Great Civil War First Defenders 50th Reunion Photo
Updated August 25, 2026
| Lot number | 100 |
| Estimate | 200.00 - 300.00 USD |
| Category | Firearms & Militaria |
| Auction | Antiques, Americana, and Advertising Auction - Day 1 |
| Date | September 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | John M. Hess Auction Service, Inc. |
| Location | Manheim, Pennsylvania |
Imperial size cabinet photo identified in ink in lower left corner "The First Defenders 50th Anniversary April 18 1911". Photo shows Civil War veterans posed on the steps of the First Defenders Monument in Reading, Pa. The Ringgold Light Artillery, a pre-war militia artillery company answered Lincoln's call for men to defend Washington DC and was the first organized unit to reach Harrisburg on April 16th, 1861. Joined by the Logan Guards, Washington Artillerists, the Allen Infantry and the National Light Infantry, they travelled by train, which included transiting through Baltimore where several men were injured in the rioting that took place, and entered the Capital on April 18th. Signed in lower right "Yours Truly C H Trexler". Accompanied by a newspaper clipping. 14"H x 17"W Historic photo in need of conservation. Several areas missing, a few pieces have been saved, of the mat and the lower corners of the photo. Wonderful piece of Pennsylvania Civil War history.
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