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139th New
York Infantry
Online Books:
139th New York
Infantry Soldier
Roster - Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York For the Year
1893, Volume 37 View the Entire Book
Regimental History |
One Hundred and Thirty-ninth New York Infantry. Cols., Anthony Conk, Samuel
H. Roberts; Lieut. -Cols., Samuel H. Roberts, Edgar Perry, Thomas Mulcahy; Majs., Andrew
Morris, Thomas Mulcahy, Embre Rogers, Theo. Miller. This regiment, recruited in the
counties of Kings and Queens, was organized at Brooklyn, and there mustered into the U. S.
service on Sept. 9, 1862, for three years. It left on the 11th, about 1,000 strong, and
was stationed at Camp Hamilton, Department of Virginia during the ensuing winter.
Throughout the year 1863, the regiment served in West's brigade, 1st division, 4th corps,
at Yorktown, and in Wistar's brigade, Department of Virginia, taking part in the actions
at Fort Magruder, Crump's cross-roads, where it lost 11 men wounded and missing,
Chickahominy and Forge bridge. Early in Feb., 1864, it was engaged in the action at
Bottom's bridge, but sustained no loss. In March it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st
division (Brooks'), 18th corps, and participated with Gen. Butler's army in May in the
campaign against Richmond and Petersburg by way of the James river, being engaged at Swift
creek, Proctor's creek, Drewry's bluff and Bermuda Hundred, with a loss of 19 wounded and
missing. The 18th corps was then ordered by Gen. Grant to reinforce the Army of the
Potomac, arriving in time to share in the bloody work at Cold Harbor, where the 139th
fought with great gallantry, and sustaining casualties amounting to 33 killed, 118 wounded
and 2 missing. Among the killed was the gallant young Lieut. -Col. Perry. On June 12 it
withdrew from Cold Harbor, returned with the corps to Bermuda Hundred, and a few days
later shared in the assault on the works of Petersburg, losing 9 killed and wounded. It
then went into position in the trenches on the right of the line, where it lost men almost
daily by reason of its proximity to the enemy's pickets and being exposed to incessant
firing. In the latter part of August it was relieved and retired within the defenses of
Bermuda Hundred. The 1st division, now commanded by Gen. Stannard, took part in the
brilliant and successful assault on Fort Harrison, where the 139th lost 41 killed and
wounded, and it was lightly engaged at Fair Oaks in October. In Dec, 1864, when the 18th
corps was discontinued, the regiment was attached to the 1st brigade, 3d division
(Devens'), 24th corps, remaining, however, in the Army of the James. The corps was posted
throughout the winter on the north bank of the James in front of Richmond, where the
regiment remained until the fall of Petersburg. It entered Richmond without opposition on
April 3, 1865, being the third regiment to enter that city. Here it was mustered out June
19, 1865, commanded by Lieut. -Col. Mulcahy. It lost during service 5 officers and 70 men,
killed and mortally wounded; 2 officers and 78 men died of disease and other causes, a
total of 155. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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