13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment

13th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment
Pennsylvania flag
Active	June 21st, 1861 to June 11th, 1864
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Engagements	Battle of Dranesville Battle of Good's Farm Battle of Cross Keys Battle of Mechanicsville Battle of Gaines' Mill Battle of Savage's Station Battle of Glendale Battle of Malvern Hill Battle of Second Bull Run Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Gettysburg Mine Run Campaign Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse

The Thirteenth Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, also known as the 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, the 1st Pennsylvania Rifles, Kane's Rifles, or simply the "Bucktails," was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was a part of the famed Pennsylvania Reserve division 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.

The "Rifles" designation was a holdover from the days when soldiers who carried rifled weapons were a special outfit, and the Bucktails carried breech-loading Model 1859 Sharps Rifles, normally only issued to sharpshooters.

The 13th Pennsylvania Reserves was mustered at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 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 initially issued Model 1837 .69 Caliber smoothbore muskets, but some of the men refused to accept them, saying that they a rifle regiment and had been promised Minie Rifles. The 13th Reserves were 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.