African American Civil War Veterans

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery, Pottsville, Schylkill County

• Biddle, Nicholas, orderly to Captain James Wren of the Washington Artillery, a 90-Day company from Pottsville.  Born about 1796 into slavery and escaped to Pennsylvania. He was living in Pottsville by 1840 and became involved with the local militia unit, the Pottsville Blues.  When President Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to defend Washington in 1861, the militia changed its name to the Washington Artillery and set out for Washington with Biddle in uniform as an orderly although not enlisted. Biddle was severely wounded by a brick thrown by seccessionist mobs in Baltimore, but remained with the unit until it mustered out 90 days later in Pottsville.
  Died 02 August 1876 in Pottsville, Schylkill County Pennsylvania.
  Tombstone: "NICHOLAS BIDDLE / CAPT WRENS ORDERLY/ AUG 2 1876 / FIRST TO SHED BLOOD IN CIVIL WAR"

Sources

• Find-A-Grave webpage includes an extensive biography of Biddle.

Pennsylvania African Americans in the Civil War -- Main Page