The 37th Mississippi Infantry Regiment was an infantry unit of the Confederate States Army. Consisting of volunteer forces from East-Central Mississippi organized in the spring of 1862, the 37th Infantry fought in numerous battles in its home state before being captured at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. In the later phases of the war the 37th Mississippi fought in Georgia and Tennessee before surrendering in April 1865.
James Dearman, company I, 37th Mississippi Infantry
The 37th Infantry Regiment was organized at Columbus, Mississippi on April 28, 1862.[1] The first assignment of the newly-formed regiment was the defense of North Mississippi, where Union forces were seeking to control strategic railroad junctions. Under the command of General Sterling Price, the 37th fought at the Battle of Iuka in September, losing 5 killed and 27 wounded.[1] In October at the Second Battle of Corinth, Confederate forces attempted to storm Union fortifications around the town, and the commander of the 37th Regiment, Colonel Robert McLain, was wounded during an one of these unsuccessful attacks. The 37th's losses in this Confederate defeat were 19 killed and 62 wounded.[1] As the Confederates retreated from Corinth, the Regiment was engaged again at the Battle of Hatchie's Bridge, taking further losses.[2]
The following year, the 37th Mississippi was sent to defend the strategic city of Vicksburg along the Mississippi River. During the course of the multi-month Siege of Vicksburg, Union forces made numerous attacks on the city's defenses, during which the 37th Regiment lost 17 killed and 36 wounded.[1] The entire Confederate force at Vicksburg was captured on July 4th, 1863 and sent to parole camps to await exchange. Confederate troops were supposed to remain in camp until ordered back into service, but disheartened by defeat and motivated by a desire to return home, many deserted the army rather than rejoin the ranks.[3][4]
Once the Regiment was reorganized for service, the 37th Mississippi was attached to General Edward C. Walthall's brigade and sent to Georgia in the spring of 1864. During the Atlanta Campaign, the 37th fought numerous battles around the city at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, and Peachtree Creek, until the Confederates were forced to abandon Atlanta in the fall of 1864.
The 37th then moved into Tennessee, fighting in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. Greatly diminished by battle losses and desertion, in early 1865 the Regiment was downgraded and renamed the 37th Battalion[2], with only 3 companies of the original 10 available for service. The Battalion joined General Winfield S. Featherston's brigade in the Carolinas Campaign before surrendering on April 26, 1865 in North Carolina.[1]
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