Overview
The 138th New York Infantry (Infantry, Union) was organized in New York during the fall of 1862. The regiment was mustered into United States service as an infantry unit for the Union Army. Notably, the regiment’s service as infantry was brief, as it was converted into an artillery regiment later that year.
This unit is distinct from the 9th New York Heavy Artillery, which it became after conversion in December 1862.
Organization & Service
The 138th New York Infantry was organized at New York in the fall of 1862 and mustered into service for the Union Army. Shortly after its organization, the regiment was stationed in the defenses of Washington, D.C. In December 1862, the regiment was converted into the 9th New York Heavy Artillery. Following this conversion, the regiment served as an artillery unit for the remainder of the war. The infantry designation ceased to exist after December 1862, and all subsequent service was under the artillery designation.
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
The 138th New York Infantry did not participate in any major campaigns or battles as an infantry regiment before its conversion to artillery in December 1862.
Casualties
No casualty figures are reported for the 138th New York Infantry during its brief service as an infantry regiment. All subsequent losses are recorded under the 9th New York Heavy Artillery.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Joseph Welling
- Lieutenant Colonel William H. Seward, Jr.
- Major William Wood
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 138th New York Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its brief infantry period, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details for genealogical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 138th New York Infantry Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 21
- New York State Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)