37th Illinois Infantry Regiment
| 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment "Fremont Rifles" | |
|---|---|
 Illinois state flag | |
| Active | September 18, 1861, to May 15, 1866 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Size | 964 Enlisted and 30 Officers |
| Nicknames | "Fremont Rifles" "Illinois Greyhounds" |
| Equipment | Springfield Model 1861 (8 Companies) Colt's New Model revolving rifle (Two Companies, including all NCOs) |
| Engagements | Battle of Pea Ridge Battle of Prairie Grove Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Cape Girardeau Battle of Chalk Bluff Battle of Spanish Fort Battle of Fort Blakeley |
The 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the "Fremont Rifles" and "Illinois Greyhounds", was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[1]
The Regiment Earned Its Reputation at the Battle of Prairie Grove.
Organization
The 37th Illinois Infantry was organized at Chicago, Illinois, and mustered into Federal service on September 18, 1861, For 3 Year Service
| Company | Primary Location of Recruitment | Captains |
|---|---|---|
| A | Rock Island & Mercer County | Henry Jr Curtis
Charles W. Hawes |
| B | Stark & Henry Counties | Charles V. Dickenson
Francis A. Jones |
| C | Lake County | Judson Huntly
Eugene Payne |
| D | Cook County & Michigan | John W. Laimbeer
John Morand |
| E | LaSalle County | James P. Day
Phineas B. Rust |
| F | Lake County | Gallio H. Fairman
Erwin B. Messer |
| G | Cook and Mclean Counties | George R. Bell
Erasmus M. Conover |
| H | Rock Island County | John B. Frick
George H. Merrill |
| I | Boone County | Ransom Kennicott
George Kennicott |
| K | Vermillion County | William P. Black
Thomas Chapman |
Action
Battle of Elkhorn Tavern / Pea Ridge
The Regiment suffered casualties of the 54 members of Company A: 5 killed, 4 mortally wounded and 24 wounded.[3]
Battle of Prairie Grove
During the battle, the Regiment Arrived as part of Huston's 2nd Division, Who was Ordered to Support the Third Division, Later, Huston Organized his Division into a single brigade, Aligning the 26th Indiana, the 37th Illinois, and the 20th Iowa at Reserve, Later, the 37th Illinois charged towards Borden's House, Experiencing some Initial Success, However, a Sudden Counterattack from the confederates, forced the regiment to retreat back to the main union line, The Regiment Suffered 21 KIA, 114 Wounded, for a total of 135.[4]
After the Battle, the 37th, Along with the Peoria Battery and Hubbard's Missouri Calvary, Were stationed at Cassville ,Missouri, Conducting Outpost Duty.
Disbanding
The regiment was mustered out on May 15, 1866 at Springfield, Illinois
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 7 officers and 91 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 5 officers and 164 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 267 fatalities.[1]
Commanders
- Colonel Julius White – mustered on September 18, 1861; promoted to brigadier general on June 9, 1862.[5]
- Colonel Myron S. Barnes – dismissed on disability on November 20, 1862.[5]
- Colonel John C. Black – resigned August 15, 1866 (as brigadier general).[5]
- Colonel Ransom Kennicott – mustered out with the regiment (as lieutenant colonel).[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Dyer, Frederick H. (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: The Dyper Publishing Company. pp. 1062.
Organized at Decatur, 111., July 3, 1861, and accepted by the Secretary of War as G. A. Smith's Independent Regiment July 23, 1861. Moved to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., August 4–5. Mustered In at St. Louis, Mo., August 28, 1861. Moved to Jefferson City, Mo., September 15, thence to Ottervllle September 25, and to Sod alia October 15. Fremont's Campaign against Springfield, Mo., October 15-November 8. Attached to Dept. of Missouri to January, 1862. 1st Brigade, Army of Southwest Missouri, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Army of the Southwest Missouri, to June, 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Army of Mississippi, to September, 1862. 32nd Brigade, 9th Division, Army of the Ohio, to October, 1862. 32nd Brigade, 9th Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to September, 1864.
- ^ "37th Illinois Infantry Regiment". illinoisgenweb.org. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ Ketzle, Henry. "Diary of Henry Ketzle, Company A, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry". Civil War Diary of Henry Carl Ketzle. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
- ^ "Battle of Prairie Grove". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ a b c d Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois. Vol. 1. Springfield, IL: Baker, Bailhache & Company. 1867. p. 599.
External links
- Arnold, Bruce Makoto. "A Horse to Live and a Greyhound to Die: Early Civil War Experiences of Robert and James Thompson." Details the lives of two brothers, one of whom served in the 37th Illinois.[1]