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Regimental Record of 37th Regiment U.S. C[olored]. Infantry.

Lithographic broadside, 19.5” x 14.5”, plus margins. Far-left section of regimental history at bottom slightly offset.

A commemorative regimental record for the 37th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, which played crucial roles in the Siege of Petersburg, both expeditions against Fort Fisher, and the pivotal sacking of Wilmington, NC.

This broadside details the 37th’s eleven Companies (A-K), and at the center lists Regimental Officers and non-commissioned staff, along with various remarks. Each Company is chronicled in some detail, with notes on promotions, resignations, transfers, captures, deaths, etc. While no African-American imagery is featured, the motto at the top, “We fight for our Rights, Liberty, Justice and Union,” reflects the racial composition of the regiment. A history at bottom records the action the 37th saw, which concludes thus: “This regiment has seen much and hard service, shown bravery in hard fighting and endurance on long marches. Perhaps its record is better written when we state that in little less than eighteen months’ campaigning it lost nearly eight hundred men.” Vignettes in the upper section depict battle scenes, portraits of army commanders, etc.

Companies A through E of the 37th were organized in Norfolk, VA during the winter of 1863–64 by Lieut.-Col. Chamberlain, following which all five companies were ordered into the field as part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Div., 18th Army Corps. Companies F and G joined the other five companies in May 1864—followed by the addition of Co. H. The 37th was ordered to the front lines during the Siege of Petersburg, and from there was ordered to the forts at Wilson's and Harrison's Landings (on the James River, VA), where it remained until Sept. Ordered to Deep Bottom, VA, the 37th arrived there in Sept. 1864 and was immediately put into action. After three days of hard fighting and heavy losses, it completed the capture of New Market Heights and Fort Harrison, and was honorably mentioned for distinguished bravery in this battle. The 37th received Companies I and K in Nov. 1864. In Dec., the regiment joined in the first expedition against Fort Fisher under Gen. B.F. Butler. In Jan. 1865, the 37th took part in the second expedition against both Fort Fisher and Wilmington, NC under Maj.-Gen. Terry. The 37th played the crucial role of cutting-off the connection between Fort Fisher and rebel forces in the surrounding area. Crossing the Peninsula to Cape Fear River, the 37th entrenched itself some three miles above the Fort, and remained until the surrender of the fort. After the fort’s capture they took part in Gen. Terry’s movement toward Wilmington—driving the enemy off, and marching onward until the city was finally taken in Feb. After this engagement, the 37th started on the march to Raleigh, NC— joining Gen. Sherman’s army at Mount Olive, NC, and remaining under Sherman until after Gen. Johnston’s surrender, when in May it was ordered to Goldsboro, NC. Ordered back to Wilmington in June, the regiment performed provost duty in the city and was mustered out in Feb. 1867.

No records in OCLC.

REFERENCES: History of the Thirty-Seventh Regt. U.S.C. Infantry (Philadelphia: King & Baird, Printers, 1866) at ncgenweb.us

CONDITION: Good, repairs at verso to tears at upper-left corner and bottom-middle, light staining at margins, no losses to the record.

Item #6205

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