US Post Civil War, Pennsylvania Medal of Honor, First Defender 1861, National Light Infantry
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $550.00

Original period manufacture. An extremely scarce, original example of the medal commissioned by the State of Pennsylvania, to honor the 530 members of the Ringlold Light Artillery, Washington Artillerists, Logan Guards, Allen Infantry and National Light Infantry, who were the first troops to arrive in Washington D.C. in April of 1861 for the defense of the capitol. The men received the praise of the U. S. Government on the 22nd of July, 1861, when the House of Representatives unanimously passed the resolution: Resolved: That the thanks of this house are due and are hereby tendered to the 530 soldiers from Pennsylvania who passed through the mob at Baltimore, and reached Washington on the 18th of April last, for defense of the National Capitol. These quality medals display a finely struck bronze disc placed inside a blue steel cross, the reverse of which displays the name of the unit the individual served in, in this instance, The National Light Infantry. Often these can be found with the name of the soldier on the reverse, this example is not named. Sound condition, original ribbon and bronze First Defender suspender.