1861:Smethport, PA - Birthplace
of the Civil War Bucktail Symbol,
Bennett & Gifford Butcher Shop in the Basement
photo credit:
See Street Map at this Location
See painted panorama
of Smethport 1858
In the basement of the Backus Building was a butcher shop owned by Bennett and Gifford. It was at this butcher shop in 1861 where the McKean County Rifles Bucktails, received their name. According to historical accounts from the era, new recruit James Landregan saw a freshly killed buck hanging outside the butcher shop. He crossed the street, cut the tail off the buck, and stuck it on his hat. Colonel Thomas Leiper Kane approved of the young recruit's actions and declared that each man should do the same and that the regiment would be known hereafter as the "Bucktails". It was from this action in Smethport, Pennsylvania that the historic Bucktails received their name.
