The National tribune., 1884-04-03
VAN WEI
THE PENNA. RESERVES.
An Interesting Sketch of the Famous Crack
niriSinn.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:


Division.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Allow me to give more extended reply to
the questions asked by L. n. j., of Schroon
Lake n. Y, in regard to the Pennsylvania
Reserves. AT the outbreak of the rebellion it
was feared by wise men, whose prophecies
could not be nnheeded, that the war would, If
possible, be carried by the insurgents into free
territory, and that Pennsylvania would be
their first objective point; and it was further
prophesied by those same statesmen and mill
tary men that the term Of service of the men
already mustered in for three months would
not see the war ended, and that additional
levies for troops and for longer terms must be
made. Hence, as early as April 90 1861, Gov
ernor Curtin called an extra session of the
Legislature to convene on the Both of that
month.
On May ID bill was reported as recon-
mended by the Governor, for arning the State
and providing for loan to meet the expenses
incident thereto.
The bin became law on the 10Th of May,
1861 and among other things authorized the
governor to organize a military corps COM
posed Of thirteen regiments of infantry, one
regiment of cavalry, and one regiment OF light
artillery, which were to be styled the Reserve
Volunteer Corps of the Commonwealth. and as
TO numbers, officers, and all their clothing and
equipments were to conform TO the regulations
of the army of the United States.
on TO WASHINGTON.
This organization was fully completed and
ready for the field, and many Of the regiments
were actually on duty within six weeks after the
passage of the law by which it was created. The
term of enlistment was for three years, unless
sooner discharged, and they were to be held
liable TO serve in the United States army at
any time the President might call on the Gov
ernor for troops. Our defeat at Bull Run re-
suited in a call for the entire division, and
as soon as the railroads could get it TO Wash
ington city ii was there-many of the regi-
ments arriving at the capital on the night of
the 22d and morning OF the 23d of July, 1861,
and were all sworn into the United States
service in few days thereafter. MajorGen-
eral George A. Mccall commanded the divis-
ion; the lst brigade, comprising the 9th, 1st,
ID and Sth regiments was commanded by
Brigadier-General John L. Reynolds; the ID
brigade. comprising the Sd, 4th, eth and 18th
regiments, was commanded by Brigadier-Gen-
eral George G. Meade, and the Sd brigade,
comprising the 9Th 9th, 10Th and 18th regi-
ments, was commanded By Colonel John S
Mclalmont, of the 10th, who was q graduate
OF West Point, until about November, 1861,
when Brigadier-General Il. O. G. Ord took
command. These men-AIcCail, Meade. Rey-
nolds and Ord-were all officers in the Regular
army and all had seen active service in the
Ord was succeeded IN command of the Sd bril-
gade by Brigadier-General Trueman Seymour
early in May. 1862 This was the original
organization of the division, and IL was peculiar
for the reason that it was the only division
then in the army composed entirely of troops
from the same State, and in which the brigade
commanders, as well as the division COM
NADER, were ali Regular army officers, and all
of whom had actually served on the field of
battle. The incidents of war, however, made
many changes, and, while the division COM
mander retired early In the campaign of 1862,
being really too old for active daty, the others
became eminent for their hefoism and military
skill. and rose suceessiyely and rapidly from
brigade commands 10 divisions and corps, and
one of them-General Meade-to the command
of the Army of the Potomac.
THE BUcKTAILs.
But have said nothing yet about the Buck
tails,-the 18th regiInent-although part OF
the corps. This regiment was composed of
riAemen-of men who were born and reared in
the mountain Businesses Of Northern Pennsyl-
vania, and who were as hardy and heroic as
they were unerring with their rifles, and were
intended primarily as a mounted regiment.
but this idea was abandoned and they became
the skirmishers = the sharpshooters-of the
division. The regiment was recruited by
Thomas L. Kane, brother of DR.. Kane, the
arctic explorer, and his command was known
at first as the Kane Rifles; but, as every
man had buck's-deers-tai in his cap, they
soon received the cognomen Of Bucktaiis,n and
with that title they viii travel on down the
highway of history and glory. The I49th and
10th regiments, which went into the service
il the latter part of the year 1862 and after
the reputation Of the Kane Rifles had become
national through their individual deeds of
daring and the Immortality OF Mcneil on the
/ picker-hne the night before Antietam, as
sumed the insignia Of Kane's men," but
never Won the same renosyn nor achieved the
/ same heroic results. Gen. Meade was not with
( any ether troops than the Pennsylvania Re-
serves prior 10 his taking command of the 5th
army corps, except the short time he was in
4 command Of the 1st army corps on the field of
Antieiam during the few days that Gen John
/ +. Reynolds was called to the command Of the
4 Pennsylvania militia which were called to the
borders of that State In September, 1862, to re-
/ pei any invasion that might be attempted by
the rebel army IN the event Of success in the
engagement at Antietam.
Every soldier in the Army Of the Potomac
! who read the farewell order OF Gen. Meade to
I the Pennsylvania Reserves when he parted
with them in the early spring Of 1863, well
remembers that in that order he attributed to
/ the bravery Of the division ali the renown he
had achieved as a military commander.
j. /. EBERHART,
NEW BRIGHTON, Pa. Sth Pa. Reserves.