US Post Civil War, Pennsylvania 1st Defender Veteran Grouping

Original period manufacture.  Grouping of assorted ribbons and medals, as were worn by the members of the Pennsylvania First Defenders association and their families, to honor the soldiers of the five militia companies; The Ringold Light Artillery, Washington Artillerists, Logan Guards, National Light Infantry and Allen Infantry, who first answered President Lincoln's call for troops in April 1861. They were the first Union soldiers to reach the capital and participate in it's defense. In 1891 the original First Defender men were honored by the State of Pennsylvania with a fine quality bronze medal, each named on the reverse to the individual who served. The membership badges and reunion ribbons such as these, were also worn by those survivors and others, who formed an association to honor the memory of the original five companies. Sound condition for their age, normal age and wear. Included in the lot is an original First Defender Medal, named to Thomas H. Parker National Light Inf'y (missing the ribbon), two First Defender badges, one in bronze the other in zinc, 1900 reunion banquet menu of the First Defender's, an assortment of four reunion ribbons and a copy of a photograph of Nick Biddle, a First Defender, perhaps the first Union soldier wounded during the Civil War.