The companies of thisregiment were recruited as follows:

• Company A - Mercer County
• Company B - Armstrong County
• Company C - Armstrong County
• Company D - Allegheny County
• Company E - Allegheny and Armstrong Counties
• Company F - Allegheny and Armstrong Counties
• Company G - Allegheny County
• Company H - Beaver and Allegheny County
• Company I  - Allegheny County
• Company K - Allegheny County

It was organized at the place of rendezvous, Camp Howe,near the city of Pittsburg, on the 1st of September, 1862, at a moment when thesmoke from the disastrous field of Bull Run hung in gloom over the Union army,and reinforcements were sorely needed.

The field officers were: 

• Frederick H. Collier, Colonel
• James D. Owens, Lieutenant Colonel
• William H. ioody, Major

Bull Run

It was immediately ordered to the front, departing on theevening of the Ist, receiving arms at Harrisburg on the 2d, and arriving atWashington on the 3d. The dead in the battle of Bull Eun were still unburied,and this regiment was sent to the field under fag of truce to perform themournful duty of consigning them to the earth. For three days it was incessantlyemployed.

Several days had now elapsed since the dead had fallen, thebattle having commenced on the 27th of Autgust, and the corpses exposed to asummer sun were in a loathsome condition. Very few of the rebel dead had beenleft unburied, but the Union soldiers lay as they fell, scattered over all thefield in every conceivable position. Many had been robbed of hats, coats, andshoes, and in many instances stripped entirely naked. One thousand seven hundredand ninety-nine Union soldiers were committed to graves, the best, in view oftheir condition, that could be given them. This duty ended, the regimenthastened forward after the army, coming up with it on the 17th of September, theday of the battle of Antietam, and was at once put in line but did not become engaged.On the following day, the enemy having retreated, it was pushed forward to thePotomac, participating in a skirmish near Williamsport. 

Upon its incorporation with the army, it was assigned tothe Third Brigade, Third Division of the Sixth Corps, where it was associatedwith the Ninety-third, Ninety-eighth, and One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania,and the Sixty-second New York.

Fredericksburg

In the battle of Fredericksburg, fought on the 13th ofDecember, the Sixth Corps, commanded by General Smith, formed part of GeneralFranklin's Grand Division, but was held in reserve near the river bank while thefighting was in progress, and beyond being under a heavy artillery fire was notengaged. The regiment lost thirteen wounded, the effect of the enemy's shells.

Chancellorsville

In the Chancellorsviile campaign it was made the duty ofthe Sixth Corps, here led by General Sedgwick, to cross the Rappahannock belowFredericksburg and drive the enemy from the heights, while the main body of thearmy under Hooker, moved above and came in upon the rebel flank. The brigade,commanded by General Wheaton, crossed the river at eight P. M., of the 2d ofMay.

"At twelve P. M." says General Wheaton in hisofficial report, "the division marched from its bivouac on the south side of the  Rappahannock towardsFredericksburg, this brigade following First. Just before daylight we reachedthe enemy's works upon the heights, and when ordered by General Newton to feelthem and learn something of the nature of their defenses, force, number of guns,etc., selected the Sixty-second New York and One Hundred and SecondPennsylvania, and forming them in line just below the crest, marched up to drawthe enemy's fire. Before the regiments were two hundred yards from the brigadeline, they were opened on by a heavy musketry fire, and apparently five piecesof artillery from the rebel works and rifle-pits not two hundred and fifty yardsdistant, and compelled to fall back a few yards to a line where the slopesafforded them some protection from the enemy's fire, which position they helduntil the heights were taken. The remaining three regiments of my brigade werethen marched forward on a line with, and to the left of the two above mentioned,and formed the first line of battle. * * * At about noon the heights in our front were assaulted on the extreme right by theLight Brigade, and as soon as they were carried, my own regiments and all Icould find in their vicinity were moved up at double quick to the support of theattacking column, and to hold the heights."

When possession of the ground wasassured, the troops were formed in two lines, Wheaton's Brigade in advance, theOne Hundred and Thirty-ninth being the first regiment on the left of the mainroad. When arrived on the main ridge one and a half miles out, the two otherdivisions came up, and when re-formed again advanced to Salem Church, where theenemy was found in strong position. The One Hundred and Thirty-ninth was atfirst posted in support of a battery, but soon followed where the Ninety-Thirdand One Hundred and Second were desperately engaged. For some time an unequalcontest was maintained, and the enemy, who had come in upon the rear by aravine, were driven back by the well directed fire of these regiments. They werefinally obliged to retire, and took position in support of batteries.

On thefollowing day the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth occupied an important position onthe front line, and could not be relieved when the rest of the brigade at nightretired to the junction of the Main and Banks' Ford Roads. The enemy havingmoved a heavy force around upon the flank of the corps in the direction ofFredericksburg, it was obliged to retire towards Banks' Ford, the enemyfollowing up and contesting every rood with great daring. Finally, on the nightof Monday, the 4th the division re-crossed the river on the pontoons which hadbeen previously laid to ensure its safety, and encamped a mile and a half back.

In few battles have troops suffered more severely than did Wheaton's Brigade inthis. The One Hundred and Thirty-ninth lost one hundred and twenty-three inkilled, wounded, and missing. Captain John C. Dempsey, and Lieutenant James T.Harbison, were of the killed, and Sergeant Frederick E. Dake lost his right arm.

Gettysburg

On the 8th of June, the Sixth Corps again crossed the Rappahannock at Franklin's Crossing, and was busily engaged in fortifying. The enemy gave no attention to this movement, but soon afterwards started for a grand campaign on northern soil, At Gettysburg, on the 1st of July; he met the advance of the Union army, and the great battle was at once opened. Ateight o'clock that evening, the Sixth Corps was resting thirty miles away, whenit was first apprised of the fighting at Gettysburg, and received orders toproceed with all dispatch to the field of carnage.

Wheaton's Brigade arrived on the afternoon of the 2d, andwas at once ordered to the support of the Third and Fifth Corps. Forming withthe One Hundred and Thirty-ninth on the extreme left of the line, the brigadeswept across the open ground to the right of Little Bound Top, and over therugged wooded knoll to the right of the road leading over to the Peach Orchard.Here it took up a position which it held, checking the enemy in every attempt topenetrate the Union lines.

On the following day it was withdrawn a shortdistance, where it remained until the close of the battle. Captain Jeremiah M.Sample was mortally wounded in this engagement.

" He was an old man,"says Colonel Collier, "when he went into the service. His father was asoldier of the war of 1812. A nobler old man never died for his country."

In the campaign which was inaugurated after the two armieshad returned to the valley of Virginia, the regiment participated, taking partin the brilliant affair at Rappahannock Station, and in the preliminaries to thecontemplated assault upon the enemy's works at Miine Run. Upon the abandonmentof offensive operations, it went into camp near Brandy Station. Near the closeof the year 1863, Wheaton's Brigade was detached from the Army of the Potomac,and ordered to Elarper's Ferry. The weather was unusual for severity, even atthat season, and the journey, made upon box cars without fire, was attended withgreat suffering. After crossing the Potomac, and advancing to lHalltown, thebrigade was ordered back, and went into permanent quarters at Harper's Ferry.About the middle of March, it returned and re-joined the corps at BrandyStation, where it was transferred from the Third to the Second Division.

A number of recruits were added to the regiment during the winter, and when the corps moved from winter-quarters for the spring campaign in the Wilderness, it presented an array of nearly its original strength.

The Wilderness

TheSecond Division was separated from the rest of the corps, soon after crossingthe Rapidan, and was ordered to take position at the junction of the Brock and Plankroads, four miles east of Parker's Store, and to hold it until the Second Corpscould return from its march southward of the early morning. While moving forward through the dense thickets, this division wassuddenly attacked. The One Hundred and Thirty-ninth was on the front line, andwith the Ninety-first received the first fire. It was promptly returned, andthe enemy driven. The fighting during the afternoon was very severe, but a breast-work thrown up along the Brock Road, proved an impassable barrier, and the fierce assaults of Longstreet's Corps, on the following day, were repulsed with immense slaughter. The regiment lost in killed and wounded one hundred and ninety-six, including nearly every commissioned officer. Major Abraham H. Snyder, and Lieutenant Ephraim C. Grace, were among the killed. Major Snyder was mounted, acting as Lieutenant Colonel, and was urging on his men, when he was struck by a rebel bullet directly inthe forehead, and killed instantly.

In the operations about Spottsylvania Court House, which lasted from the 8th to the 21st, the regiment bore a part, being almost constantly under fire, and at times contesting the ground with the most determined bravery. At the Northl Anna, the regiment was but lightly engaged; but at Cold Harbor, where the enemy was again found athwart the way of march, the fighting was most bloody and heroic. The enemy held advantageous ground, which was well fortified,and against this the Union forces were led, in repeated but vain assaults. Lieutenant Colonel Wvilliam H. Moody, while leading in the action of the 2d of June, was instantly killed, and Captain William T. Dyer,and Lieutenant Robert N. Culmer, were mortally wounded. The losses in both men and officers were very severe.

On the 15th, the corps crossed the James, and marching up, immediately commenced operations in front of Petersburg. On the 18th, a grand assault was delivered, but the enemy's works proved too strong to be carried. On the 29th, the regiment joined in a movement upon the Weldon Railroad, which resulted in the destruction of a portion of the road, and in the relief of the cavalry which had been cut off while upon a raid on the enemy'scommunications in rear of Richmond.

Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign

On the 9th of July the Sixth Corps, which, since the fall of Sedgwick at Spottsylvania, had been commanded by Wright, was ordered to Washington, to meet the enemy runder Early, advancing triumphantly through Maryland. Early was easily repulsed, and sent flying through Virginia to theShenandoah Valley. No decisive action was had, though the corps was kept almostconstantly on the move, until Sheridan took command of the Union forces. He soon inspired all with new life and energy, and in the hard fought battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, gained signal victories,capturing large numbers of guns, standards, and small arms, taking many prisoners, and completely annihilating the rebel power in the Valley. In thistriumphant campaign, brilliant in victories beyond any other during the war, the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth bore an honorable part, attesting its bravery by severe losses on every field. In the action at Cedar Creek, LieutenantJames P. M'Kean was killed, and Captain Daniel Crum mortally wounded.

There being nothing more for it to do in the Valley, the Sixth Corps returned on the 1st of December to its place in the lines before Petersburg, where, during the winter, it remained in comparative quiet.

Petersburg

On the 25thof' March, 1865, the enemy attempted to force the Union lines at FortSteadman. A counter move was immediately ordered along the whole front, todiscover' if the enemy had materially weakened any part. The brigade was orderedtow go forward on the Sixth Corps' front. The enemy's outer works weregallantly carried; but on approaching his strong fortifications, they were foundamply manned,, and the brigade subsequently retired, the purpose of the advance having been fully accomplished. In this encounter, Lieutenant Michael Mullen was killed.

While the army was lying in front of Petersburg, Lieutenant General Grant had received from patriotic citizens the sum of four hundred and sixty dollars, to be presented to that soldier who should be the first to plant the Union flag on the ramparts of Richmond, upon its down-fall. As Richmond was not taken by assault, but fell without resistance, as a consequence of the successfulassault on Petersburg, on the 2d of April, General Grant deemed General Grant deemed that the' donors' wishes would be best met by dividing the sum among the three Color Sergeants most conspicuous for gallantry in the three corps of the army most warmly engaged in' the final struggle. lie, accordingly, called on the corps commandlers, to designate the' men who should be the recipients of this coveted honor. General Wright, who commanded the Sixth Corps, reported the name of Sergeant David W. Young, of company E, of the One Hundred and Thirtyninth Pennsylvania Regiment, as most deserving in his corps. The one-third part of the above named sum, together with an autograph letter, of whichthe following is a copy, was, accordingly, transmitted to Sergeant Young:

WASHINGTON, July 22, 1865.

Sergeant DAVID W. YOUNG,
Company B, 139tb Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers:

The sum of four hundred and sixty dollars was sent to me by patriotic citizens to be presented as a reward for gallantry to the soldier who should first raise our flag over Richmond. As Richmond was not taken by assault, I have concluded that the donors' wishes will be best carried out by dividing the sum between three soldiers most conspicuous for gallantry in the final and successful assault on Petersburg.

You have been selected by Major General H. G. Wright, commanding the Sixth Army Corps, as entitled to this honor on behalf of that commands and I herewith present to you one hundred and fifty-three dollars andthirty-three cents as one-third of the original sum.

It affords me great satisfaction to receive from your Commanding General suchunqualified testimony of your gallantry and heroism in battle, and to be the medium of transmitting to you this recognition of the worth of your services in defense of our common country.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.

The action on the part of the brigade was spirited and was attended with considerable loss. After the abandonment of Petersburg and retreat of the enemy, the corps pushed on to the support of Sheridan, who was straining every nerve to intercept the rebel army and prevent its escape. AtSailor's' Creek it came up with the cavalry and stern fighting ensued; but the enemy was finally obliged to yield, and Ewell with large numbers of his corps was captured. A few days later the entire rebel army surrendered.

Sherman's March to the Sea

Subsoquently the regiment moved with other troops to the North Carolina border to the support of Sherman. But Johnston soon after surrendering, hostilities ceased, and the regiment returned by way of Richmond to the neighborhood of Washington, where, on the 21st of June, it was mustered out of service.

Source:  Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.

Organization:

Organized at Pittsburg September 1, 1862.
Moved to Washington, D.C., September 1-3.
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps,
Army of the Potomac, to September, 1862.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps,
Army of the Potomac, to October, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, to January, 1864.
Wheaton's Brigade, Dept. of West Virginia, to March, 1864.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and
Army of the Shenandoah to June, 1865

Service:

Bury dead at Bull Run, Va., September 4-7, 1862.
Maryland Campaign September 7-24.
Battle of Antietam September 16-17 (Reserve).
At Downsville September 23-October 20.
Movement to Stafford Court House October 20-November 18, and to Belle Plains December 5.
Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15.
Burnside's 2nd Campaign, "Mud March," January 20-24, 1863.
At Falmouth till April.
Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6.
Operations at Franklin's Crossing April 29-May 2.
Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3.
Salem Heights May 3-4.
Banks' Ford May 4.
Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24.
Battle of Gettysburg July 2-4.
Pursuit of Lee July 5-24.
Duty on line of the Rappahannock and Rapidan till October.
Bristoe Campaign October 9-22.
Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8.
Rappahannock Station November 7.
Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2.
At Harper's Ferry till March, 1864.
Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 12.
Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-21.
Assault on the Salient May 12.
North Anna River May 23-26.
On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28.
Totopotomoy May 28-31.
Cold Harbor June 1-12.
Before Petersburg June 17-18.
Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad, June 22-23.
Siege of Petersburg to July 9.
Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11.
Repulse of Early's attack on Washington July 11-12.
Pursuit to Snicker's Gap July 14-24.
Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December.
Near Strasburg August 13.
Near Charlestown August 21-22.
Demonstration on Gilbert's Ford, Opequan, September 13.
Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19.
Strasburg September 21.
Fisher's Hill September 22.
Battle of Cedar Creek October 19.
Duty in the Shenandoah Valley till December.
Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 9-12.
Siege of Petersburg December, 1864, to April, 1865.
Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865.
Fort Fisher, Petersburg, March 25.
Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
Sailor's Creek April 6.
Appomattox Court House April 9.
Surrender of Lee and his army.
March to Danville April 23-27, and duty there till May 23.
March to Richmond, Va., thence to Washington, D.C., May 23-June 3.
Corps Review June 8.
Mustered out June 21, 1865.

Losses:

Regiment lost during service:
10 Officers and 135 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and
5 Officers and 86 Enlisted men by disease.
Total 236.

Source:  Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Compiled and Arranged from Official Records of the Federal and Confederate Armies, Reports of he Adjutant Generals of the Several States, the Army Registers, and Other Reliable Documents and Sources.Des Moines, Iowa: The Dyer Publishing Company, 1908

Home	Artillery	Cavalry
Infantry	Reserves	U. S. C. T.

Direct questions or comments to pacivilwar@pa-roots.net

©  Alice J. Gayley, all rights reserved

Web Space provided by