History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

-922 FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT-BUCKTA1L, 1864
was, for the first time since the opening of the campaign, relieved from the
front and allowed a day of rest. On the following day, together with the division, it marched several miles to the left, where it remained actively employed
upon the skirmish line until the 20th, when the march was continued to Guinea Station, and from thence, on the 22d, to Jericho Ford, on the North Anna
River, which the men were forced to cross by wading,holding their cartridgeboxes above their heads. After the division was safely across, Colonel Harding
commanding the brigade, directed Major Hartshorn to advance with his skirmishers and clear the woods in front. This movement was successfully accomplished, and upon the advance of the brigade took position on its right, where
a determined attack, made by the enemy at five P. M., was handsomely repulsed.
The interval between the 22d and 26th was occupied in skirmishing, and in
strengthening the position held. During the night of the 26th, another movement to the left was commenced, and after a three days' march the command
reached the vicinity of Bethesda Church.
On the morning of the 30th, Major Hartshorn was ordered to advance his
skirmishers to the Mechanicsville road, a mile in his front. The enefy's skirmishers were soon met and driven a half mile, when the Major found that a large
force of rebels was advancing, with lines extending beyond both his flanks. Reporting the fact to Colonel Hardin, he fell back slowly until he met the brigade
coming to his support. Forming line on the right of the brigade, a charge was
made upon the advancing enemy driving him back to the shelter of some woods.
Discovering that the line which he had driven was only the advance of a larger
force, Colonel Hardin ordered his brigade to fall back to a position in line with
the Third Brigade, and immediately commenced throwing up rifle pits. He
ordered Major Hartshorn to hold the enemy in check with his skirmishers,, to
fall back slowly, and to take position on the left of the brigade. This manceuvre
was so successfully executed that ample time was given to complete a strong
line of works. On the near approach to the lines, Major Hartshorn was so hard
pressed that he was obliged to throw two companies to the right, upon the line
occupied by the Third Brigade. With the remaining eight companies he succeeded in reaching the position designated by Colonel Hardin, in time to bear
his full part in the handsome repulse gven to the enemy as he advanced to the
assault. Colonel Fisher warmly commended the conduct of the two companies
which had been driven into his lines, and which fought with his brigade. This
was the Bucktails' last battle, their time of service having this day expired
The casualties during the campaign were two officers and twenty-six enlisted
men killed, and six officers and one hundred and twelve enlisted men wounded.
The veterans and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred and Ninetieth,
of which Major Hartshorn was appointed Colonel, and the regiment was mustered out of service at Harrisburg on the 11th of June, 1864.
The old bunting, which had floated over the rafts on which the original
Bucktails were borne down the Susquehanna in April, 1861, and which had
been carried by them in all their campaigns, was borne in procession in Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 1866, by the scarred veterans who survived, and
delivered up to the Governor of the State, amid the loud acclamations of the
multitude, as they recognized the familiar emblem that surmounted its staff.