13th Pennsylvania Reserves (1st Rifles)

Also known as the 42nd Regiment, the "Bucktails" were organized originally as a Company and mustered into service as part of the Seventeenth (three months) Regiment, by Thomas L. Kane in April 1861. The were largely hunters and woodsmen, and wore male deer tails pinned to their caps as symbol of their shooting skills.

That Regiment was never officially constituted, so the respective officers of a number of similar Companies petitioned the Governor to form a Regiment. In June they were authorized with now-Colonel Kane in command.

"The regiment started into service with a variety of names: Kane's Rifles, the Forty-second of the line, the Thirteenth Reserve, the Rifle, the First Rifle, the Kane Rifle, and the Bucktails. The latter was the popular name, known and read of all".

After Col Kane was wounded, January, 1862, Capt Hugh W. M'Neil (Co D) was elected Colonel.

"The Regiment did excellent service in the Valley and Peninsular Campaigns in Gen Meade's Division".
[quoted from Bates]

"On the 7th of September, the regiment, now led by Colonel M'Neil, was ordered to move to meet the enemy in Maryland, and arrived in his front at South Mountain on the 14th. General Meade, in command of the division ordered Colonel M'Neil to deploy his men as skirmishers in front of the division, to move directly up the mountain, and attack the enemy where found. The movement commenced at four P.M., and his line of battle was encountered at the foot of the mountain, protected by artillery on the top. A charge was ordered, and the skirmishers, supported by the entire division, rushed forward with loud cheers, driving every thing before them, capturing prisoners at every step, until the top of the mountain was reached. It was now too dark to continue the pursuit, and the command rested. The loss was eighteen killed and forty-five wounded. Among the latter were Captains Irvin and Mack".

"On the following morning the troops moved forward in pursuit of the enemy, and at three P. M., reached the Antietam battleground. At two P. M., on the 16th, the regiment moved with the division to the right of the army, when General Meade directed Colonel M'Neil to deploy, as at South Mountain, in front of his division, and to advance to a piece of wood in front of the Dunkard Church then visible. The enemy. was soon found in strong force posted behind a fence in front of the wood indicated. Supports coming promptly up, the order was given to advance. The Bucktails rushed forward, with a shout, through a terrific fire of artillery and musketry, and gained the wood; but at a fearful cost. Colonel M'Neil, Lieutenant William Allison, and twenty-eight men, were killed, and sixty-five officers and men wounded in this single charge. The last words of Colonel M'Neil were, as he faced the death laden storm, and led the way, "Forward, Bucktails, forward." The division came promptly to their support, and the position was held during the night. At three A.M., on the following day, the battle was renewed. The Bucktails, now under command of Captain Magee, as senior officer, aided by Adjutant Hartshorn, were at once hotly engaged, and fought with their accustomed gallantry until relieved by order of General Meade. The loss in killed and wounded in the two days of battle was one hundred and ten officers and men."
[quoted from Bates]

Detail Map #1: Hookers First Corps Sweeps Down the Hagerstown Pike (5-7 am)

Tablet #1: First Army Corps - 16 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 6 PM
Tablet #15: Meade's Division, First Army Corps - 16 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 8 PM
Tablet #120: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #17: Seymour's Brigade, Meade's Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 8 AM
Tablet #11: Meade's Division, First Army Corps - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM

The Regiment continued in service with the Army of the Potomac, and fought at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the other campaigns of that army through June 1864.

"The veterans and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred and Ninetieth, of which. Major Hartshorn was appointed Colonel, and the regiment was mustered out of service at Harrisburg on the 11th. of June, 1864".

Sources: Bates, Samuel P., History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, (Vol I, 1869) and Thompson, O.R. Howard and Rauch, William H., History of the "Bucktails," Kane Rifle regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps (13th Pennsylvania Reserves), 42nd of the Line (1906).