ON THE PENNSYLVANIA FIRST DEFENDERS MEDAL

Regarding the Pennsylvania First Defenders medal, Gary Greenbaum writes:

Oliver Christian Bosbyshell (January 3, 1839 - August 1, 1921) was Superintendent of the United States Mint at Philadelphia from 1889 to 1894. He also claimed to havebeen the first Union soldier wounded by enemy action in the Civil War, stating that he received a bruise on the forehead from an object thrown by a Confederate sympathizer whilehis unit was marching through Baltimore in April 1861.

Bosbyshell was born in Mississippi. His parents were of old Philadelphia stock, and he was raised in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. After briefly working on the railroad andthen studying law, Bosbyshell enlisted in the Union cause on the outbreak of war. Following a brief period of service in the 25th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, he joined the48th Pennsylvania, remaining in that regiment for three years. He saw action in such battles as Second Bull Run and Antietam.

To read the complete article, see:

Oliver Bosbyshell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Bosbyshell)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:

STACK'S BOWERS AUGUST 2018 AUCTION SELECTIONS : "1861" (1891) State of Pennsylvania First DefendersMedal of Honor Obverse Struck on an 1861 Liberty Head Double Eagle (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n32a24.html)