I think > he was a member of the National Light Infantry that went to D.C. in April of > 1861. After the three months there he returned to Pottsville and then became > a part of the 96th PA Regiment. John Hartman was wounded in the thigh during > the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Some time after the war he and his > family moved to Colorado. > > I would love to be able to come celebrate with you but it is a long way from > Montana where I live. > > Myrle Theimer > Billings, MT > >> First Defenders Day >> April 18, 2011 >> >> This program will be held at the Sovereign Majestic Theater on Monday, >> April 18 >> at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.00. >> For many years following the April 18th, 1861 departure of the First >> Defenders >> for the defense of Washington, the old vets held reunions every year. >> >> At the Historical Society we will portray an event where 4 old veterans of >> the >> First Defenders reminisce about their departure for Washington and their >> confrontation march through the streets of Baltimore, facing an angry mob >> of >> secessionists. On this march Nick Biddle the black servant of Capt, James >> Wren >> was struck by a brick and the blood that ran down his head was the first >> to be >> shed. Ironically by a black man!. >> >> In this Living History Program Will be: >> >> Tom Shay, Cressona, Tom will speak about the history of the first >> defenders. >> >> Stu Richards, Orwigsburg, Portraying Matthias Edgar Richards, A member of >> Pottsville’s National Light Infantry. Richards later became a Major in the >> 96th >> P.V.I. >> >> Tommy Symons, Primrose, Portraying, Valentine Sticther, A member of >> Pottsville’s Washington Artillery. >> >> Mark Pflum, Gibraltor, Pa., Portraying, James Mast of the Ringgold Light >> Artillery of Reading. He was a private in the Ringgolds and went on to >> become a >> lieutenant in Durell's Battery. He then joined the regular army after the >> War, >> but seems to have left it without permission. He finished out his life as >> the >> editor of the Slatington newspaper. >> >> Gary Weaver, Egypt, Pa., Portraying Ignatz Gresser, a member of the Allen >> Infantry of Allentown. Gresser later earns the Medal Of Honor with the >> 128th >> Pennsylvania Infantry. >> >> Karen Esak, West Hazelton, Portraying Miss Gulla Meredith, who witnessed >> the >> departure of the First Defenders from Pottsville. >> >> Bryan Dunnigen, West Hazelton, Benjamin Bannan, Editor of the Miners >> Journal. He >> will be master of ceremonies for the program. And introduce each of the >> old >> vets. >> >> Mary Ann Lubinsky, Secretary >> Historical Society of Schuylkill County >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message