37th Illinois Regimental History
Taken from the Adjutant General's Report
The Thirty-seventh Infantry, known as "Fremont Rifles,"
was organized by Colonel Julius White in August. 1861, and was
mustered into service September 18th. The Regiment rendez-
voused at Camp Webb. On the 19th of September it left for St.
Louis. The Regiment numbered: Field and staff, 16; company of-
ficers, 30 and 964 enlisted men. It was composed of ten compa-
nies of infantry and two of cavalry. Companies C and F were
from Lake county, commanded respectively by Captain Eugene B.
Payne and Captain E. B. Messer; Companies A and H, from Rock
Island county commanded respectively by Captain John A. Jordon
and Captain John B. Frick; Companies D and G, from Chicago,
commanded respectively by Captain John W. Laimbeer and Captain
Henry N. Frisbie; Company I, from Boone, commanded by Captain
Ransom Kennicott; Company E, from LaSalle, commanded by Captain
P. B. Rust; Company B, from Henry and Stark, commanded by Cap-
tain Charles V. Dickinson, and Company K, from Vermilion, com-
manded by Captain William P. Black.
Before departure, the Regiment was presented with battle
flags by the Board of Trade of Chicago, and upon reporting to
General Fremont, at St. Louis, Mo., was reviewed by him and his
staff in front of his headquarters, upon which occasion ribbons
of red, white and blue were tied to the spear-head of the bat-
tle flag of the Regiment by the hands of the distinguished wife
of the General, Mrs. Jesse Benton Freemont. The Regiment was
armed - the eight inside companies with Springfield rifles, and
the two flanking companies and all non-commissioned officers
with Colt's repeating rifles (seven shooters).
About October 2, the Regiment proceeded to Booneville,
Mo., where it went into camp. About October 10th, Captains
Black and Payne embarked their companies on board the steamer
"War Eagle," and proceeded up the Missouri to Arrow Rock, and
after exploring Saline county for the rebel General Claib Jack-
son, returned. About October 13, Captain Payne was left in
command of the post at Booneville with Companies C and H, and
seven companies of Home Guards, and Colonel White proceeded
with the other eight companies, as a part of General Fremont's
army, to the capture of Springfield, Mo., then held by Price's
(rebel) army. The rebels retreating, the Regiment went into
camp on the Lamine river, where it was joined February 7th,
1862, by Captain Payne's command from Booneville, when the
Regiment became a part of the Army of the Frontier, under Gen-
erals Curtis and Herron. From the Lamine, the Regiment marched
by way of Cassville, Mo., along the "Wire road," skirmishing
all the way with the retreating rebel army, to Sugar Creek, in
Arkansas, where, on the 6th, 7th and 8th of March, 1862, it
participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, where, al-
though the rebel army outnumbered the Federal army two to one,
we won a complete and brilliant victory, and saved St. Louis
from Price's grasp. At this battle, Col. Julius White com-
manded the Brigade, composed of the Thirty-seventh and Fifty-
ninth Illinois, and Davidson's Peoria Battery.
From 10 A.M. of the 7th of March until sundown, this Bri-
gade met and repulsed the onslaught of 6,000 rebels, under Gen-
erals McCullough and McIntosh, both of whom were killed in
front of this Brigade. The night of the 7th, the Regiment
slept on its arms, and next day renewed the fight, and at 11
A.M. a general charge was made, which resulted in putting
Price's army to flight and our taking many prisoners. The re-
bel army numbered 35,000 men, and were completely whipped and
forced to retreat south by General Curtis' Union army of
15,000. For his gallant handling of his heroic Brigade at this
battle, Colonel White was made Brigadier General of Volunteers.
At this battle the Thirty-seventh lost, killed, 21: wounded,
114 - total, 135.
After this battle, the Thirty-seventh Infantry, with the
Peoria Battery and Hubbard's Missouri Cavalry, were stationed
at Cassville, Mo., on outpost duty.
In June, 1862, General White received his commission as
General, and departed east to report for duty. Lieutenant
Colonel Barnes was then promoted Colonel; Major John Chas.
Black Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain H. N. Frisbie Major.
During the summer of 1862, the report coming in that a
large force of rebels and Indians were at Neosho, Mo., 40 miles
distant, Lieutenant Colonel Black, taking all the available
force at the Post, started at sunrise, marched to Neosho, met
and defeated the enemy and drove him into the Indian Territory;
returned to Neosho at midnight, and reached Cassville by sun-
down the next day, with over 300 prisoners and a large number
of horses, mules and wagons captured from the enemy, having
marched 100 miles and fought a battle in two days.
The Thirty-seventh guarded the frontier in southwest Mis-
souri all through the summer of 1862, having frequent fights
with roving bands under Coffee and Quantrell, alternating be-
tween Springfield and Cassville, Mo.
During the summer of 1862, Company F, of Thirty-seventh
Illinois, Captain E. B. Lesser commanding, was detailed as a
guard of the College Military Prison at Springfield. Mo., and
occupied part of the summer in the construction of a stockade,
and otherwise fortifying Springfield.
September 29,1862, found the Thirty-seventh again on the
march after the enemy. October 1, reached Pond Springs, Mo.
October 4th drove the rebels out of Newtonia, Mo., thence to
Gadfly, thence to Cassville, Mo., thence to old battle-field of
Pea Ridge, thence to Huntsville, Ark., arriving there October
20th. Started on the evening of October 22 for Bentonville;
marched all night. Crossed White river, and camped four miles
south of Cross Hollows October 23d. Reached Osage Springs Oc-
tober 24th. Broke camp on the evening of October 27th, marched
all night, and at daylight surprised the rebels at Fayette-
ville, Ark.; took some prisoners, and returned to Osage Springs
October 30th.
Continued marching in light order, chasing rebels from one
place to another, until December 1,1862, when the Regiment went
into camp at Camp Lyon, Mo.
On account of the rapid marching qualities of the Thirty-
seventh, and the fact that it was always on the march in pur-
suit of the enemy, when not actually engaged in battle with
him, it gained the sobriquet of "The Illinois Greyhounds," by
which name it was known all over Missouri and Arkansas.
December 3, 1862, Colonel Barnes having retired from the
service, and Lieutenant Colonel Black being Colonel, H. N.
Frisbie Lieutenant Colonel, and Eugene B. Payne, Captain of
Company C, Major, the order came to the Regiment, then at Camp
Lyon. Mo., to proceed to the relief of General Blunt, then be-
sieged at Sugar Hill, Ark.
Leaving the baggage to follow, the Regiment started for
the relief of Blunt, and marched to Prairie Grove, Ark., in
three days, a distance of 112 miles, double-quicking the last
ten miles.
On the morning of December 7, 1862, engaged the enemy at
Prairie Grove, Ark., near Illinois Creek. General Herron com-
manded the Division at that battle, and Colonel Dye, Twentieth
Iowa, commanded the Brigade composed of his own regiment, the
Thirty seventh Illinois, and one battery. The battle lasted
all day, and was one of the most hotly contested and bloody
battles of the war, considering the number engaged.
The Thirty-seventh lost about one-seventh of its number in
killed and wounded.
Colonel Black, at this battle, commanded the Regiment with
one arm in a sling, shattered at the battle of Pea Ridge, and
late in the fight had his other arm shattered by a rifle ball.
Many of the company officers were killed and wounded.
That night General Marmaduke, commander of the rebel army,
and under a flag of truce, approached the outpost, under com-
mand of Major Payne, Officer of the Day, and after being dis-
armed and blindfolded by that officer, was escorted by him to
the headquarters of General Herron. Exactly what transpired at
this conference is not known, except that the battle was named
Prairie Grove. It is surmised, however, that General Herron
demanded an unconditional surrender, to which General Marmaduke
could not fully accede. Returning, the rebel leader muffled
his artillery wheels, and fled during the night across the
mountains. The Thirty-seventh accompanied General Herron the
next day, and pursued the rebel army over the Boston mountains
to Fort Smith, Ark., where General Marmaduke, with the remnant
of his rebel army, crossed the river and escaped.
The Thirty-seventh returned to Prairie Grove, and as a
part of General Herron's Army of the Frontier, spent the winter
and spring of 1862-63 in marching from point to point, in Mis-
souri and Arkansas, having numerous skirmishes with the enemy,
until April 24,1863, when the Regiment proceeded to St. Louis,
and from thence to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where it engaged the
enemy single-handed, and drove him across the sunken country to
Chalk Bluffs, on the St. Francis River. It was at this battle
of Chalk Bluffs, fought May 2, 1863, that the brave Lieutenant
Joseph Eaton, Company H, was killed.
Returning to St. Louis, the Regiment accompanied General
Herron's Division to Vicksburg, Miss., where about June 13,
1863, it helped to completely environ Vicksburg by closing up
the gap between General Logan and the river on the south side.
Major Eugene B. Payne was here detailed as "Picket Officer" of
General Herron's Division, and had fu11 charge of the rifle
pits during the siege. The Regiment took a prominent part in
the siege of Vicksburg, and being hardy veterans, marched with
every man into the captured city, July 4,1863.
July 13,1863, the Regiment proceeded up Yazoo River, land-
ing near Yazoo City and capturing that place after a hard
fight, taking many prisoners. Thence marched to the Big Black
River in pursuit of enemy. Was from thence ordered back to
Vicksburg, thence to Port Hudson, and from thence, August 13,
proceeded to New Orleans, La., and went into camp at Carroll-
ton. September 4,1863, the Regiment was reviewed by General U.
S. Grant. September 6, Proceeded to Morganzia, La., and on
September 8, in company with 20th lowa, and 26th Indiana,
started in Pursuit of General Dick Taylor, and General Green's
Rebel forces west of Atchafalaya River. On 29th September, met
enemy near Morgan's Bend. Rebel force 3,000 - Union force -
1,200 - whipped them. Rebel loss 32 killed, 110 wounded. Un-
ion loss, 13 killed, 34 wounded. On September 30, General Dana
took command of our Division. October 1, Regiment had another
scrape with the enemy and took 65 prisoners. Returned to New
Orleans, La., October 11, Lieutenant Colonel H. N. Frisbie hav-
ing resigned, Major Eugene B. Payne was promoted Lieutenant
Colonel, commanding Regiment, as Colonel Black was in command
of the Brigade composed of Twenty-sixth Indiana, Twentieth Iowa
and Thirty-seventh Illinois. October 13, Colonel Black with
his Brigade embarked and proceeded to, and took possession of
Brownsville, Texas. From that time until Feb., 1864, the Regi-
ment guarded the Rio Grande River as far north as Ringgold Bar-
racks. In Feb., 1864, the Regiment re-enlisted for three
years, and was re mustered Feb. 28,1864. Receiving a furlough
of thirty days the "boys" visited their homes for the first
time in three years. Reporting at Chicago, the Regiment pro-
ceeded to Memphis, Tenn., April 30th, where Colonel Black with
his Brigade was sent after the rebel General Forrest, whom he
forced to retreat into interior of State. Returning to Memphis
the Regiment proceeded to "Atchafalaya Bayou," where General
Black's Brigade constructed the celebrated "Steamboat Bridge"
over which General N. P. Banks escaped from the rebel General
Dick Taylor. May 30th, started out on another scout; marched
60 miles and camped at Morganzia, La. Between June 2d and
14th, 90 of the Regiment were on another scout. Attached to
Nineteenth Army Corps June 14th ; July 12th proceeded up White
River and fortified St. Charles, Ark. Returned to Morganzia
July 12th. The Nineteenth Army Corps (Banks) having returned
east, the Regiment was attached to Thirteenth Army Corps and
placed in General Lawler's Division. September 20th, all the
non-veterans returned home. October 7th, the Regiment went
into regular winter quarters at Duvall's Bluff, Ark. (a thing
they had never done before). January 4,1865, the Regiment re-
ceived marching orders and proceeded to New Orleans, La., and
thence to Barrancas, Florida. March 11th, marched to Pensa-
cola, Florida. The Regiment was now in First Brigade Second
Division Thirteenth Army Corps General Steele commanding.
March 20th, the Regiment marched across Perdido River and
Aslumbia River on bridges built by themselves, to Pollard,
Florida, having several skirmishes by the way. March 13th,
Colonel John C. Black was promoted Brevet Brigadier General of
Volunteers, and Lieutenant Colonel Eugene B. Payne was promoted
to Brevet Colonel of Volunteers, and then Brevet Brigadier Gen-
eral of Volunteers by the President and Edwin M. Stanton, Sec-
retary of War. General Payne having resigned on account of
sickness as Lieutenant Colonel, Major Ransom Kennicott was pro-
moted Lieutenant Colonel and Captain H. Wolford, Co. H, was
promoted Major. April 2d, the Regiment participated in the
seige and storming of Fort Blakely, Ala. April 9th, stormed
Fort Blakely, and after a hard fought battle captured the Fort,
capturing 1,200 prisoners and much property. The Regiment's
loss was 1 killed and 7 wounded. April 14th, entered Mobile,
Ala., and went into camp. April 20th, embarked on steamers and
proceeded up the Alabama River to Cahawba, Ala., (a late rebel
prison pen) and took on board the half starved emaciated Union
prisoners confined there. Near Selma, Ala., a gang of Bush-
whacking rebels fired into our boat killing one man of Co. A.
Retribution quickly followed, for the Regiment landed and
burned the houses of the leader of the Rebels, and General
Steele issued his proclamation that if his boats were fired on
again his troops would burn all buildings within 15 miles of
the shooting. This put a stop to it. On April 29 reached
Montgomery, Ala., (seat of Rebel Government). Returned to
Selma, May 1. Reached Mobile, Ala., May 15. June I2th re-
ceived orders to march with 60 rounds. Remained in suspense
until June 28th, when the Regiment embarked on steamer and for
the fifth time ploughed the Gulf. Arrived at Galveston, Texas,
July 1. Reached Sabine Pass July 5, and camped at Beaumont.
July 17th, went to Houston, Texas, where the Regiment, with
headquarters at Houston, was stationed by companies along the
railroads leading out of Houston. July 13th, Major Wolford was
mustered out and Captain J. J. Huntley, Co. C, was promoted Ma-
jor. Co. A was stationed at Brenham, B at Milligan, C at Co-
lumbus, D at Beaumont, F at Richmond, H at Alleyton, K at Hemp-
stead, with E, G and I at Houston. General Black resigned
August 15,1865, and Lieutenant Colonel Ransom Kennicott was
promoted Colonel, and Major J. J. Huntley, Lieutenant Colonel,
and Captain Jack Moran, Co. D, Major. On May 15,1866, the
Thirty-seventh was mustered out of the U. S. service at Hous-
ton, Texas, and reached Springfield, Ill., May 31,1866, where
it received final payment and discharge, having been in the
service of the United States four years and ten months, and
having participated in eleven hard fought battles and sieges
and innumerable skirmishes, and having marched a distance of
17,846 miles as follows: By steam, 14,560 miles: on foot, 3,286
miles, according to the tabulated statement kept by Henry
Ketzle, veteran of Co. A.
Source: Illinois Adjutant-General's Report, vol. 3, p. 70
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