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cwlivinghistory:

Nicholas Biddle- African-American, the first casualty of the Civil War?

He was a man beloved by many in the small community of Pottsville, Pennsylvania. When he died at the age of 80, a large group formed a procession, uniformed veterans lifted his casket, and a drum corps played a muffled funeral dirge as they marched solemnly to his final resting place. Although he had taken upon himself the name of one of Philadelphia’s greatest financiers, he had died penniless, and although his government would never recognize him as a soldier, his brothers in arms donated generously to raise a monument to his wartime service. His name was Nicholas Biddle, an African American man who volunteered to serve the Union cause in April of 1861, and who has become a footnote in history as arguably the first casualty of the American Civil War.

Nicholas Biddle’s true name is lost to history. Speculation is that he was once a slave in Delaware, and had used the Underground railroad to find freedom in Pennsylvania. In 1840 it is known that he was a servant to his namesake, Nicholas Biddle of Philadelphia, a wealthy white man who was the director of the Second Bank of theUnited States. While on a visit to Pottsville with his employer that same year, the servant Biddle decided to stay on in town when his boss left. ‘Nick’ Biddle, as he was known, did odd jobs around town, and befriended many of the men who were part of the areas many militia groups. So, in April of 1861, after the Confederate attack on Ft. Sumter caused President Lincoln to issue a request for 75,000 volunteers to defend theUnion, Nick Biddle did just that. However, at the age of 65, and as an African-American, he was not acceptable for Federal service. He was able, however, to sign on for a three month enlistment with the newly formed Washington Artillery of the 25th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, out of Pottsville, and made up of his old friends. He was assigned to one of these friends, Captain James Wren, as his orderly. Supplied with a new uniform paid for by the members of the unit, Nick was now ready and willing to serve the Union cause.

The 25th Pennsylvania lost no time “rallying to the flag”. On April 18th, 1861, five companies of the 25th Volunteers including “old Nick” , along with two companies of U.S. Regulars (soldiers who were part of the army before the war) arrived by train from Pennsylvania to Baltimore’s Bolton Station, which is no longer in existence. The rail line that brought them to Baltimore ended, and in order to travel further south to the Capitol, the soldiers had to disembark and march throughBaltimoreto the rail station at Camden Station (near the current B & O Railroad Museum and Roundhouse) and board trains belonging to another railroad. Immediately upon their arrival, they knew they were in trouble. Maryland was a border state with sharply divided politics, and many of Baltimore’s citizens in the early days of the war left no doubts that they sided with the secessionists. Gathered at the Bolton Streetstation was a large unruly crowd, and as the fledging soldiers marched down Howard street the citizens showed their disdain by “the most approbrious epithets”, spitting and grabbing their clothes, shouting cheers for the Confederacy and brandishing weapons. The men had been told to “cap” their weapons and place them at half-cock (placing a conspicuous copper percussion cap on the breech of the weapon, and making it ready to fire) and carry them in the ready position, although they hadn’t loaded the muzzles with gunpowder. They hoped that this feint, along with the presence of Baltimore City police marching along with them, and the presence of the grizzled US Regulars would deter any real violence. It seemed to be working, that is, until the two companies of Regulars marched off towards their new posting at Fort McHenry. As the remainder of the 25th nearly reached their destination at Camden Station, all hell broke loose as the 2,000 or so members of the mob seemed to realize the vulnerability of the troops. And Nick Biddle was caught in the middle.

To the men around him, Nick seemed to have been singled out. “Nigger in uniform!, Nigger in uniform!” was the rallying cry of the mob. Along with the cries came a flurry of objects thrown and gunshots heard. Then the soldiers who saw Nick as just another comrade watched in horror as he was struck in the head and fell to the ground, a brick pried from Baltimore’s street laying nearby. His wound was bad, laying open his head almost to his skull, but fortunately it would not prove fatal. His friends pulled him aboard the rail car, and the train pulled out towards Washington.

The following morning found the Pennsylvanians billeted in the halls of the actual U.S. Capitol Building, where they had an unexpected visitor. President Lincoln, having heard of the attacks of the previous day, and of several soldiers being injured in the melee, came to see how the men fared. Although one had a fractured wrist, another an ankle injury, Lincoln focused his attention on “old Nick” Biddle. His head covered in blood soaked bandages, still wearing his artillerist uniform, Nick proudly refused as the President implored him to seek medical help. That day, he would not leave the men with which he served.

Nick’s did later return to Pottsville hen his three month enlistment as a volunteer expired, and he was still nursing what was probably a concussion as Captain Wren and his fellow Pennsylvanians re-enlisted for the duration of the war. He remained inPottsvillefor the rest of his life, working as a handyman, taking odd jobs. Near the end of his life he was impoverished, and was reduced to asking for handouts. Towards the very end, he assured his friends that he had enough for his funeral expense, but upon his death on August 2, 1876 he was completely penniless. As an African American in 1861, he was not allowed to muster into Federal service, and could never receive any of the veteran’s benefits like his Pottsville peers in the 25th. But his friends did not forget him. Members of the “First Defenders”, those who first came to the aid of the Capitol in 1861, raised and donated money for Nicks burial and headstone. They stood behind his coffin and marched proudly to the “colored section” of the Bethel AME Church, while the drums played a mournful cadence. And over his grave, now lost to vandals, they erected a stone in which they stated unequivocally:

In Memory of Nicholas Biddle, Died August 2, 1876, Aged 80 
Years. His Was the Proud Distinction of Shedding the First Blood In the Late War For the Union, Being Wounded While Marching Through Baltimore With the First Volunteers From Schuylkill County 18 April 1861. 

Erected By His Friends In Pottsville.   

positive-press-daily:

Civil War Sub Finally Revealed

For the first time since the U.S. Civil War, the Confederate vessel H.L. Hunley—the world’s first submarine to sink an enemy ship—was revealed on January 12 (pictured) after 11 years of conservation work.

Shown in a South Carolina conservation facility, the Hunley sank the U.S.S. Housatonic off Charleston (map) in 1864. Within minutes the sub itself sank too-killing its eight-man crew and creating an enduring mystery. (Also see “Forensic Team Studying Skeletons of Hunley Crew.”)

Five years after the Hunley wreck’s discovery in 1995, conservators raised the sub using a special steel truss that was removed only weeks ago.

“No one alive has ever seen the Hunley complete,” said engineer John King on January 12 as a crane lifted the truss at Clemson University’s Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, Reuters reported on January 13.

“We’re going to see it today.”

(click-through for 9 MORE PHOTOS)

(Source: National Geographic)