13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, also known as the 42nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 1st Bucktail Regiment, or the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles, was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It was a part of the famed Pennsylvania Reserves
in the Army of the Potomac
for much of the early and middle parts of the war, and served in the Eastern Theater
in a number of important battles, including Antietam
, Fredericksburg
, and Gettysburg
.
on June 21, 1861. Thomas L. Kane
was elected colonel, Charles John Biddle
as lieutenant colonel, and Roy Stone
as major. Kane, as a civilian, wanted to have Biddle, a Mexican War Veteran, be Colonel instead, and a second election was held, granting Kane his wish. The unit served as part of the Pennsylvania Reserves
for the majority of its service with the Union Army. It was first assigned to garrison duty in Maryland. On July 12 a scouting party under Kane of sixty men were surrounded by cavalry at New Creek Village, but fought them off, killing eight Confederates and wounding sixteen. After receiving reinforcements, Kane moved to Ridgeville which he captured after a skirmish.
In the fall, it was assigned to the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac
, then serving in the Shenandoah Valley. On October 20, it marched to Dranesville, where Colonel Kane was wounded in the mouth while repulsing the Confederates. During a reorganization of the regiment in January 1862, Hugh W. McNeil was elected colonel and Kane lieutenant colonel, with Stone remaining major. Biddle had resigned to take his place in Congress. During the Peninsula Campaign
, the Pennsylvania Reserves division was assigned as part of the I Corps; only part of the regiment went to the Peninsula, Companies C, G, H, and I, under the command of Kane, remaining in the Valley. This provisional battalion fought in several battles of the 1862 Valley campaign.
During the June 6th Battle of Harrisonburg, in an attempt to rescue a Captain Haines and his wounded men of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry
, the regiment held off Stuart's Brigade, including the 44th Virginia Infantry
, the 58th Virginia Infantry
, the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA
, and a Louisiana regiment, for an hour, killing General Turner Ashby
. Colonel Kane was captured in the retreat. They had lost 52 men, and Confederates had lost over 500.
The other six companies went under Major Stone. During the retreat from Richmond, they lost company in a swamp, then fought at Gaines Mill. Two other companies were lost during the retreat. At the retreat to Harrison's Landing, Stone and his men constructed a bridge over a stream, possibly saving the Union army. Stone took command of a different regiment after this.
In early September, the two battalions were re-united under the command of McNeil, who had been sick; the Pennsylvania Reserve Division, now designated as the Third Division of the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac. At Bull Run, Kane was promoted to Brigadier General
for covering Pope's retreat. His position was filled by Edward Irvin The new major was Alanson Niles. The regiment suffered extreme losses at Antietam, including Colonel McNeill. The new commander was Charles Taylor, who had been captured twice by Confederates. They participated in the disastrous assault on Fredericksburg. Irwin resigned from injury, and Niles became Lieutenant Colonel.
At Gettysburg, Niles was wounded, and Taylor was killed at Little Round Top, leaving Major Hartshorn in command. They then marched to Spotslyvania for their final battle. The regiment was mustered out of service on June 11, 1864. Those who had reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers were transferred to the 190th Pennsylvania.
-June 12, -June 13, 1861 (resigned to become Lieutenant Colonel)
Charles John Biddle
-June 14, 1861-January 21, 1862 (resigned to join Congress)
Hugh McNeil-January 22-September 16, 1862 (Killed)
Dennis Magee-September 16, 1862 (replaced)
Charles Taylor-September 17, 1862-July 2, 1863 (Killed)
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was a part of the famed Pennsylvania Reserves
Pennsylvania Reserves
The Pennsylvania Reserves were an infantry division in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Noted for its famous commanders and high casualties, it served in the Eastern Theater, and fought in many important battles, including Antietam and Gettysburg....
in the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
for much of the early and middle parts of the war, and served in the Eastern Theater
Eastern Theater of the American Civil War
The Eastern Theater of the American Civil War included the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the coastal fortifications and seaports of North Carolina...
in a number of important battles, including Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
, Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, and Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
.
Service
The 13th Pennsylvania Reserves was raised in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
on June 21, 1861. Thomas L. Kane
Thomas L. Kane
Thomas Leiper Kane was an American attorney, abolitionist, and military officer who was influential in the western migration of the Latter-day Saint movement and served as a Union Army colonel and general of volunteers in the American Civil War...
was elected colonel, Charles John Biddle
Charles John Biddle
Charles John Biddle was an American soldier, lawyer, Congressman, and newspaper editor.-Biography:Biddle was born and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Nicholas Biddle, president of the Second Bank of the United States, and nephew of Congressman Richard Biddle...
as lieutenant colonel, and Roy Stone
Roy Stone
Roy Stone was a Union Army general during the American Civil War. He is most noted for his stubborn defense of the McPherson Farm during the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early life and family:...
as major. Kane, as a civilian, wanted to have Biddle, a Mexican War Veteran, be Colonel instead, and a second election was held, granting Kane his wish. The unit served as part of the Pennsylvania Reserves
Pennsylvania Reserves
The Pennsylvania Reserves were an infantry division in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Noted for its famous commanders and high casualties, it served in the Eastern Theater, and fought in many important battles, including Antietam and Gettysburg....
for the majority of its service with the Union Army. It was first assigned to garrison duty in Maryland. On July 12 a scouting party under Kane of sixty men were surrounded by cavalry at New Creek Village, but fought them off, killing eight Confederates and wounding sixteen. After receiving reinforcements, Kane moved to Ridgeville which he captured after a skirmish.
In the fall, it was assigned to the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
, then serving in the Shenandoah Valley. On October 20, it marched to Dranesville, where Colonel Kane was wounded in the mouth while repulsing the Confederates. During a reorganization of the regiment in January 1862, Hugh W. McNeil was elected colonel and Kane lieutenant colonel, with Stone remaining major. Biddle had resigned to take his place in Congress. During the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
, the Pennsylvania Reserves division was assigned as part of the I Corps; only part of the regiment went to the Peninsula, Companies C, G, H, and I, under the command of Kane, remaining in the Valley. This provisional battalion fought in several battles of the 1862 Valley campaign.
During the June 6th Battle of Harrisonburg, in an attempt to rescue a Captain Haines and his wounded men of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry
1st New Jersey Cavalry
The 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry was a regiment from the U.S. state of New Jersey that participated in the American Civil War.Regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 116 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 185 Enlisted men by disease...
, the regiment held off Stuart's Brigade, including the 44th Virginia Infantry
44th Virginia Infantry
The 44th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
, the 58th Virginia Infantry
58th Virginia Infantry
The 58th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
, the 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA
1st Maryland Infantry, CSA
The 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA was a regiment of the Confederate army, formed shortly after the commencement of the American Civil War in April 1861. The unit was made up of volunteers from Maryland who, despite their home state remaining in the Union during the war, chose instead to fight for the...
, and a Louisiana regiment, for an hour, killing General Turner Ashby
Turner Ashby
Turner Ashby, Jr. was a Confederate cavalry commander in the American Civil War. He had achieved prominence as Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's cavalry commander, in the grade of colonel, in the Shenandoah Valley before he was killed in battle in 1862...
. Colonel Kane was captured in the retreat. They had lost 52 men, and Confederates had lost over 500.
The other six companies went under Major Stone. During the retreat from Richmond, they lost company in a swamp, then fought at Gaines Mill. Two other companies were lost during the retreat. At the retreat to Harrison's Landing, Stone and his men constructed a bridge over a stream, possibly saving the Union army. Stone took command of a different regiment after this.
In early September, the two battalions were re-united under the command of McNeil, who had been sick; the Pennsylvania Reserve Division, now designated as the Third Division of the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac. At Bull Run, Kane was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
for covering Pope's retreat. His position was filled by Edward Irvin The new major was Alanson Niles. The regiment suffered extreme losses at Antietam, including Colonel McNeill. The new commander was Charles Taylor, who had been captured twice by Confederates. They participated in the disastrous assault on Fredericksburg. Irwin resigned from injury, and Niles became Lieutenant Colonel.
At Gettysburg, Niles was wounded, and Taylor was killed at Little Round Top, leaving Major Hartshorn in command. They then marched to Spotslyvania for their final battle. The regiment was mustered out of service on June 11, 1864. Those who had reenlisted as Veteran Volunteers were transferred to the 190th Pennsylvania.
Casualties
- Killed and mortally wounded:11 officers, 151 enlisted men
- Died of disease:2 officers, 88 enlisted men
- Total:13 officers, 239 enlisted men
Commanders
Thomas KaneThomas Kane
Thomas Kane is the name of:*Thomas Kane , Harvard professor*Thomas Kane , American Civil War sailor*Thomas Kane , member of The Slickee Boys*Thomas L. Kane , Civil War veteran*Thomas R...
-June 12, -June 13, 1861 (resigned to become Lieutenant Colonel)
Charles John Biddle
Charles John Biddle
Charles John Biddle was an American soldier, lawyer, Congressman, and newspaper editor.-Biography:Biddle was born and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Nicholas Biddle, president of the Second Bank of the United States, and nephew of Congressman Richard Biddle...
-June 14, 1861-January 21, 1862 (resigned to join Congress)
Hugh McNeil-January 22-September 16, 1862 (Killed)
Dennis Magee-September 16, 1862 (replaced)
Charles Taylor-September 17, 1862-July 2, 1863 (Killed)