Organized at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg from the following companies:

• Company A – “The Anderson Guards” – Tioga County – Captain Phillip Holland
• Company B – “The Morgan Rifles” – Perry County – Captain Langhorne Wister
• Company C – “The Cameron Rifles” – Cameron County – Captain John A. Eldred
• Company D – “The Raftsman’s Guards” – Warren Couny – Captain Roy Stone
• Company E – “The Tioga Rifles” – Tioga County – Captain Alanson E. Niles
• Company F – “The Irish Infantry” – Carbon County – Captain Dennis McGee
• Company G – “The Elk Rifles” – Elk County – Captain Hugh McDonald
• Company H – “Wayne Independent Rifles” – Chester County – Captain Charles Taylor
• Company I – “The McKean Rifles” – McKean County – Captain William Blanchard
• Company K – “The Raftsman’s Rangers” – Clearfield County – Captain Edwin A. Irvin

Three hundred woodsmen in McKean County had built three large rafts and rafted down the Sinnamahoning River to the Susquehanna and to Harrisburg under the direction of Thomas Kane.

The regiment was under the command of Colonel Charles Biddle, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas L. Kane, and Major Roy Stone. Kane was originally elected colonel and Biddle lieutenant colonel, but Kane wanted Biddle, a Mexican War veteran, to have command. A second election reversed the two offices.

The men were initially given smoothbore muskets but many refused to accept them, as they were recruited as a rifle regiment. The nickname of “Bucktails” came from the buck tail that each man wore on his hat, proclaiming their ability as marksmen.

New Creek Village and Ridgeville

Lieutenant Colonel Kane led a scouting party of 60 men into Virginia, fighting a skirmish at New Creek Village which killed eight and wounded sixteen of the attacking Confederate cavalry. Kane then advanced on to Ridgeville.

Battle of Dranesville

Two men were killed and 26 other men wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Kane was wounded in the mouth but remained on the field.

Battle of Harrisonburg

The battalion, with just 104 men after the attrition of the last week’s marching, lost 52 casualties in a fight with the Confederate brigade of George Steuart, consisting of the 44th Virginia Infantry and the 58th Virginia Infantry. Colonel Kane was wounded in the leg and captured, and Captain Frederick Taylor was captured while attempting to bring Kane off the field. Less than 50 Bucktails left the battlefield, but they mortally wounded “Stonewall” Jackson’s cavalry commander, General Turner Ashby.

Battle of Cross Keys

The battalion numbered less than a hundred men at the start of the battle. Supporting the 27th Pennsylvania Infantry and an artillery battery, they were cut off and only avoided capture when they fought their way out, bringing with them the battery they were supporting. Only 40 men remained in the ranks by the end of the day.

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

The remnants of the battalion were assigned to General Pope’s headquarters guard. Lieutenant Colonel Kane rejoined the battalion, which mustered 160 men.

Catlett’s Station

The battalion lost five men wounded, one mortally, and 19 men captured in a raid by Stuart’s Confederate cavalry. Although the Headquarters wagons were looted, the battalion prevented the bridge across Cedar Run from being destroyed.

Bull Run Bridge

The battalion acted as rear guard at the Stone Bridge, gathering a handful of willing artillery pieces. When the last of the army had retreated past, General Pope order Lieutenant Colonel Kane to destroy the bridge.

Peninsula Campaign

The battalion of four hundred men in six companies moved to White House, Virginia and was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Colonel Hugh McNeil was sick with Typhoid fever, and Major Roy Stone commanded the six battalion.

Seven days before Richmond

The regiment lost 247 officers and men during the Seven Days Battles, over 80%.

Battle of Mechanicsville (Beaver Dam Creek)

Three companies were cut off when supporting companies behind them were withdrawn. Two companies under Major Roy Stone fought their way out of the entrapment, but Company K under Captain Edward Irvin was cut off during the retreat. They would try to make their way back to Union lines for five days before finally being captured. Seventy five men were lost from these three companies.

The two companies which escaped rejoined with the two that had been left in the rear. Working with two companies of United States Sharp Shooters under Captains Drew and Giroux, these six companies contested fords in the late afternoon and evening against repeated attacks. The riflemen, defending entrenchments, caused great casualties to the enemy, and the fords were held. Two enlisted men were killed, and two officers and sixteen enlisted men were wounded

Battle of Gaines Mill

The division was ordered to retreat to Gaines Mill, and the Bucktails were the rear guard. Company E, under the command of Captain Alanson E. Niles, and part of Company D failed to receive the order to retreat before the bridge at the Mill Hospital was destroyed, and were cut off. They fell back through the swamps, causing great delay to large numbers the enemy, until they were finally captured. The company had the State colors that had been presented by Governor Curtin, which they hid in the swamp rather than allow them to be captured.

The regiment had just six officers and 125 enlisted men left by the end of the day when they went into a defensive line at Boatswain’s Creek. General Reynolds warmly complimented the battalion for its gallant conduct.

Battle of Savage Station

The battalion marched through White Oak Swamp, then picketed the Richmond Road along with two companies of United States Sharpshooters. Some lightly wounded men returned from the hospital and a number of men who had been cut off managed to make their way back and rejoin the ranks. By the end of the day 5 officers and 150 Bucktails and 5 officers and 84 enlisted men of the United States Sharpshooters were in the ranks.

Battle of Charles City Cross Roads or Glendale

The regiment was able to put 155 men into battle near Long Bridge Road. Forced into a fighting retreat, the regiment was the nucleus for resistance on the flank. General McCall and Major Roy Stone were moving forward in the darkness when they ran into Confederate troops blocking the road. General McCall was captured, but Major Stone escaped, although wounded.

The Bucktails lost 2 officers and 90 men killed, wounded and taken prisoner, and the United States Sharpshooters lost two officers and fifty-six men. At the end on the day the survivors of the battalion were withdrawn to Malvern Hill.

Battle of Malvern Hill

At Harrison’s Landing

Colonel McNeil returned from sick leave. Some of the men captured at Mechanicsville were exchanged and rejoined the ranks.

Northen Virginia Campaign

Movement to Join Pope. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia

Battle of Gainesville

Battle of Groveton (Brawner Farm)

Second Battle of Bull Run

Maryland Campaign

Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment was rearmed with the Model 1859 Sharps breechloader rifle.

Battle of South Mountain

The reunited regiment was commanded by Colonel Hugh McNeil. It brought less than 300 men to the battle. Captain Edward Irvin of Company K was wounded in the head when he led the regiment in a successful charge up the steep ridge. The position was taken at the cost of some 60 men. Captain Edward A. Irvin of Company K would be promoted to lieutenant colonel for his bravery.

“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”.
(Bates, Samuel P., History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65)

Battle of Antietam

Colonel McNeil was mortally wounded on the evening of September 16 leading the regiment in heavy skirmishing after crossing Antietam Creek. Captain Dennis McGee of Company F took command of the regiment when Colonel McNeil fell. Less than 200 men could be mustered by the end of the evening on the 16th. Three dozen more would be killed or wounded on the 17th.

“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.”
(Bates, Samuel P., History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65)

There are two War Department markers for Seymour’s Brigade on the Antietam battlefield.

From the Mansfield Avenue marker for Seymour’s Brigade:

Seymour’s Briade of Meade’s Division, after its engagement with the enemy of September 16, 1862, bivouacked on either side of the road at this point , with pickets thrown forward in the east woods.

From the Smoketown Road marker for Seymour’s Brigade:

Seymour’s Brigade became engaged at daybreak, and advanced on either side of this road into the East Woods, where it became heavily engaged with the enemy.

At the western edge of the East Woods its advance was checked by the enemy, and its ammunition having been exhausted, it was relieved about 7 A. M. by Ricketts’ Division, and withdrawn to the ridge in the rear of Joseph Poffenberger’s.

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment was commanded by Captain Charles Taylor, who had returned after several months of waiting to be exchanged from his capture at Hattisonburg. The regiment was involved in frontal assaults on Confederate positions 3 miles south of Fredericksburg, losing 19 Killed and 113 wounded and missing out of the 300 men who were engaged.

Lieutenant W. B. Jenkins was killed, and Captain Charles Taylor was wounded in the shoulder.

“Mud March”

Battle of Gettysburg

The 13th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves was commanded at Gettysburg by Colonel Charles F. Taylor. The regiment reached the battlefield on July 2 and formed up behind Little Round Top in the late afternoon. Colonel Taylor led a counterattack down Little Round Top, across Plum Run, and into the Rose Woods, where he was shot though the heart and killed. Lieutenant Colonel Niles had already been wounded, so Major William R. Hartshorn then took command. The regiment fell back to a stone wall.

On July 3 the regiment advanced in the afternoon. They captured the colors and many men from the 15th Georgia Infantry, which had not received orders to pull back with the rest of their division and was almost surrounded.

From the monument to the “Bucktails” at Gettysburg:

July 2nd in the evening charged from the hill in rear to this position and held it until the afternoon of July 3rd when the Brigade advanced through the woods to the front and left driving the enemy and capturing many prisoners.

Present at Gettysburg 30 officers and 319 men. Killed and died of wounds 2 officers and 9 men. Wounded 8 officers and 27 men. Captured or missing 2 men.

Lieutenant Robert Hall was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Kiles and Captains Hugh McDonald, J. D. Yerkes, Neri B. Kinsey and Frank Bell, and Lieutenants J. E. Kratzer, T. J. Roney, J. R. Sparr were wounded.

There is a monument to Colonel Taylor at Gettysburg at the location he fell.

Sergeant James B. Thompson of Company G was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 3rd when he captured the flag of the 15th Georgia.

Bristoe Campaign

Rappahannock Station

Mine Run Campaign

Rapidan Campaign

The regiment crossed the Rapidan and bivouacked near Lacy House.

Battle of the Wilderness

On the May 5 the Bucktails led the Union advance as skirmishers. After advancing to within sight of Parker’s Store the division pulled back, with the Bucktails nearly cut off in the withdrawal. They lost 14 men.

On May 6 the regiment attacked throughout the morning until they were pulled back. They were repositioned and launched a probing attack to learn the strength on newly created enemy trenches, which was strongly repelled. The Bucktails lost 2 men killed and 21 wounded.

On the night of May 7 the army moved toward Spotsylvania.

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

North Anna River

Strengthed the position and skirmished.

Totopotomoy Creek (Bethesda Church)

The regiment fought its last battle, acting as skirmishers for the division in an advance on the enemy, then delaying them as the division withdrew and set up defensive positions.

Total casualties for the regiment in the Rapidan Campaign were 2 officers and 26 enlisted men killed, and 6 officers and 112 enlisted men wounded.