Draw the Sword

Bucktails. Regiment earned that nickname through the expert marksman among its ranks. Each man adorned his kepi with the tail of a deer he had shot — hence the name “Bucktails.”

A Fighting 300 Regiment

Location: Ayres Avenue, woods near Day’s Hill and the Wheatfield

Order of Battle: 5th Corps, 3rd Division, 1st Brigade

Number Engaged: 349; 7 killed, 39 wounded, 2 missing

Commander: Col. Charles F. Taylor (1840-1863)

Raised: Counties of Tioga, Cameron, Carbon, Chester, Elk, McKean, Perry, and Warren

Monument Specifications: Full-length granite sculpture of a “bucktail” infantryman stands on plinth atop three tiered rock base. He is dressed in uniform and holds a rifle tip in his proper left hand (butt end of rifle by his foot) and holds his proper right hand on his hip. The base is decorated with a bronze state tablet and bronze text plaque. The location of the monument marks the position of the reserve units on July 2, 1863 after counter attack by Confederate forces. The unit remained here until July 3rd. Monument consists of red westerly granite.

Dedication Date: Sept. 1890.

Other Monuments and Memorials: There is a memorial stone inscribed on front and back marking the approximate location of where Col. Charles F. Taylor, commanding the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves was killed. Erected November 1905. A marker was initially placed in 1878 but was since removed and replaced by this monument. It is inscribed, Here fell / Charles Frederick Taylor / July 2, 1863 / Age 23 years 4 months 26 days / Colonel of “The Bucktails” / First Rifle Regiment P.V.R.C. / Erected by his comrades and friends / 1905

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Harrisburg June 21, 1861. Moved to a point opposite Cumberland, Md., June 22; thence into West Virginia in support of Lew Wallace. Duty on State line until July 27. Ordered to Harper’s Ferry August 1. Assigned to George H. Thomas’ Brigade, Banks’ Division, and duty at Harper’s Ferry until October. Moved to Tennallytown, Md., October 1. Attached to 2nd Brigade, McCall’s Pennsylvania Reserves Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 3rd Brigade, McCall’s Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. (Cos. “C,” “G,” “H” and “I” detached May 12, 1862, and attached to Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 1st Corps, Army of Virginia, to August, 1862.) 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserve Division, 22nd Corps, Dept. of Washington, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864.

SERVICE.–Moved from Tennallytown, Md., to Camp Pierpont, near Langley, Va., October 10, 1861, and duty there until March, 1862. Expedition to Hunter’s Mills October 20, 1861 (Cos. “A,” “G,” “H,” “I” and “K”). Expedition to Grinnell’s Farm December 6. Action at Dranesville December 20. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-15. McDowell’s advance on Falmouth April 9-19. Duty at Fredericksburg until June. (Cos. “C,” “G,” “H” and “I” reported to Colonel Bayard May 15, 1862. Pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley May 25-June 6. Harrisonburg June 1. Strasburg June 2. Strasburg and Staunton Road June 2. Woodstock June 3. Mount Jackson June 3. Harrisonburg June 6-7. Cross Keys June 8. Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Catlett’s Station August 22. Bull Run Bridge August 30-31. Rejoined Regiment September 7, 1862.) Regiment moved to White House June 9-12. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Battles of Mechanicsville June 26; Meadow Bridge, near Mechanicsville, June 26; Gaines Mill June 27; Savage Station June 29; Charles City Cross Roads or Glendale June 30; Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison’s Landing until August 16. Movement to Join Pope August 16-26. Battles of Gainesville August 28; Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battles of South Mountain September 14; Antietam September 16-17. Duty in Maryland until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Ordered to Washington, D.C., February 6, and duty there and at Alexandria until June 25. Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Duty on the Rapidan until October. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Guard Orange & Alexandria Railroad until April, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May 4-31. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Harris Farm May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 25. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 190th Pennsylvania June 1. Mustered out June 11, 1864. Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 151 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 88 Enlisted men by disease. Total 252.