The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-06-17

when they ran afOul OF the Sharpe and
Spencer rifles in the hands Of hardy
mountain hunters from some of the
northern states. The "Bucktails'' of
the Keystone never once gave ground to
Texan or Mississippian, VIGOROUSLY
quick and deadly as these were ION
the shoot" The Bucktails formed
unique corps, and their name and fame
didn't die out until the last gray coat
hung up his rifle and cried quits. The
idea Of enlisting mountaineers for war
fare originated with Thomas L. Kane,
brother of the arctic explorer Kane
had been schooled in rough life by ex-
tensive mountain travel, and so far an
ticipated the needs of the service that
on the 18th Of April, 1861, the day Ma
jor Anderson was vainly trying to hold
the fort at Sumter, he applied to the
government for authority to raise COM
pany Of mounted riflemen among the
yeomanry of the counties of Forest, Nc
Kean and Elk, region in western
Pennsylvania popularity known as the
wildcat district Men responded
promptly, and when the news came that
Sumter had fallen it was decided to
form an infantry battalion. Recruits
focked to the rendezvous clad in home
spun and red flannel shirts, carrying
their hunting rifles and wearing buck
tails in their hats.
Within ten days after the call sound
ed band of "Bucktails' over 800
strong embarked on RATS at the SHINE
mahoning landing to float down the
Susquehanna to Harrisburg. From flag
poles of green hickory, each surmounted
by bucktail, the stars and stripes were
flung to the breeze AS the strange flo
tilla moved down the river the primeval
forests lining its banks were stirred to
echoes by the shrill notes of the fife and
the rataplan of the snare drum.
Owing to some blunder at headquar-
tiers there was hitch in the programme,
and word was telegraphed along the
line to intercept those mountaineers
who in the spirit Of the old Continentals
were Fastening to the seat of war, and
turn them back at Lockhaven. It was
said that they could not be mustered
into the United States service. A long
headed general of militia got hold of
the telegram and suppressed it, SO the
fotilla moved on, and coming within
view of Harrisburg the "Bucktails' sa-
luted it with volley from their rifles.
Their fame had preceded them, and
they were quickly recognized by the
telltale badges on their hats.
Meanwhile similar companies had
been formed, one by Roy Stone in War
rem county, at the headwaters of the
Allegheny. This company also had
trouble in getting accepted. and was
ordered to disband, but the men re-
fused. General Mcclellan, on learning
what was afoot, offered to take Stones
company into his West Virginia army
as an independent corps of sharpshoot-
ers, but while the band was on the way
to join the army Governor Curtin re-
called them to Harrisburg, where there
was another company from West Chester
county led by Captain Charles F. Tay-
lor, brother Of Bayard Taylor, with
others from Perry, Clearfeld, Carbon
and Tioga. In the end nine captains,
supplicating for SO many separate COM
panies, asked to be formed into regi-
ment under the leadership of Colonel
Kane. Kane gave way to G. J. Biddle,
veteran Of the Mexican war, and him
self took the position of lieutenant colo