The Pennsylvania First Defenders were five volunteer troops from Pennsylvania that responded to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s call to defend the national capital of Washington, D.C., at the start of the American Civil War. The First Defenders consisted of the National Light Infantry of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the Washington Artillerists of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the Ringgold Light Artillery of Reading, Pennsylvania, the Logan Guards of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and the Allen Infantry of Allentown, Pennsylvania.