The Many Names of the

BUCKTAILS

Recruited in Cameron County in April of 1861

There is much confusion around the names of the Bucktails . These notes from the owner of the Bucktails Webpage may help in your research.

Many folks who I have helped trace their ancestors often became extremely confused
when it came to the "Bucktails".  As some know, the Bucktails had several
names in the Army at the time.

When the regiment was mustered into the federal army, it was known as the
42nd Regiment in line.  However, when Lincoln called for volunteers, he
asked for a quota of 75,000 men in April of 1861 many regiments being formed
were to late, the quota had been filled.  Governor Andrew Curtin at the time
wanted to have a guard for the state of Pennsylvania incase the Confederates
tried to come into the state.

This guard would consist of 13 regiments (2 Divisions)  known as the
Pennsylvania Reserves.  The Bucktail Regiment would become the 13th
Pennsylvania Reserves.

Before the Bucktails formed in the spring of 1861, they were promised to be
a Rifle Regiment.  Thus they were also known as the First Pennsylvania
Rifles.

After the Penninsula Campagin in June 1862, Major Roy Stone and Captain
Langhorne Wister of Company B broke off from the 1st Rifles to compose a
Brigade of Bucktails under the command of Stone.  The Brigade was never
formed, but two new regiments of Bucktails were.  The Brigade would consist
of the 143rd PA (not bucktials) and the 149th and 150th PA Bucktails.

There was some riff between the Bucktails and the Bucktails of Stone's
Brigade.  They were often called the "Bogus Bucktails."  So the old 42nd
would also be known as the "Old" or "Original" Bucktails, while the new
regiments were called the "New" Bucktails.

So here you have it.  All the names that different people may know them
as....

42nd Pennsylvania Regiment Volunteers
13th Pennsylvania Reserves
1st Pennsylvania Rifles
Original Bucktails
Old Bucktails

Hope this helps.

Augie