37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 37th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, "The Greybeard Regiment", was organized at Muscatine and mustered in 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 prisoner of war camps and supply trains.
The regiment was created for political reasons as a way of proving that men well above normal military age were willing to volunteer. While most of its members were in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, it is recorded that a few were in their 70s and at least one man claimed to be 80. It was generally understood that the regiment was to be limited to light duties like guarding supply trains, but there was nothing official about this. Most of the 37th Iowa's members had sons and/or grandsons serving in other regiments, and none could list Iowa as their birthplace since all of them had been born before it was even settled (settlement of the region had begun in 1833). They mustered out May 24, 1865.
OFFICERS:
Colonel George W. Kincaid
ATTACHMENTS:
Attached to District of St. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, to May, 1863. Alton, Ill., to January, 1864. Rock Island, Ill., to June, 1864. Memphis, Tenn., District of West Tennessee, to August, 1864. Indianapolis, Ind., Cincinnati, Columbus and Gallipolis, Ohio, to May, 1865.
SERVICE:
Moved to St. Louis, Mo., January 1, 1863. Provost guard duty at St. Louis, Mo., and guarding Military Prisons until May 1, 1863. Guard Pacific Railroad from St. Louis to Jefferson City, Me. Headquarters at Franklin until July 29. Moved to Alton, Ill., and guard Military Prison until January 16, 1864, and at Rock Island, Ill., until June 5. Ordered to Memphis, Tenn., June 5, and duty there until August 27. Moved to Indianapolis, Ind., August 27-31. Guard prisoners at Camp Morton (5 Cos.) and Military Prisons at Cincinnati, Ohio (5 Cos.), until May, 1865. Detachments also at Columbus, Ohio, and at Gallipolis, Ohio. Mustered out May 24, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this regiment contains 1403 names.
Co. A-Blackhawk and Linn Cos.
Co. B-Muscatine Co.
Co. C-Van Buren and Lee Cos.
Co. D-Johnson and Iowa Cos.
Co. E-Wapello and Mahaska Cos.
Co. F-Dubuque Co.
Co. G-Appanoose, Des Moines, Henry and Washington Cos.
Co. H-Henry and Jefferson Cos.
Co. I-Jasper, Linn and other Cos.
Co. K-Scott and Fayette Cos.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
REFERENCES:
REF: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company
The regiment was created for political reasons as a way of proving that men well above normal military age were willing to volunteer. While most of its members were in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, it is recorded that a few were in their 70s and at least one man claimed to be 80. It was generally understood that the regiment was to be limited to light duties like guarding supply trains, but there was nothing official about this. Most of the 37th Iowa's members had sons and/or grandsons serving in other regiments, and none could list Iowa as their birthplace since all of them had been born before it was even settled (settlement of the region had begun in 1833). They mustered out May 24, 1865.
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company