The riding on a rail wasn't gentle, either. "Rails" were triangular fence parts, and a "good sharp one" could literally cut into the genitals and perinium -- not to mention wickedly long splinters from the rough-split wood.

In the backwoods US, ca. 1830, those tarred and feathered were first stripped naked. Once mounted on the rail they were carried, bouncing, through the community.

Mark Twain recounts the tarring and feathering of the Duke and the Dauphin in "Huckleberry Finn;" there are other references in the literature of period as well.

Apparently it was meted out as a vigilante-style punishment for such crimes as hog stealing, other theft, extreme spouse and/or child abuse, and other actions that would damage the frontier communities.