Pennsylvania Bucktails: Civil War Sharpshooters

One of the most distinguished units to serve in the Civil War was the 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment, popularly known as the Bucktails. These men adorned their own caps with bucktails and were thus set apart from the typical Federal soldier by their distinctive headgear. The Bucktail regiment consistently displayed courage and tactical ability on the battlefield. Sometimes the Bucktails stood and fought in a line of battle, but often were detailed as skirmishers and sharpshooters where they could employ their deadly talents more effectively.
The gallant service of the original Bucktails led to the call in the summer of 1862 for an entire brigade of Bucktail regiments. In the end, only two new Bucktail regiments managed to take the field, the 149th and 150th Pennsylvania Infantry. The men of the new Bucktail regiments sought to be worthy of their more famous predecessor. The Bucktails did the Keystone State proud and earned a noted place in the pantheon of Civil War regiments.