The 37th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Three Years)
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Unit History
The 37th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was composed largely of men from the fear western counties of Massachusetts and was organized at Camp Briggs, in August and early September, 1862. Major Oliver Edwards, commander of the camp, was commissioned colonel Aug. 27, and between Aug. 30 and Sept. 4 the companies were mustered into the United States service. On Sept. 7 the regiment left for Washington arriving on the 9th. Here it was assigned to Briggs' Brigade of Casey's Division of Reserves and was stationed at Camp Chase on Arlington Heights.
Transferred to Frederick, Md., Sept. 30, and thence to Downsville, it was there assigned to Devens' Brigade, Couch's Division, 4th Corps, but served with and was later attached to the 6th Corps. After an expedition to Hancock, Md., and to Cherry Run Ford in October the regiment returned to Downsville marching thence to Berlin, Md., where it crossed the Potomac Nov. 3 with the rest of the Army of the Potomac. Devens' Brigade now became a definite part of Newton's (3d) Division, Franklin's (6th) Corps. Thanksgiving found the 37th at Stafford C. H. Its first battle experience was on the Union left at Fredericksburg, Dec. 11 to 15, 1862. Here Devens' Brigade led the advance in the crossing of the Rappahannock by Franklin's Corps on the 11th, and covered the withdrawal of the corps on the night of the 15th.
During the battle on the 13th the 37th was not heavily engaged. The winter of 186243 was spent in camp near White Oak Church about three miles cast of Falmouth. In January, 1863, the regiment participated in Burnside's "Mud March," after which it returned to its former camp.
On May 3, 1863, the 37th, now a part of Browne's Brigade, Newton's Division, participated in the capture of Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg, and later the same day and on the following day was in action with the 6th Corps near Salem Church, in these two engagements losing 27 men wounded, two fatally. As a part of Eustis' (2d) Brigade, Wheaton's (3d) Division it participated in the forced march of the 6th Corps from Manchester to Gettysburg on the night of the first and morning of the second day of July, 1863, covering 35 miles in less than 18 hours and arriving on the field on the afternoon of the 2d just at the close of the fighting on the Union left.
On the 3d the regiment suffered severely from shell fire while being shifted from one point to another in the rear of the line.
Early in August the 37th was sent to Now York City to assist in the enforcement of the draft. In October it rejoined the Army of the Potomac near Chantilly, Va., and on Nov. 7 was in the supporting line at the capture of Rappahannock Station. During the closing days of November it participated in the Mine Run Campaign, then went into winter quarters near Brandy Station.
Early on the morning of May 4, 1864, the regiment broke camp at Brandy Station and started for the Wilderness. It now formed a part of Eustis' (4th) Brigade of Getty's (2d) Division, Sedgwick's (6th) Corps. Near midday May 5 Getty's Division was hurried to the junction of the Brack and Plank roads arriving just in time to save that important point from falling into the hands of the advancing Confederates. On the following day the 37th was very heavily engaged on the right of the Plank road losing 34 men killed outright and over 100 wounded, about 20 of these mortally.
At Spottsylvania on the 8th, 10th, 12th, and 18th of May the regiment was engaged, having an especially severe experience on the 12th when it assisted in supporting Hancock's assault near the Bloody Angle. During this period the 37th lost 32 men killed or mortally injured together with about twice as many surviving wounded. Here Col. Edwards commanded the 4th Brigade and Lt. Col. Montague the regiment. The regiment was present at the operations on the North Anna River, May 23 to 25, but suffered no loss. During the fighting near Cold Harbor, June I to 12 the 37th lost 6 killed and 23 wounded, several fatally. Lt. Col. Montague having been disabled at Spottsylvania, May 12, Lt. Col. Harlow of the 7th Mass. Regt. commanded the 37th until the close of the Cold Harbor operations.
On June 15 the regiment received 76 recruits from the 7th Regiment and that night crossed the James, arriving on the 17th in sight of the spires of Petersburg. Here it remained until July 9, suffering frequent losses. It then accompanied the 6th Corps to Washington to assist in driving back the Confederates under Gen. Early who was threatening the city. It now formed a part of Edwards' (3d) Brigade, Russell's (1st) Division, General Wright now commanding the corps, General Sedgwick having been killed at Spottaylvania. On Sept. 14, the regiment was armed with Spencer, seven shot repeating rifles.
After pursuing Early as far as Snicker's Ferry on the Shenandoah, the 6th Corps returned toward Washington, only to be again sent to the Valley of the Shenandoah by way of Harper's Ferry and assigned to the command of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. Under his command the 37th was engaged in the operations of the late summer and fan, participating in the battle of Charles Town, Aug. 21, and that of Winchester, Sept. 19, losing in these two engagements a total of 20 killed and 95 wounded, several of the latter mortally.
About Dec. 15, 1864, the 37th returned to the Petersburg lines and was stationed near Fort Wadsworth on the Weldon Railroad. It skirmished at Hatcher's Run, Feb. 5, 1865, made an advance near Fort Fisher, March 25, and participated in the general assault on the Petersburg lines, April 2. It entered Petersburg next morning, but rejoined the 6th Corps about noon and started in pursuit of General Lee's army. Since March 25, Captain Archibald Hopkins had commanded the regiment.
At Sailor's Creek, April 6, it assisted in the defeat and dispersion of Ewell's Corps and the capture of Generals Ewell, Kershaw, and Custis Lee. Here 9 members of the 37th were killed and 31 wounded, several mortally. Captain Hopkins received the brevet of major for his services at Petersburg, and that of lieutenant colonel for his conduct at Sailor's Creek.
Continuing the pursuit to the vicinity of Appomattox C. H., after the surrender of Lee's army the regiment was ordered to Burkeville, thence to Danville, and again back to Wilson's Station on the Southside Railroad. Returning to Washington, it participated in the Grand Review, May 24, and four weeks later was mustered out of the service, its recruits and re-enlisted men having been transferred to the 20th Regiment. Returning. to Massachusetts, on the 2d of July the regiment was assembled for the last time at Readville where its members were paid off and discharged.
Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 165 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 92 Enlisted men by disease. Total 261.
Assignments
Organized at Pittsfield August 30, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 7. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, and Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.--At Downsville, Md., until October 20. Movement to Stafford C. H., Va., October 20-November 19, and to Belle Plains December 5. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. 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. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Detached for duty at New York and duty at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor, July 30 to October 17. Rejoined army at Chantilly, Va., October 17. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Brandy Station until April, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg to July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early's attack on Fort Stevens and the Northern Defences of Washington July 11-12. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Near Charlestown August 21-22. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Provost duty at Winchester until December 13. Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 13-16. Siege of Petersburg December 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Danville, Va., April 23-27. Moved to Wilson's Station May 3; thence march to Washington, D.C., May 18-June 2. Corps Review June 8. Moved to Readville, Mass., June 22-23. Mustered out June 30, 1865.
