The 37th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an
infantry regiment in the
Union army during the
American Civil War.
History
The regiment was formed in September 1862 at Camp Briggs under
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
Oliver Edwards
Oliver Edwards (January 30, 1835 – April 28, 1904) was a machine company executive, an inventor, and a volunteer officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Edwards moved to Illinois as a y ...
and served until the end of the war in April 1865. Companies A, B, and C were
Zouaves units known as the "Tremont Zouaves" under the command of Capt. C.S. Bird. Their uniforms consisted of a dark blue jacket with red trim, a long red wool sash,
chasseur trousers of dark blue wool, a red stocking fez cap, and white canvas leggings.
The 37th Massachusetts saw action at many battles including
Fredericksburg and
Gettysburg, including duty in
New York City after the
draft riot. They participated in the
Siege of Petersburg and the final pursuit and destruction of
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, towards the end of which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of Nort ...
's army.
It was formed from volunteers mainly from the far western counties of
Massachusetts, and it subsequently absorbed members of other units (notably the
7th and the
10th Massachusetts) in May and June 1864. The 37th was one of the first regiments to be issued the new
Spencer repeating rifle, on July 15, 1864, increasing their firepower. During service in the regiment a total of 4 Officers and 165 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, and 92 enlisted men were killed by disease. Total 261.
During the Battle of Sailor's Creek Virginia, April 6, 1865, Private
David Dunnels White
David Dunnels White (April 14, 1844 – February 9, 1924) was an American farmer who served as a Union soldier during the American Civil War. His "single-handed capture of Confederate Major General George Washington Custis Lee" in 1865 became wid ...
of the 37th Massachusetts Regiment, was credited with capturing Confederate Major General George Washington Custis Lee, eldest son of the famed General Robert E. Lee.
References
External links
*{{Internet Archive, 01239881.3164.emory.edu, Recollections of the Civil War: with many original diary entries and letters written from the seat of war, and with annotated references (1912)
Military units and formations disestablished in 1865
Military units and formations established in 1862
Units and formations of the Union Army from Massachusetts
1862 establishments in Massachusetts