139th Pennsylvania Infantry

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139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
Pennsylvania flag
Active	September 1, 1862 to June 21, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	Infantry
Equipment	Battle of Gettysburg Overland Campaign Siege of Petersburg Battle of Fort Stevens Battle of Opequon Battle of Sayler's Creek

The 139th Pennsylvania was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

[edit] History

The 139th was formed at Camp Howe, near Pittsburgh, on September 1, 1862. Frederick H. Collier was the first colonel. At first assigned to the IV Corps of the Army of the Potomac, the regiment's first duty was to bury the dead of the Second Battle of Bull Run. It then followed the army to the Battle of Antietam, where it was placed on the front line but did not see any significant combat. The next day, the regiment pursued the Confederate army and fought in a skirmish at Williamsport.

The 139th was transferred in October 1862 to the VI Corps. In the Battle of Fredericksburg, it suffered minor casualties from artillery fire, but didn't get a chance to fight. Five months later, however, it did participate in the 2nd Battle of Fredericksburg. At the Battle of Gettysburg in July, it helped defend the left flank of the Union army.

Throughout the spring and into early summer of 1864, the 139th fought in Grant's Overland Campaign and the early stages of the Siege of Petersburg. In July, it was transferred to Washington, D.C. with the rest of the VI Corps to defeat Lt. Gen. Jubal Early's attack on the city. Then they fought under Philip Sheridan in the Valley to ensure that no more Confederate armies would invade again. (See the article on the campaign). By December 1864, they were back in the siege lines of Petersburg.

The 139th supported Sheridon in the Appomattox Campaign and fought in the Battle of Sayler's Creek. After the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, it was ordered to the North Carolina border to support William T. Sherman, but the Confederate surrender there made further support unnecessary. The regiment was mustered out June 21, 1865.