During the Civil War the men of Brighton helped form Company D of the 140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment in September, 1862, which was formed in Rochester. The total population of Brighton at the time was approximately 3,100 people. The 140th New York Regiment served in the XII Corps and then the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac. They saw battle during the Battle of Gettysburg, The Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania and Appomatox Courthouse Campaigns during the war. The 140th New York was disbanded from service on June 3, 1865.