The 150th at Gettysburg

The original Bucktails -- Kane's First Rifles

On April 15, 1861. President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 three­ month volunteers to combat a "rising rebellion". Thomas L. Kane, an abolitionist lawyer from Pennsylvania, was at his home in Philadelphia, taking a break from his railroad and mining interests, when the call came. The adventurous young man immedi­ately wired Governor Andrew Curtin with this message: "Will you accept a Company of horse to be raised by me in Elk and McKean Counties. I can leave tonight and bring down my men in a week. My offer of service is unconditional."

His offer was accepted, and by April 17th he was in Smethport, Pennsylvania recruiting men from McKean, Cameron, and Elk counties. He chose this area to recruit because he was familiar with it and the unusual breed of men who resided there. They were "used to taking care of themselves, accustomed to handling guns. familiar with the atmosphere of forests, dogged and determined in character and possessed of strong, rugged physiques through their outdoor existence:" As if Kane's electric personality wasn't enough, patriotic fervor ran high due to the announcement of the recent firing on Fort Sumter.

Kane eventually ended up with 315 men who would incorporate into a three brigade system of 1,165 soldiers. Of the thirteen regiments of infantry spread throughout these brigades, only one, the 13th was a rifle regiment. The 1st Pennsylvania Rifles obtained their famous sobriquet of "Bucktails" even before they began their service in the Union army. Recruit James Landregan stood outside the Smethport courthouse when he looked across the street and noticed a freshly killed deer hanging in the window of the butcher shop. For a reason known only to him. he sauntered over to the shop, removed the tail, and affixed it to his cap. Kane, when he saw the emblem, decided to call his unit of tough woodsmen the "Bucktails". Each man was to have his own bucktail, taken from a deer he personally slew.

The Bucktails arrived in Harrisburg and, after some political and military wrangling, found their way into the war, fighting with distinction at Drainesville, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill. Charles City Crossroads, Manassas, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.

The formation of the 149th and the 150th Bucktail regiments:

The men of Kane's original Bucktails gained a such reputation as excellent sharpshooters and skirmishers that Secretary of War Stanton requested an additional brigade of Bucktails in 1862. Twenty companies were raised and formed the 149th and 150th Pennsylvania regiments. They too called themselves the Bucktails. but their adoption of the name and the deer tail was not taken well by the original companies, who derisively called these upstarts the "Bogus Bucktails" or the "New Bucktails”. Both of the new Bucktail regiments, however, more than distinguished themselves in the major battles of the Civil War. During the War, the 207 men of the150th Regiment died. Four officers and 108 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and one officer and 94 enlisted men died from various diseases.At Gettysburg alone from the July 1st action on McPherson's Ridge, there were 288 casualties out of the 397 officers and enlisted men. Among those wounded (and captured) that day was Cpl. Herman Leroy Burlingame. In contrast, the original Bucktails were not openly engaged at McPherson's Ridge and their casualties were much lower: of the 319 men and 30 officers present from the 42nd Regiment (the First Rifles), there were only 46 causalities (killed and wounded).

Another interesting fact about the 150th Pennsylvania is that the Captain of Company K was a close personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln. Under the command of Captain David Derrickson, the men of the150th Co. K were responsible for guarding President Lincoln at his so-called 'Summer cottage', now the Old Solder’s Home in Washington, DC. The 150th also had two Medal of Honor recipients - Lt. Col. Henry Huidekoper and Cpl. Monroe J. Reisinger.

• HUIDEKOPER, HENRY S. Lieutenant Colonel, 150th Pennsylvania Infantry. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Born: 17 July 1839, Meadville, Pa. Citation: While engaged in repelling an attack of the enemy, received a severe wound of the right arm, but instead of retiring remained at the front in command of the regiment. At Gettysburg, Pa., 1 July 1863. Date of issue: 27 May 1905.

• REISINGER, MONROE J. Corporal, Company H, 150th Pennsylvania Infantry. Entered service at: Meadville, Pa. Birth: Beaver County, Pa. Citation: At Gettysburg, Pa., 1 July 1863. Specially brave and meritorious conduct in the face of the enemy. Awarded under Act of Congress, January 25, 1907. Date of issue: Unknown.