EJ Murphy
@ejmurphy.bsky.social
Educator/public historian. 19th century U.S. history & the Underground Railroad. Views are, for better or for worse, my own.
Remembering when we got dressed up for our 100th birthday a few years ago.
November 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Remembering when we got dressed up for our 100th birthday a few years ago.
Every Packer fan right now.
November 28, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Every Packer fan right now.
As printed in Douglass’ Monthly, 3/1/1859
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
As printed in Douglass’ Monthly, 3/1/1859
Happy Veterans Day.
November 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Happy Veterans Day.
The recruiting office for Black soldiers during the Civil War, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
November 2, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The recruiting office for Black soldiers during the Civil War, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
Just sitting here thinking about what a Benjamin Butler presidency would look like.
October 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Just sitting here thinking about what a Benjamin Butler presidency would look like.
- Newspaper clippings from the Sunbury Gazette, 4/30/1864
- Monument photos courtesy of Jake Wynn and the Wynning History blog
(PS CAN YOU IMAGINE A BENJAMIN BUTLER PRESIDENCY??!?!!?) 8/8
- Monument photos courtesy of Jake Wynn and the Wynning History blog
(PS CAN YOU IMAGINE A BENJAMIN BUTLER PRESIDENCY??!?!!?) 8/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
- Newspaper clippings from the Sunbury Gazette, 4/30/1864
- Monument photos courtesy of Jake Wynn and the Wynning History blog
(PS CAN YOU IMAGINE A BENJAMIN BUTLER PRESIDENCY??!?!!?) 8/8
- Monument photos courtesy of Jake Wynn and the Wynning History blog
(PS CAN YOU IMAGINE A BENJAMIN BUTLER PRESIDENCY??!?!!?) 8/8
Another simply reads, “EMANCIPATION” 7/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Another simply reads, “EMANCIPATION” 7/8
In 1951 the residents of Pottsville added a marker to the town Civil War Monument “IN MEMORY OF THE FIRST DEFENDERS AND NICHOLAS BIDDLE.”
An inscription reads “Love, honor, renown, and lasting remembrance for those who fought for freedom and an imperiled country.” 6/8
An inscription reads “Love, honor, renown, and lasting remembrance for those who fought for freedom and an imperiled country.” 6/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
In 1951 the residents of Pottsville added a marker to the town Civil War Monument “IN MEMORY OF THE FIRST DEFENDERS AND NICHOLAS BIDDLE.”
An inscription reads “Love, honor, renown, and lasting remembrance for those who fought for freedom and an imperiled country.” 6/8
An inscription reads “Love, honor, renown, and lasting remembrance for those who fought for freedom and an imperiled country.” 6/8
Biddle lived in Pottsville until his death in 1876. He is buried in Pottsville’s Bethel AME Church Cemetery. His headstone reads “FIRST TO SHED BLOOD IN CIVIL WAR” 5/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Biddle lived in Pottsville until his death in 1876. He is buried in Pottsville’s Bethel AME Church Cemetery. His headstone reads “FIRST TO SHED BLOOD IN CIVIL WAR” 5/8
Biddle returned to Pottsville after the incident, and his story became very well known. So much so that he helped raise money for wounded soldiers at the 1864 Great Central Fair by selling photographs of himself in his militia uniform. 4/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Biddle returned to Pottsville after the incident, and his story became very well known. So much so that he helped raise money for wounded soldiers at the 1864 Great Central Fair by selling photographs of himself in his militia uniform. 4/8
The Washington Artillerists eventually made it to the Capitol where, at least as lore has it, Abraham Lincoln came across Biddle and asked him to get medical attention.
Biddle refused, as he did not want to leave his men. 3/8
Biddle refused, as he did not want to leave his men. 3/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
The Washington Artillerists eventually made it to the Capitol where, at least as lore has it, Abraham Lincoln came across Biddle and asked him to get medical attention.
Biddle refused, as he did not want to leave his men. 3/8
Biddle refused, as he did not want to leave his men. 3/8
Biddle was hit in the head with a flying brick, wounding him badly.
“This man was the first wounded in the rebellion, by Rebel assault. A remarkable fact this — Slavery was the direct cause of the war, and the first man wounded in the rebellion, by the Rebels, was a negro.” 2/8
“This man was the first wounded in the rebellion, by Rebel assault. A remarkable fact this — Slavery was the direct cause of the war, and the first man wounded in the rebellion, by the Rebels, was a negro.” 2/8
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Biddle was hit in the head with a flying brick, wounding him badly.
“This man was the first wounded in the rebellion, by Rebel assault. A remarkable fact this — Slavery was the direct cause of the war, and the first man wounded in the rebellion, by the Rebels, was a negro.” 2/8
“This man was the first wounded in the rebellion, by Rebel assault. A remarkable fact this — Slavery was the direct cause of the war, and the first man wounded in the rebellion, by the Rebels, was a negro.” 2/8
🧵1/8
On April 18, 1861 Nicholas Biddle, an escaped enslaved resident of Pottsville, PA, marched through Baltimore with the Washington Artillerists on their way to defend the capital from a rumored rebel attack. While marching, they were attacked by rebel sympathizers.
On April 18, 1861 Nicholas Biddle, an escaped enslaved resident of Pottsville, PA, marched through Baltimore with the Washington Artillerists on their way to defend the capital from a rumored rebel attack. While marching, they were attacked by rebel sympathizers.
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
🧵1/8
On April 18, 1861 Nicholas Biddle, an escaped enslaved resident of Pottsville, PA, marched through Baltimore with the Washington Artillerists on their way to defend the capital from a rumored rebel attack. While marching, they were attacked by rebel sympathizers.
On April 18, 1861 Nicholas Biddle, an escaped enslaved resident of Pottsville, PA, marched through Baltimore with the Washington Artillerists on their way to defend the capital from a rumored rebel attack. While marching, they were attacked by rebel sympathizers.
Interesting. Different because we don’t *depend* on hunting but the main reason my dad wanted to buy our cabin was because most of the land he grew up hunting on was either being conserved or privatized in some way.
We had the means to purchase our own land but for many folks that’s not an option.
We had the means to purchase our own land but for many folks that’s not an option.
October 28, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Interesting. Different because we don’t *depend* on hunting but the main reason my dad wanted to buy our cabin was because most of the land he grew up hunting on was either being conserved or privatized in some way.
We had the means to purchase our own land but for many folks that’s not an option.
We had the means to purchase our own land but for many folks that’s not an option.
“…the free living black man, whom Lee would enslave, and the bodies of the dead soldiers whom Lee has killed in a wicked cause.”
October 27, 2025 at 7:26 PM
“…the free living black man, whom Lee would enslave, and the bodies of the dead soldiers whom Lee has killed in a wicked cause.”
“Gen. Robert E. Lee…is fighting to enslave the black man. To accomplish this hellish purpose, he kills the loyal soldiers of the nation and attempts the destruction of the nation’s life…
How appropriate that Lee’s lands should be dedicated to two such noble purposes…”
How appropriate that Lee’s lands should be dedicated to two such noble purposes…”
October 27, 2025 at 7:26 PM
“Gen. Robert E. Lee…is fighting to enslave the black man. To accomplish this hellish purpose, he kills the loyal soldiers of the nation and attempts the destruction of the nation’s life…
How appropriate that Lee’s lands should be dedicated to two such noble purposes…”
How appropriate that Lee’s lands should be dedicated to two such noble purposes…”
Batchelor also helped establish Waverly’s Presbyterian Church which first congregated in the house on the left, located right next to Batchelor’s home (right) which is where our walking tour begins.
October 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Batchelor also helped establish Waverly’s Presbyterian Church which first congregated in the house on the left, located right next to Batchelor’s home (right) which is where our walking tour begins.
Happy to see that the Hickory Grove Cemetery Association fixed up Rev. Leonard Batchelor’s headstone, which had fallen off the base and luckily stayed intact.
Batchelor was a radical abolitionist, Underground Railroad participant, and member of the Liberty Party here in Waverly.
Batchelor was a radical abolitionist, Underground Railroad participant, and member of the Liberty Party here in Waverly.
October 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Happy to see that the Hickory Grove Cemetery Association fixed up Rev. Leonard Batchelor’s headstone, which had fallen off the base and luckily stayed intact.
Batchelor was a radical abolitionist, Underground Railroad participant, and member of the Liberty Party here in Waverly.
Batchelor was a radical abolitionist, Underground Railroad participant, and member of the Liberty Party here in Waverly.
From Hope & Glory: Essays on the Legacy of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment:
October 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
From Hope & Glory: Essays on the Legacy of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment:
Samuel Thomas, a formerly enslaved resident of Waverly and member of the 54th is buried here and was a member of Waverly’s integrated GAR post. Nearby Underground Railroad town Montrose had 14 men enlist in the 54th.
A lot of folks don’t know this, but PA is the state most represented in the 54th.
A lot of folks don’t know this, but PA is the state most represented in the 54th.
October 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Samuel Thomas, a formerly enslaved resident of Waverly and member of the 54th is buried here and was a member of Waverly’s integrated GAR post. Nearby Underground Railroad town Montrose had 14 men enlist in the 54th.
A lot of folks don’t know this, but PA is the state most represented in the 54th.
A lot of folks don’t know this, but PA is the state most represented in the 54th.
Since there are six guys from Waverly who fought in the 22nd at Petersburg I end up talking about that regiment/the battle a lot.
I’m always ashamed when people ask me if I’ve been there and I have to say no.
I’m always ashamed when people ask me if I’ve been there and I have to say no.
October 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Since there are six guys from Waverly who fought in the 22nd at Petersburg I end up talking about that regiment/the battle a lot.
I’m always ashamed when people ask me if I’ve been there and I have to say no.
I’m always ashamed when people ask me if I’ve been there and I have to say no.
Need to get to Petersburg. The 22nd USCT demands it.
October 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Need to get to Petersburg. The 22nd USCT demands it.
As I try to bring the edited collection back to life, another project begins (just a working title)…
October 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
As I try to bring the edited collection back to life, another project begins (just a working title)…