In October of 1860, Andrew Gregg Curtin had been elected Governor of Pennsylvania. A graduate of the Law School at Dickinson College, he had entered the political field twenty years previously. He had supported both General Harrison and General Taylor in the campaigns preceding their elections to the Presidency, and had himself, in 1855, been appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth. Influential in securing the nomination of Lincoln, he came to the Gubernatorial chair as the representative of no uncertain policy, and possessed of an iron determination to see that that policy should be upheld.
When the Southerners fired upon Fort Sumter, Pennsylvania, with Simon Cameron as Secretary of War, with Thaddeus Stevens bending the House to his will, and with Governor Curtin occupying the Governor's chair at home, was in a position to assume her proper position as one of the bulwarks of the nation; while the Governor himself, immediately proceeded to Washington to lend to the deliberations that must ensue the benefit of his counsel.
In the State itself the excitement was intense. Almost uniformly the Northerners had refused to believe that the South would .resort to force, considering its belligerent declarations as mere blusterings. But with the actual insult to the flag the North realized that force must be met by force, and even before President Lincoln issued his call for volunteers the temper of the people had begun to make itself felt.
Thomas Leiper Kane, a resident of the northern part of the State, who had been active in abolitionist circles, wrote to Governor Curtin as follows:
"Greenwood, near Philadelphia.
April 13, 1861, afternoon
H. E. ANDREW G. CURTIN,
Governor.
Dear Sir
Taking what I hear in connection with your proclamation-which has my approval-I presume you will soon call out the militia, neither against the South nor against the North, but for Pennsylvania.
Should this be your purpose, I will feel personally obliged by your giving me an opportunity to serve. In the present exigency it should be the reverse of a disqualification that my associations and sympathies differ from your own.
If desired by you I can raise a Company of McKean and Elk Counties-of horse.
Very respectfully and truly,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS L. KANE."
On April 15th, President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 men for three months. On that morning Kane again placed his services at the disposal of the Governor, telegraphing:
"Philadelphia, Monday morning.
April 15, 1861.
To H. E. Andrew G. Curtin, Governor, Harrisburg.
Will you accept a Company of horse to be raised by me in Elk and McKean Counties. I can leave to-night and bring down my men in a week. My offer of service is unconditional.
THOMAS L. KANE"
At the same time he telegraphed the Hon. J. G. Gordon and S. M. Lawrence, at Harrisburg, requesting them to second his offer.
Kane's telegram was forwarded to Governor Curtin at Washington, and the same day he received the following reply:
"Harrisburg, April 15, 1861.
To Thos. L. Kane.
Your tender of the services of the Elk and McKean County Cavalry is accepted, hold yourself in readiness to march on short notice. Answer, stating number of men.
ELI SLIVER,
Secy. Commonwealth."
The next day, however, Kane received the following telegram:
"Harrisburg, April 16, 1861.
To Thos. L. Kane.
The Secretary of War has just notified the department that none but Infantry and Riflemen will be taken, he can receive none but those who carry muskets or rifles.
ELI SLIFER,
Secy. Commonwealth."
On the 17th Governor Curtin sent the following dispatch:
"Harrisburg, April 17, 1861.
To Thos. L. Kane,
Olean.
The General Government want Infantry and Riflemen and refuse to accept Cavalry-arms and equipments will be furnished by the Government.
A. G. CURTIN."
Kane had, upon the receipt of the dispatch of the 15th, authorizing him to raise a force, started for the northern section of the State. He realized by this time that war was almost inevitable, and determined to collect men of the type required men used to taking care of themselves, accustomed to handling guns, familiar with the atmosphere of the forests, dogged and determined in character, and possessed of strong and rugged physiques through their outdoor existence. By the evening of the 16th, or morning of the 17th of April, he had reached Smethport, McKean County, a scant fifteen miles from the northernmost border of the State, and there he issued the following call:
VOLUNTEER RIFLES!
MARKSMEN WANTED !
"By authority of Governor Curtin, a company will be formed this week of citizens of McKean and Elk Counties, who are prepared to take up arms immediately, to support the Constitution of the United States and defend the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am authorized to accept at once for service, any man who will bring with him to my headquarters a Rifle which he knows how to use:
Come forward Americans, who are not degenerate from the spirit of '76. Come forward in time to save the city of Washington from capture-in time to save the flag of the Union there from being humbled as it has been at Fort Sumter.
THOMAS L. KANE.
Smethport, April 17, 1861."
"Headquarters at the Bennett House, Smethport. Muster Roll at the same place, and questions answered. Apply without further notice."
Kane immediately began his canvass of McKean, Elk and Cameron Counties. Selecting his lieutenants for the work of recruiting with admirable discrimination, he established his headquarters in Smethport, while his messengers on horseback went from town to town and village to village, till from these three counties three companies were recruited that were to form the nucleus of the future Bucktail regiment.
At the Court House at Smethport, on the evening of the 18th, at a meeting presided over by the Hon. B. D. Hamlin, Colonel Kane was introduced and made an address in which he reviewed the incidents of the last few days, read the proclamation of President Lincoln calling for volunteers, and announced that he had been commissioned by Governor Curtin to raise a force of one hundred volunteers. He stated his belief that the organization of an effective force was the best preventative of war, and his hopes that the rallying of the people might result in the resumption of harmony without the shedding of fraternal blood. Suitable resolutions were passed, looking towards the support of the projects of Colonel Kane, and the latter resumed his work of organizing his company.
The days of recruiting were full of incident and interest. The first man enlisted by Colonel Kane seems to have been Hiram Woodruff, and as others followed the different companies took shape.
The men from Elk County formed themselves into the "Elk County Rifles." Kane had reached Benezett, in the southern portion of the County, on April 18th. At that place the leading lumberman was Mr. Cobe Winslow, who, with the assistance of his nephew, Thomas B. Winslow, and John A. Wolfe, succeeded in gathering together, within twenty-four hours after Colonel Kane's appearance 109 men and boys. These men came from the lumber camps, chiefly in the vicinity of Ridgway and St. Mary's, and were notified to assemble at Benezett, which they did.
In Cameron County, John A. Eldred, assisted by C. H. Sage and A. H. Boynton, with headquarters established at the Emporium House, was laboring to collect a company, and secured amongst his first recruits William B. Jenkins, Smith E. Guthrie and George Fine. The company became known as the "Cameron County Rifles," or "Wild Cats," and the citizens of the vicinity, taking pride in the growing organization, did what they could to assist in the work of recruiting, Mr. and Miss Hitchcock being particularly prominent in securing and presenting to the company some necessary donations.
The men from McKean County formed themselves into the "McKean County Rifles." William T. Blanchard, who, shortly before, while assisting in the promotion and construction of the Bradford and Pittsburgh Railroad, had met Colonel Kane, was in New York on the 18th of April. Aroused by the firing upon Fort Sumter, he, in company with James Welch, of Bradford, McKean County, immediately left for Bradford. Arriving at Bradford on the evening of the 19th, upon leaving the train, Blanchard found a crowd of persons assembled at the station, amongst whom was James M. Blair, the Sheriff of McKean County, who bore a letter addressed to him from Colonel Kane, requesting the help of his co-operation, and expressing a wish that he sign his name at the head of the muster roll of the company to be raised in McKean County. Blanchard threw himself enthusiastically into the work, established his headquarters at Bradford, and collecting by the evening of the 21st, 34 men went with them to Smethport. At the latter place he found that Frank Bell and Bruce B. Rice had collected 22 more men, and thus, when the two detachments were united, McKean County had 67 men upon her roll.
Upon the arrival of the McKean County Rifles at Smethport, Kane pressed Blanchard into service as his secretary, and some days were occupied in the sending and receiving of dispatches. The men in the three companies were drawn from sparsely settled districts, practically destitute of telegraphic connections, and Kane could only get or keep in touch with his various lieutenants by means of messengers on horseback.
While at Smethport the insignia by which the future regiment came to be known was adopted. Opposite the Court House, where Kane had his headquarters, was a butcher shop, and one day James Landregan, who had enlisted in the McKean County Rifles, noticed a deer's hide hanging outside. Crossing the street, he pulled out his penknife, cut off the tail and stuck it in his cap. Upon his return to headquarters, Kane noticed his headgear, seized upon the idea suggested and instantly announced that the force he was recruiting should be known as "Bucktails." Without waiting a minute all who were around headquarters rushed over to the butcher shop, knives were produced, the hide cut into strips resembling tails, and the strips mounted in the caps of the men.
On the afternoon of the 22nd Kane administered the oath required by the Government to those who had signed the muster roll. On the morning of the 23rd, breakfast was served at the Bennett House at 6 A. m., after which the men were assembled in the Court Room to receive their first military instructions from Kane. At 8 A.M. they were marched and filed in the street fronting the Bennett House, where Kane proposed three cheers for the Hon. Byron D. Hamlin, President of the first Union meeting held in McKean County since the attempt to dissolve the Union, which were given with a will. Short appropriate speeches were made by the Hon. Mr. Hamlin and by the Hon. N. E. Eldred, of Wayne County, after which three cheers were called for and given for the McKean County Rifles, three for Colonel Kane and three for the Stars and Stripes which hung in front of the hotel.
About 9 A. M. the command, "Forward, march," was given. The march was a long one. The column headed across the mountains to Cameron Station, in Cameron County, on the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, twenty-eight miles away. Each man carried his own rifle, ammunition, and a coat and a blanket, nor did the organization include a Quartermaster to furnish wagons to carry extra baggage. At Cameron they found the Cameron County Rifles drawn up, in true military style, by Captain John A. Eldred, waiting to receive them. The people of Cameron had also turned out to meet them; torches were produced and the line came to a halt outside of a hotel on the outskirts of the town. Colonel Kane, who had secured and put on one of the naval coats, with brass buttons, belonging to Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, now mounted an old dry goods box and as the troops came to a standstill they presented arms to him. Speeches were made, patriotic songs sung and anvil cannons fired. Recruits were added to both companies, while the townspeople saw to it that none went hungry.
On the morning of the 24th the march was resumed to the Sinnamahoning Creek. Shortly before the creek was reached the McKean County Rifles were presented with a flag, that had been made by hand. Though not a silk one, it was cherished as the first flag acquired by the future regiment. At the creek the two companies were joined by the Elk County Rifles, who, in accordance with orders received by them, had proceeded to that point, and also by a few men from Tioga County, who had been recruited for the company of Alanson E. Niles, the main body of which had already left for Harrisburg. The three companies then marched to Sackett's Saw Mills, a short distance above the junction of the Sinnamahoning and the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
Here Colonel Kane had decided to purchase lumber and make rafts on which the men could float down the river towards Harrisburg. Each man contributed to the buying of the lumber according to his resources, nor was the bill light, as the lumber company did not permit patriotism to interfere, to any great extent, with its business interests.
Four rafts were constructed of rough pine boards, 16 feet long x 10 inches or 12 inches wide x 7/8 inch thick. Each raft was composed of six platforms, each about 16 feet square, made of six layers of boards laid crosswise and fastened together with wither, making the dimensions of each raft about 65 feet x 16 feet. On one of the rafts the thickness of one of the platforms was increased to seven layers, and on this platform Colonel Kane's horse, "Old Glencoe," was placed. At one end of each of the rafts a large sweep or rudder was also constructed to assist the steersman in guiding the raft.
The river below the Sinnamahoning Creek passes through gorges and canyons, and is honeycombed with rapids, the current at many places attaining a speed of ten miles an hour. Boarding the rafts on the morning of the 27th, the three hundred and fifteen men started for the State capital. A short mast was erected on one of the rafts. To it was attached a flag, and the top of the mast was surmounted by a bucktail. The swiftness of the current, and the rocks and rapids of the river, made the journey a memorable one. Despite the experience of the steersmen and their knowledge of raftsmanship, time and time again the heavily loaded rafts grounded on rocks, compelling the men to slip overboard into the cold water and by sheer strength lift the rafts over the obstructions. Towards sunset, some four miles above Rattlesnake Falls, in deep water, the four rafts were massed together and the Bucktails, though soaked to the skin, thankful that they had succeeded in shooting the rapids, celebrated the event by singing with all their power the "Star Spangled Banner." At Rattlesnake Falls a stop was made for the night, the people of the place doing everything within their power to provide shelter. The next morning the Bucktails were carried on the railroad to Lock Haven.
While Kane was thus proceeding towards Harrisburg, Governor Curtin was experiencing difficulty in arranging for the acceptance and organization of-the various bodies of men placed at his disposal. First he was called on by the Government for sixteen regiments, then the State's quota was reduced to fourteen. On April 26th Major-General Patterson called on him for twenty-five additional regiments of infantry and one of cavalry, but on the 30th Major Porter ordered that the mustering in of troops in Pennsylvania be discontinued, as the State's quota had been exceeded and General Patterson's requisition was countermanded. The Governor, who had already called a session of the Legislature, realizing that though the Government would not then accept the men offered, it would shortly be in the most urgent need of them, sent a message to the Legislature on April 3oth, recommending the organization of fifteen regiments of cavalry and infantry, exclusive of those called into the service of the United States. Still corresponding with the Government, the Governor, on May 2nd, again addressed the Legislature, urging it to authorize and provide for the organization of the fifteen regiments recommended by him in his message of April 30th. An act in accordance with his views was drawn up, passed, and signed by him on May 15th. This act authorized the creation of a Reserve Volunteer Corps to consist of thirteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry and one regiment of light artillery, which should be armed, equipped, clothed, disciplined, governed and officered in the same manner as similar troops in the service of the United States. The troops were to be enlisted in the service of the State for a period not exceeding three years or the war, and were to be liable to be mustered into the service of the United States at such times as requisitions on the State might be made by the President of the United States. To the various regiments and companies composing the corps was given the power to elect their own officers, to whom the Governor was to issue commissions.
But the number of troops offered the Governor largely exceeded the number he could accept, even with the passage of his bill. Hence he was compelled to endeavor to stop the influx of troops. Some attempt was made to stop Colonel Kane and his Bucktails on their journey, but through the connivance of General Jackman, of the militia, the message was not delivered. The Hon. L. A. Mackey, of Lock Haven, also interested himself in the matter of their acceptance, and when transportation was refused by the authorities, he signed a check for $480, the value of the desired transportation at Government rates.
On the 30th, Governor Curtin telegraphed:
"Harrisburg, April 30th.
To Colonel Kane.
We can only [accept] two companies of seventy-seven men each come via Northern Central Railroad to Harrisburg. Telegraph me what time you will leave that place that we may provide for you.
A. G. CURTIN."
Wrangling ensued. The Bucktails were determined to be accepted. They proceeded as far as Sunbury, [7] from which place, after some days' delay, transportation for the entire body of men was furnished in the shape of cattle cars. Elated with overcoming the obstacles that had menaced them, they arrived in Harrisburg on Sunday, May 4th. The Commander of the Post at Camp Curtin ordered a band of music to meet them, and with this band playing and the flag of the McKean County Rifles flying, the Bucktails marched to the place assigned to them.
At Harrisburg things were in a chaotic state. The mustering in of troops had been stopped and the bill creating the Reserve Corps had not been passed. Various bodies of troops were camped around Harrisburg, others had been stopped half way between their homes and the capital, and still others remained in the towns in which they were recruited.
On May 6th Kane was notified, by the Hon. Samuel M. Lawrence, that arrangements had been made to muster in his three companies as the Seventeenth regiment, but almost immediately it was found that a Seventeenth regiment had been mustered in at Philadelphia, rendering such action impossible. Kane, who was determined to be in the service in some capacity, succeeded in getting himself mustered in as a private on May 12th, after which he resumed his efforts to obtain the acceptance of his men.
When Governor Curtin signed the bill calling the Reserve Corps into existence, he at the same time appointed George Archibald McCall [8] Major-General of it, and the latter speedily brought order out of the turmoil. By the end of May the majority of the troops destined for the Reserve Corps had .been mustered into the State service. The grouping of the various companies into regiments was next undertaken. By the early part of June it had been decided that one of the thirteen regiments of infantry of the Reserve Corps should be a rifle regiment, and in this regiment the companies of expert marksmen were anxious to enlist. Colonel Kane, as the organizer of three companies of men from the wildcat regions, was naturally looked upon as the person around whom it was proper to rally, and the following petition was presented to Major-General McCall:
"The undersigned, captains of companies now in Camp Curtin, present their respects to Major-General M'Call, congratulating the army of Pennsylvania upon being placed under such a commander. They beg not to be supposed desirous of interfering with Major-General M'Call's discretion in expressing a desire to have their companies united to form one regiment under the command of Colonel Thomas L. Kane. They are assured that their men are peculiarly qualified to serve efficiently in a regiment of rifles under Colonel Kane being, with few exceptions, men of extremely hardy habits, and trained from boyhood to the use of arms.
Captains PHILIP HOLLAND,
JULIUS SHERWOOD,
GEORGE B OVERTON,
JOHN A. ELDRED,
WILLIAM T. BLANCHARD,
HUGH M'DONALD,
E. A. IRVIN,
ROY STONE,
A. E. NILES,
By June 12th the regiment was organized as follows:
COMPANY A. "Anderson Life Guards."
The Anderson Life Guards were recruited in Tioga County, chiefly from Westfield, Knoxville, Deerfield, Osceola, Elkland, Nelson, Farmington and Lawrenceville, the headquarters being established at the latter place in Russling's Hall. Though recruiting commenced shortly after the firing on Fort Sumter, it did not close till May 28th. The men were for the most part lumbermen and mountaineers. The most prominent in the work were Philip Holland, who, with a Volunteer Fire Company that he had organized, enlisted, John G. Harrower and Neri B. Kinsey. Though a small detachment left for Harrisburg in April, the majority did not start till the 28th of May, when in lumber wagons and carriages, they left Elkland for Lawrenceville. From the latter place they were carried by rail, via Elmira and Williamsport, to Harrisburg, arriving at the latter point at 2 A. M. on May 3oth, 1861.
The following company officers were elected:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Philip Holland
First-Lieutenant . . . . . John G. Narrower
Second-Lieutenant......Neri B. Kinsey
COMPANY B. "Morgan Rifles."
The Morgan Rifles were recruited in Perry County. Headquarters were established partly at the Duncannon Iron Company's warehouse, and partly in front of the Topley Hotel, almost simultaneously with the attack on Fort Sumter. Upon the first day thirty names were secured, among them being Langhorne Wister, William Allison, Thomas Belton, John H, Mutzabaugh and John W. Mutzabaugh. The citizens of the vicinity, without exception, vied with each other in lending their assistance, among the most active being W.W. Dickenson, Major Joseph Dunbar and John Wister, while the women donated haverlocks and haversacks. On May 27th, in the presence of their townsmen, after hearing a sermon by the Rev. Daniel Hartman in the Methodist Church, the men were put upon railroad cars and carried to Harrisburg.
Their election for company officers resulted as follows:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Langhorne Wister
First-Lieutenant . . . . . John A. Culp
Second-Lieutenant......Thomas Belton
COMPANY C. "Cameron County Rifles."
The Cameron County Rifles formed one of the three regiments recruited by Colonel Kane and came with him down the Susquehanna to Lock Haven.
The election for company officers resulted as follows:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .John A. Eldred
First-Lieutenant . . . . . W. B. Jenkins
Second-Lieutenant......Robert B. Warner
COMPANY D. "Raftsman Guards."
The Raftsman Guards were organized at Warren, Pa., on April 28th, 1861, Roy Stone being one of the most energetic in collecting the men who enlisted. Its members came from the lumber districts and were similar in general character to those recruited by Colonel Kane from Cameron, Elk and McKean Counties; hardy mountaineers, trained to the use of rifles since their childhood. While waiting at Warren, endeavoring to get the State to accept them, the citizens contributed to their sustenance, and Stone furnished lumber, out of which the men constructed twelve boats, each capable of carrying ten men with their equipments. At the same time the men were drilled and supplied with uniforms (dark blue fatigue), but they carried their own hunting rifles. Receiving a despatch from the Governor, which assured the acceptance of the company, Stone embarked his men on the boats prepared. Four days were spent in rowing the one hundred and twenty-five miles down the Allegheny River, and on May 23rd, the company arrived at Pittsburg. As information had been received from the Governor that but 77 men could be accepted, though the company had been recruited up to the full strength of 101 men, Stone then communicated with Colonel Kane, expressing satisfaction that the Raftsman Guards had been assigned to Kane's regiment, but suggesting that he be permitted to bring his entire company to Harrisburg, as should the Reserve Corps be mustered into the national service the entire number would be required. On the 28th the company boarded the railroad cars, arriving in Harrisburg the next morning, where, after obtaining coffee and something to eat, the men marched to Camp Curtin.
The election for company officers resulted as follows:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Roy Stone
First-Lieutenant . . . . . Hugh W. McNeil
Second-Lieutenant......John T.A. Jewett
COMPANY E. "Tioga Rifles."
The Tioga Rifles were recruited in Tioga County and were composed chiefly of lumbermen and mountaineers. A circular was issued by Alanson E. Niles and Nelson Whitney calling for volunteers. This movement was heartily supported by judge R. T. White, Judge S. F. Wilson, Judge H. W. Williams, A. P. Cone, Henry Sherwood and John F. Donolson. Headquarters were established in the Public Square, and a meeting held in the Court House on April 16th. On the 17th the organization was completed, and on the 18th the men were mustered into the State service. On the 22nd the company left for Harrisburg, leaving such others as should desire to enlist after the depart [14]ure of the main body to join the companies recruited by Colonel Kane on the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
The election for company officers resulted as follows:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Alanson E. Niles
First-Lieutenant . . . . . Lucius Truman
Second-Lieutenant......Samuel A. Mack
COMPANY F. "Irish Infantry."
The Irish Infantry was recruited in Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, Pa., the latter place being known at that time as "The Kettle," a name given to it by the miners who resorted there when disputes were to be settled by fists. Mauch Chunk had previously supplied three companies for the war-A, I and K, Sixth Pennsylvania, but inspired by patriotism, the citizens, led by the Hon. Asa Packer, Hon. Robert Klotz, Hon. William Lilly, Captain E. H. Rauch, Leonard Yeager and C. D. Culver, determined to raise two more companies: one, a German company, to be called "Jagers," and captained by Charles Bitterling, the other an Irish company, to be called the "Irish Infantry," and captained by Dennis McGee. Headquarters were established in the Court House, and the work of recruiting commenced, the first four men to enlist being Conrad Vogel, George McIntosh, Aaron Wertz and George Eickhoff. It becoming apparent that but one company could be accepted under the State's quota, a consolidation of the two companies took place, and shortly after, in the early part of May, the united companies left for Harrisburg via the Lehigh Valley and Reading Railroads, bearing with them a flag presented to them by the women of Mauch Chunk.
The company was rather disreputable looking upon their arrival, camp life having played havoc with their originally somewhat shabby clothes, but through the generosity of Captain E. H. Rauch, who clothed them at his own expense, they were soon enabled to make a somewhat better appearance.
The election for company officers resulted as follows:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis McGee
First-Lieutenant . . . . . Hugh Mulligan
Second-Lieutenant......Charles Bitterling
COMPANY G. "Elk County Rifles."
The Elk County Rifles formed one of the three companies recruited by Colonel Kane, which came down the Susquehanna. On their arrival at Harrisburg their numerical strength was small. Many had been rejected as being too young, and a few failed to pass the requisite physical examination, so that on May 3oth, Captain Winslow was still fruitlessly endeavoring to obtain the acceptance of his men as a body. Hugh McDonald, a veteran of the Mexican War, with a small body of men raised in Tioga County, which hoe had brought to Harrisburg, was engaged in a similar effort. Window meeting him, arranged for a consolidation of the two companies, which was shortly after effected. When preparations were made for the election of company officers, Winslow, though he had been previously elected Captain of the Elk County Rifles, recognizing both his own lack of military knowledge, and the value of the training received by McDonald, requested that for the present he be elected to no office. If later after he had learned in the school of experience, the men should select him to fill any vacancy that
might occur in the list of officers, he felt that then he would be able to accept without injustice to them.
The election, therefore, resulted as follows:
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Hugh McDonald
First-Lieutenant . . . . . Jesse B. Doan
Second-Lieutenant......Andrew J. Sparks
COMPANY H. "Wayne Independent Rifles."
The Wayne Independent Rifles were recruited in Chester County, headquarters being established at Kennett Square, in the Borough Hall. Among, the first to enlist were Charles Frederick Taylor, H. W. Taylor, Joel J. Swayne, Robert Maxwell and John D. Yerkes, and these men received able assistance from B. F. Wickersham, William Chalfont, Eber W. Sharp, James White, Joshua Taylor, Enoch Dixon and Jesse Eversham, citizens residing in the neighborhood. Meetings were held in near-by places, such as Chatham, and by the 23rd of April the organization had proceeded sufficiently to permit the establishment of a camp and the inauguration of drilling. On May 15th, amidst patriotic demonstrations at Kennett Square, the company left for Harrisburg, proceeding by railroad to Philadelphia and from thence to Harrisburg, where it arrived about 6.30 P.M.
The election for company officers resulted as follows
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Charles Frederick Taylor
First-Lieutenant . . . . . Chandler Hall
Second-Lieutenant......Evan P. Dixon
COMPANY I. "McKean County Rifles."
The McKean County Rifles formed one of the three companies recruited by Colonel Kane, and came with him down the Susquehanna.
The election for company officers resulted as follows
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .William T. Blanchard
First-Lieutenant . . . . . Frank J. Bell
Second-Lieutenant......Bruce B. Rice
COMPANY K. "Raftsmen's Rangers."
The Raftsmen's Rangers were recruited in Curwensville, Clearfield County, headquarters being established at an hotel known as "Good Intent and People's Line." The men were for the most part lumbermen, drawn from the mountainous districts skilled in the use of the axe and the rifle. On April 18th, Edward A. Irvin, who upon the firing upon Fort Sumter and the issuance of President Lincoln's call for troops had returned to Curwensville from a business trip, opened, with the assistance of W. Ross Hartshorne, James M. Welch and John P. Bard, a recruiting station, where names were secured rapidly, among the first of which were those of David C. Dale, John H. Norris and Lewis Hoover., Securing the assistance of Daniel G. Blett, a former commander of a company in Lewistown, Pa., drilling was commenced and continued assiduously. On May 9th elections for officers were held, and on the following morning at 4 A. M. the company marched to the nearest railroad station, at that time Tyrone, thirty-six miles away. Despite the early hour of the company's departure, the people of the neighborhood assembled and a considerable demonstration was made. Before starting, the company was presented with a silk flag by Mrs. Jane P. Irvin. On the arrival of the men at Tyrone, it was discovered that transportation would be furnished for only 100 men. As the company contained 123, it was necessary to send back 23. In deciding upon those to be left behind, the married men were selected first, and thus it came about that there were in the company, when it boarded the cars, only single men.
The election for company officers resulted as follows
Captain . . . . . . . . . . . .Edward A. Irvin
First-Lieutenant . . . . . W. Ross Hartshorne
Second-Lieutenant......James M. Welch
It is worthy of record that the men who enlisted in the companies recruited by Colonel Kane, and, indeed, almost without exception, in the other companies as well, did so shortly after President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 men for three months. They believed, and were told, that it was for three months that they were enlisting, but upon their arrival at Harrisburg they found that the quota allotted to the State under the call for 75,000 men had been filled. They therefore, without murmuring, consented to be mustered in as a regiment of the Reserve Corps, which was a body subject to military duty for three years.
On the 12th of June an election for regimental officers was held, which resulted as follows:
Colonel........................Thomas L. Kane
Lieutenant Colonel.......Charles J. Biddle
Major............................Roy Stone
Colonel Kane accordingly received his commission dated June 12th, but though he had been chosen by the various companies to lead them, he was cognizant of the fact that he was a civilian and lacking in military knowledge and experience. Believing that the satisfaction of personal ambition should not be allowed to interfere with the best interests of the regiment as a whole, and yielding to a patriotic impulse, Colonel Kane resigned his commission, accompanying his resignation with a request that Lieutenant-Colonel Biddle, who had received a military education and who had borne arms in the Mexican
War, be commissioned in his place A second election was held and the men, acceding to his strongly expressed wishes, cast their votes in such a way that the tellers declared Charles J. Biddle to have been elected Colonel and Kane Lieutenant-Colonel.
Wishing to put upon record their appreciation of the honorable and unselfish act of Colonel Kane, the Captains of the several companies held a meeting, and passed the following resolution:
"Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of our Colonel and accepting another officer in his place, which we do because he insists upon it---and calls on us to give proof of our attachment and confidence in him by this sacrifice of feeling---we desire not to be forgotten Colonel Kane's self devotion; therefore be it
"Resolved, That we respectfully solicit Major General McCall, if there is no rule in the service to prevent his doing so, to change the name of our regiment from the ‘Rifle Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve' to that of the 'Kane Rifle Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve.'
H. M'DONALD,
JOHN ELDRED,
E.A.IRVIN,
ROY STONE,
PHILIP HOLLAND,
LANGHORNE WISTER,
A.E.NILES,
WILLIAM T. BLANCHARD,
In compliance with this request a Special Order was issued from Headquarters, No. 95, and approved, and made of record by the War Department, changing the name as requested. Thus the official designation of the regiment became "The Kane Rifle "Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserve."
The regimental organization was shortly after completed by the election of John T. A. Jewett, Second-Lieutenant of Company D, as Adjutant, and the appointments of Dr. S. D. Freeman as Surgeon, the Rev. W. H. D. Hatton as Chaplain and Henry D. Patton as Quartermaster.
The election of Captain Roy Stone as Major created a vacancy in Company D, and Hugh W. McNeil was elected Captain in his place, while John T. A. Jewett was promoted to First-Lieutenant and D. G. McNaughton to Second Lieutenant.
With the organization completed the sacrifice of Colonel Kane bore fruit. Colonel Biddle was indefatigable in his labors. Possessed of a remarkable ability to break in raw troops and gifted with a rare power of instilling into them the rudiments of military knowledge, he spared neither them nor himself in his efforts to produce the results he desired. The caliber of the men in the regiment and their value to the Reserve Corps as a whole was recognized; Major-General McCall himself taking great interest in their instruction.
The life in camp was by no means monotonous, nor the duties assigned to the men performed without an effort. Guard was mounted with the regularity that obtains in actual campaigning and long and repeated drills taxed the regiment's powers of endurance. The progress made was understood and appreciated by the men themselves, but they fretted at detention in a military training camp. They had enlisted to fight and were anxious to engage in actual contest. Yet everything was uncertain. True, they had been mustered into the State service with the other regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, but the Corps had neither been called for nor accepted by the National Government. Difficulties to be overcome before the Government could be brought to accept the Reserves, upon the terms laid down by Governor Curtin intended to insure their existence as a body and to prevent their dissolution into isolated fragments, were plainly discernible, and were the chief subjects of conversation when the men were off duty.
But on the evening of June asst the unexpected happened. The men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice, and the usual evening's quiet gave way to the bustle of preparation.
