39th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 39th New York Infantry Regiment , known as the " Garibaldi Guard , " was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War . Service . This regiment was mustered in New York City by the Union Defense Committee , under the leadership of Col . Frederick George D ' Utassy by special authority from the War Department during the Civil War of the United States . On May 27 , 1861 , they deployed to Washington D . C . , having been authorized for a period of three years by New York State . Initially , the regiment was divided into eleven companies of men of different national heritage : three German , three Hungarian , one Swiss , one Italian , one French , one Spanish , and one Portuguese . On May 31 , 1863 , the regiment was consolidated into four companies : A , B , C and D . The regiment expanded as new companies were recruited in the field . On December 8 , 1863 , Company E was added ; on December 14 , 1863 , Company F joined . On December 19 , 1863 , Company G was added ; and on December 30 , 1863 Company H joined . Companies I and K joined in January , 1864 . Companies A , B , C and D were mustered out in New York city June 24 , 1864 . Enlistees who were not entitled to be discharged were transferred to other companies within the regiment . Six companies : E , F , G , H , I and K , remained in service . In October , 1864 , a new Company D , mustered mostly from Malone , New York joined the regiment for one year . On June 2 , 1865 , the members of the regiment not eligible to be mustered out were transferred into the 185th Infantry . The regiment left the New York State May 28 , 1861 ; served at and near Washington , D . C . , from June 1 , 1861 ; in the 1st Brigade , 5th Division , Army of Northeastern Virginia , from July 13 , 1861 ; in Blenker ' s Brigade , Division of Potomac , from August 4 , 1861 ; in Stahel ' s Brigade , Blenker ' s Division , Army of the Potomac , from October 15 , 1861 ; in 1st Brigade , same division , Mountain Department , from April , 1862 ; in White ' s Brigade , Army of Virginia , at Winchester , Va . , from July , 1862 ; at Harper ' s Ferry , W . Va . , from September , 1862 ; at Camp Douglass , Chicago , Ill . , from September 27 , 1862 ; near Washington , D . C . , 1st Brigade , Casey ' s Division , defenses of Washington , from December , 1862 ; in January , 1863 , in 3d Brigade , Casey ' s , later Abercrombie ' s Division , 22d Corps ; in 3d Brigade , 3d Division , 2d Corps , Army of the Potomac , from June 25 , 1863 ; in the 3d , and for a time in the Consolidated , Brigade , 1st Division , 2d Corps , Army of the Potomac , from March , 1864 ; and was honorably discharged and mustered out , under Col . Augustus Funk , July I , 1865 , except ( new ) Company D , which had been mustered out , June 7 , 1865 , at Alexandria , Va . During its period of service , 5 officers and 62 enlisted men were killed in action ; 3 officers and 49 enlisted men died of wounds received in action ; 1 officer and 158 enlisted men died of disease and other causes . In total , 278 men ( 9 officers and 269 enlistees ) died while in service in the regiment . Of those , 1 officer and 99 enlisted men died while captured by the Rebel army . Total strength and casualties . The regiment suffered a total of 274 fatalities . Eight officers and 107 enlisted men were killed in action or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 158 enlisted men died of disease . Commanders . Francesco Casale