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The Pennsylvania Bucktails
in the Civil War
"While there were many regiments in the army that won particular fame by their deeds, it will, perhaps, be admitted by all, that no regiment in either army was better known than 'The Bucktails.' Few knew of the 42d Pennsylvania Regiment, of the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves, of the Kane rifles, all of which this renowned regiment was, but every soldier knew of the Bucktails. They were not sharpshooters with telescoped rifles, as is sometimes supposed, but they were skilled marksmen, carrying the rifles they had carried in the woods of their native State. Their aim was so accurate and their fire so deadly, that they became a terror to the enemy, and 'probably no regiment was so much dreaded as the Bucktails; their presence always created nervousness and sometimes panic in the ranks of those exposed to their fire.
On the 13th of April, 1861, Thomas L. Kane, brother of Dr. Kane, the famous Arctic explorer, obtained permission from Governor Curtin to raise a company of riflemen from Forest, McKean and Elk counties. On the 24th of April, a hundred men assembled at the rafting place on the Sinnemahoning, where they at once commenced constructing their transports. Two days later they embarked, three hundred and fifteen strong, upon three rafts, and with a green hickory pole, surmounted by a buck's tail, for a flag-staff, the stars and stripes flying, with martial strains of music they moved toward the camp of rendezvous at Harrisburg. They were all hardy men from the forest region, accustomed to the use or the rifle from boyhood, and, to live in the woods for months at a time without shelter, subsisting on game brought down by their rifles., They were quick of perception, and understood every snap of a twig or the rustle of a Ieaf, There was not a man among them who would not have, considered it a disgrace not to be able, to shoot a squirrel, off hand, from the top of the highest tree, or a running deer at the distance of four or five hundred yards.
They assembled at the rendezvous clad in red shirts, and wearing in their hats bucktails, and each carrying his trusty rifle. As no order had been issued by the Governor for marching it was found at headquarters that a limited number would be accepted. A telegram was dispatched directing them to turn back upon their arrival at Lock Haven, but they refused to do this, and in due time arrived at Harrisburg and saluted the city with volley from their rifles.
They at once became known as the 'Bucktails' ".
Source: "The Bucktails. The Famous Rifle Regiment of Pennsylvania. The History of One of the Best-Known Regiments in the Army of the Potomac.", Grand Army Scout and Soldiers Mail, January 6, 1883. Part 1
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Ronn Palm's Museum of Civil War Images
In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The museum was established to honor Pennsylvania's Civil War Soldiers by displaying original pictures of these men. The collection represents many different Pennsylvania regiments and some of their artifacts.
The feature exhibit of the Museum concerns the Pennsylvania Bucktail Regiments with nearly 300 images and artifacts of the "Bucktails." In effect, the museum makes a superb tribute and home for the Bucktails, and all the Pennsylvania soldiers, showing nearly 2,400 photographs. A special focus in the Museum are images of soldiers that served in regiments from Western Pennsylvania including the areas of Pittsburgh, Erie, Indiana, Beaver, Butler, Kittanning, Greensburg, Uniontown, Meadeville, and Washington, PA. Yet units from all over Pennsylvania are viewable, such as Collis' Zouaves (114th Pennsylvania Infantry), Baxter's Fire Zouaves (72nd Pennsylvania Infantry), and the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry - the men that dug the tunnel and exploded the mine at Petersburg. The museum continues to expand, and before long, will display an additional 3,500 soldier images in the future. There are also pictures of soldiers from other states in the Union on view.
The museum actively seeks photos and artifacts of soldiers, especially from Pennsylvania, as well as of men from other states that were present at the Battle of Gettysburg, to exhibit as a tribute to the soldiers themselves. The museum also sells books, bullets, Civil War and Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) memorabilia, and vintage civilian pictures.
Ronn Palm's Museum of Civil War Images,
229 Baltimore Street,
Gettysburg, Pa 17325
Phone: 717-337-1867
cwi@penn.com
Hours: Open weekends May through November. Open by appointment during the week and for groups.
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