One of the men who answered the call to defend his country was Thomas Leiper Kane. Kane had immediately set about raising men for a company. He was a small, slight man, only 5 foot 4, with long, dark, wild hair, a full beard, and one eye that appeared perpetually half closed. He possessed tremendous energy, however, and had the gift of being able to make other men like him. He had no trouble raising more than three hundred men for service within four days of the firing on Fort Sumter.

Kane was one of many to write to Governor Curtin to offer troops even before Lincoln had called for volunteers. So impatient had he been to get to Harrisburg and into the war that he had not even waited for Curtin's response before he started with three companies of woodsmen. Before departing, however, the men had already adopted a uniform of sorts and a name to go with it. On the way to Harrisburg, some of the companies had spent a few days in the town of Smethport. Outside a butcher shop hung the hide of a white tailed deer. One of the boys with a flair for outrageous fashion cut the tail off and attached it to the front of his hat. Kane was apparently an early marketing genius and recognized a good gimmick when he saw one. Knowing that most of his men had lived in the wild region of the state all their lives and were experienced hunters and very proud of their prowess with a rifle, Kane henceforth advertised the regiment as the "Pennsylvania Bucktails," and the men all tried to sport a tail or a hank of deer fur on their caps. 

The Bucktails proved themselves adept at locating adventure. While on a drunken spree during their stay in Harrisburg one of the men had the misfortune of running into the same constable twice during the same night. The policeman decided to arrest him. No sooner had this happened when five or six other Bucktails arrived on the scene and were angered by the policeman's rough handling of their comrade. They descended upon the captor and wretched their friend free. The officer had no opportunity to call for help and therefore defended himself using his billy club. A Bucktail's head was gashed open and blood flowed freely. Enraged, the stricken man's friends went after the officer, who began crying loudly for help. But rather than receiving help, the constable got more trouble when about forty more Bucktails joined in the fracas. Wild though they were, the Bucktails were of good material, and if they could be kept under control they would become good infantry.

Even though Kane was the founder of the Bucktail regiment, he turned down the nomination of being elected colonel. Kane recommended Charles J. Biddle, a Mexican War Veteran, to be elected and the men acceding to his strongly expressed wishes elected Biddle as colonel and Kane as lieutenant colonel. Roy Stone was elected major. These men had a huge task ahead of them, but they were resigned to accept the challenge. With the aid of the company officers, the Bucktails were drilled relentlessly until they became one of the best fighting units assigned to the Army of the Potomac. The country boys were now ready to meet the nation's biggest challenge, the War of the Rebellion.

The Bucktails participated in more than 45 engagements during their career. Dranesville was the first battle they saw action. They were still state troops at the time, but, it was the first victory for the Union in the eastern theater.

The next time the Bucktails engaged the confederates was during the Seven Days Campaign. Only six companies participated in this series of battles, but they proved without a doubt that they were destined to become one of the most famous regiments that fought for the Union. Under the command of Major Roy Stone, the Bucktails were instrumental in guarding the rear of McClellan's Army as it retreated to Whitehouse Landing. These companies sustained over 50% casualties. Colonel Hugh McNeil, who was now in command, but, had just rejoined them after recovering from a fever was heard to declare: "My God, where are my Bucktails? Would that I had died with them." 

During this same time, Lt. Colonel Kane had four companies of Bucktails with him in the Shenandoah Valley. Their main objective was to develop what Kane had described as his "Instruction for Skirmishers." These tactics were so successful that they are still used by the armed forces today. They also were instrumental in the campaigns against General Stonewall Jackson and Turner Ashby. It was a Bucktail who had shot and killed the Confederate calvary commander, General Ashby. The men were under strict orders not to shoot any officer on horseback, therefore they shot the horse first and as soon as Ashby's feet hit ground, they shot him.

They fought at Catlett's Station and Second Bull Run. Shortly after Bull Run, the Bucktails were reunited. The Reserves were then sent to Washington for a well needed rest.

The second major campaign was the Maryland Campaign. The Bucktails were the driving force behind the Battle of South Mountain. Being expert marksmen, and using the Sharps breech loading rifle, they were able to drive the confederates off the mountain without exposing themselves to enemy fire. The Bucktails also fired the first shots from the union during the Battle of Antietam. It was during this battle that Colonel Hugh McNeil was killed as he led his men on a gallant attack to clear confederate skirmishers from a heavily wooded area. His last words were "Forward Bucktails, forward," before he hit the ground, shot through the heart. His men, seeking revenge, cleared the fence in an instant and had gained the edge of the woods pushing the enemy back. The men were compelled to end the struggle though, because of the darkness.

The next battle was Fredericksburg. The Bucktails, along with the rest of the Pennsylvania Reserves, were the only ones to breech the confederate lines. They could not hold this position because ammunition was in short supply and no relief was in sight.

The Bucktails also fought at Gettysburg. Although the 13th Reserves did not arrive until the second day, they played a crucial part in defending their home state. The Charge of the the Pennsylvania Reserves is well documented during the battle of the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield. The Bucktails were also called upon to clear the rebel sharpshooters from Devil's Den. It was during this battle that Colonel Charles Taylor, the youngest colonel in the Army of the Potomac at the time, was killed by a confederate sharpshooter when Corporal Brookin's, of Company G, rifle misfired in the defense of Colonel Taylor.

The last campaign the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves was active in was the Wilderness Campaign of 1864. It was here that the Bucktails were able to use the new weapon issued to them, the Spencer Rifle, the first successful repeating rifle. With this weapon they were able to gain valuable ground that may otherwise have been unattainable as they helped Grant's army push Lee's towards Spottsylvania Court House. With the continued push towards Richmond the Bucktails fought at Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, and finally at Bethesda Church. Their time of enlistment had expired; however, many did not return home. Instead, they reenlisted in the 190th Veteran's Reserve Corp, which was placed under the command of Colonel W. Ross Hartshorne of the 13th P. R. V. C.. These valiant men stayed in the service of the union until the war finally ended.

The men of the 13th P.R.V.C., 1st Pennsylvania Rifles, 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry had earned the right to be welcomed home as heroes no matter when they arrived. They had defended their country without question or concern for their own safety. Each man was proud to have been a part of the Bucktail Regiment.