37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 37th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the "Graybeard Regiment," was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
and mustered in for three years of Federal service on December 15, 1862. The regiment was unique in that it was composed entirely of men not liable for military service. All men enlisted had to be at least 45 years old. It spent most of its service guarding prinsoner of war camps and supply trains.
The regiment was mustered out on May 24, 1865.
It suffered 3 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 145 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 148 fatalities.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 37th Iowa Infantry was organized at Muscatine, IowaMuscatine, Iowa
Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 22,886 in the 2010 census, an increase from 22,697 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Muscatine County...
and mustered in for three years of Federal service on December 15, 1862. The regiment was unique in that it was composed entirely of men not liable for military service. All men enlisted had to be at least 45 years old. It spent most of its service guarding prinsoner of war camps and supply trains.
The regiment was mustered out on May 24, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
A total of 1041 men served in the 37th Iowa at one time or another during its existence.It suffered 3 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 145 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 148 fatalities.