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Id’d Civil War Kepi Cap with 18^th Corps Insignia – Sergeant John Amberman Co. K 139^th New York Infantry – This kepi cap remains in excellent condition, retaining great, deep blue color, with its original chin strap, held in place by two, general service, eagle buttons; the interior of the cap is lined with a brown cotton; the sweat band is in place – it does have a minor break. There are no significant areas of insect damage. Affixed to the top of the cap is a red (1^st Division), wool, 18^th Corps Badge. On the underside of the brim, in a quarter-size spot of period paint, is the following inked inscription:

“JOHN

AMBERMAN

139 N.Y.V.”

Amberman enlisted in August of 1862, in Brooklyn, as a Sergeant, into Co. K of the 139^th New York Volunteer Infantry. He would remain with his regiment until mustering out, in Richmond, in June, 1865. While with the 139^th, Amberman would be engaged in considerable combat at Fair Oaks, Darbytown Road (capture of Ft. Harrison), Cold Harbor, Drewry’s Bluff, Chaffin’s Farm (Battle of New Market Heights), Bermuda Hundred, the Siege of Petersburg (including the Battle of the Crater), the capture of Richmond in April, 1865. The 139^th was assigned to the 1^st Division of the 18^th Corps in April of 1864. This is a fine example of a Union Sergeant’s kepi cap, identified to a veteran infantryman.

John Amberman

139th NY Infantry
( 3-years )

NEW YORK
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY
(Three Years)

139th Infantry Regiment – NY Vols

Mustered in: September 9, 1862
Mustered out: June 19, 1865

The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
Colonel Anthony Conk received authority, July 28, 1862, to recruit this regiment; it was organized at Brooklyn, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 9, 1862. June 19, 1865, the men not to be mustered out with the regiment were transferred to the 98th Infantry.
The companies were recruited principally: A at Brooklyn, Brookhaven, Flatbush, Hempstead and Jamaica; B, C, D, E, F, G and K at Brooklyn; H at Brooklyn and Smith-town; and I at Brooklyn, Flatbush, Hempstead, Islip and Jamaica.
The regiment left the State September 11, 1862; it served at Camp Hamilton, Department of Virginia, from September 20, 1862; in West’s Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Corps, at Yorktown, Va., from April, 1863; in Wistar’s Brigade, Department of Virginia, from July, 1863; in Wistar’s Division, 18th Corps, from January, 1864; in the District of Curri-tuck, Va., from February, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Corps, from March, 1864; in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 24th Corps, from December, 1864; and, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Thomas Mulcahy, it was honorably discharged and mustered out June 19, 1865, at Richmond, Va.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 5 officers, 48 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 22 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 2 officers, 78 enlisted men; total, 7 officers, 148 enlisted men; aggregate, 155; of whom 8 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 — records of the regiments in the Union army — cyclopedia of battles — memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II.
One Hundred and Thirty-ninth 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 nth, 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, Chicka-hominy 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.

139th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The 139th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 5 officers and 66 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 79 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.