Nicholas Biddle CDV withStamp First Black Soldier Civil War 1865 Union Army Photo

Of Nick Biddle, African American soldier and Civil War hero by by W. R Mortimer, Pottsville, Schuylkill Co.

The first man wounded in the Great American Rebellion, Baltimore April 18, 1861. He is considered by most historians to be the first black soldier to serve in the Union Army as well as the first soldier wounded during the civil war. Has revenue stamp on verso dated August, 1865. Of all of Biddle's three CDV's, this is first and hardest to find.

Note the multi-colored handkerchief in his chest pocket. Later CDV's have Biddle with a bear a solid color handkerchief.

Measures 2.5" x 4" inches. He was born into slavery in Delaware, and later escaped to the North and was taken in by the banker Nicholas Biddle in Philadelphia. Biddle settled in Pottsville where he was an unofficial member of the town's militia company.

The unit was one of five companies summoned as the "First Defenders" of Washington after the fall of Fort Sumter. While marching through Baltimore, his unit was met by secessionist rioters who singled out Biddle for his race. He was attacked with a brick and wounded badly. He is considered to be the first man wounded in combat for the Union. He was also almost certainly the first Black man in uniform with the Union Army during the Civil War.

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African Americana & Civil War. Oxxbridge Galleries was founded in 1987 and specializes in vintage paper items. We carry a large selection of original American Civil War & African Americana items.

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