President Abraham Lincoln had a problem. The issue of slavery was ripping the union apart. The possibility of war between the states became more likely with each passing day and Lincoln had no army. The founders rejected the policy of a standing army because, as they had seen with Great Britain, the army could be used against its own citizens. That was a lot of power to put in the hands of the President and Congress. The founders preferred the idea of a citizen army, that is, well-regulated militias that could be mustered as needed when the American republic was threatened. That time had come, and Lincoln put out the call for volunteers.
In July 1862, a volunteer regiment was formed with men from Potter, Tioga, Lycoming, Clearfield, Clarion, Lebanon, Allegheny, Luzerne, Mifflin and Huntingdon counties. Known as the “Bucktail Brigade,” the 149th and 150th regiments were formed in fewer than twenty days and almost immediately were called to defend Washington. The regiment remained near Washington through early February 1863. By the middle of the month, they were on the move across Virginia, taking their first fire along the banks of the Rappahannock on their way to Chancellorsville where they joined the main army. Before dawn on May 3, 1863, they were digging rifle pits, and for several days scouting and skirmishing. They attacked the enemy’s pickets and captured several prisoners. The fierce fighting at Chancellorsville was their baptism-by-fire into America’s Civil War.
Their next test was at Gettysburg. For the first two days of the battle in early July, the Bucktails were actively engaged and exposed to almost constant fire by sharpshooters. By the third day, they were preparing to meet Pickett’s charge when the Confederate forces suddenly withdrew. In the chaos, the Bucktails managed to maintain their position despite being badly outnumbered. During the fall, they pursued Lee and his retreating troops. They entered winter quarters near Culpepper, Virginia in December 1863.
By May 1864, the Bucktails were prepared to resume the fight. They were ambushed during the battle of the Wilderness, engaging in hand-to-hand combat and taking many casualties, until forced to retreat and regroup. They continued to be engaged in various actions until May 6 when they charged Longstreet’s command. After this assault, the Bucktails were ordered to the rear. In two days, the regiment had fifteen men killed, 99 wounded and 92 taken prisoner – about a quarter of the unit.
About two weeks later, the Bucktails were back on the frontline. After an overnight march on May 18th they reached Laurel Hill to support the cavalry. They took fire throughout the day and constructed defensive breastworks that night. Through the end of July, they fought across Virginia including action at Spotsylvania Courthouse and Petersburg. According to Colonel Irvin, between May and July the unit lost two commissioned officers and 32 men killed, six commissioned officers and 243 men wounded and 121 men missing. Through December they continued to face action at Weldon Railroad. Their last engagement was in early February 1865 at Dabney Mills. Soon after they were detached from the Army of the Potomac and sent to the prison camp at Elmira, New York to serve as guards. They were mustered out on June 24, 1865.
SOURCE
Alrich, Lewis Cass (ed.). 1887. History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/digitalbks2/id/23617/rec/3
