Home of Company I. The Bucktails Company I, The Bucktails,
42nd Pennsylvania volunteer
reserves, 1st. Rifles.
American Civil War reenactment group.

 

A Brief history of the Company I Colour.

  In April 1861, when word was received of Kane's recruiting for the regiment, the companies that eventually became C, G, and I, gathered on the upper reaches of the Susquehanna River and floated by raft to Lock Haven, where they then boarded trains to Harrisburg. Before leaving home, the men of Company I, recruited in McKean County, received a wool bunting flag to take with them. The lead raft carried this flag.
    When Kane divided the regiment into two wings, the banner was carried by Kane's four companies into the Shenandoah Valley. This detachment engaged Jackson's troops at Harrisonburg on June 6th 1862, at Cross Keys on June 8th, and again at Cedar Mountain on August 9th. The detachment was present at Cattle's Station when the famed Rebel cavalry leader JEB Stuart raided General Pope's headquarters there on August 22nd. Kane's men attacked during the night and succeeded in driving off the Rebel raiders before more damage was done to Pope's wagon train.

The original Co. I colour.
It's poor condition is partly due to battle scars and partly due to the fact that it was unfortunately stored whilst still wet after the July 4th. 1866 ceremony.

The detachment then fought in the Seconded Battle of Manassas on August 29th -30th, and was the last of the Federal troops to cross Bull Run as the army retreated to Washington. The companies under Major Stone's command also fought in this battle as part the Reserve Division, and as the column retreated to Washington the regiment was finally united as one body of men.

     
   

Owing to the loss of the state colour, Company I's flag was used as the regimental colour. The company I colour was used as the regimental colour until the regiment was presented with a new national flag from the 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers on May 15th, 1863.

The company I flag was given to Colonel Kane when the Bucktails mustered out of service, and he forwarded it to state care in time for the July 4th 1866, ceremony.

Co. I's reenactment colour.
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