The Thirty Seventh Massachusetts Infantry is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? 1886.
What is it made out of? Monument: granite; Base: stone.
What size is it? Overall: approx. 9 ft. 14 in. x 4 ft. x 4 ft.
Who made it? Milles and Luce, fabricator.
What does it depict? Granite monument in form of a tree trunk with carved knapsack, standard, two muskets and VI Corps insignia on a scroll. The monument stands on a two tiered base atop boulder. Monument is a 2.2 foot square granite shaft in the form of a tree trunk with carved knapsack, standard, two muskets, and VI Corps insignia on a scroll set on a four foot square base that rests on a boulder. There are raised letters on the base. Flanking markers are gable topped, 1.6×8 foot.
What does it honor? Dedicated October 6, 1886, it marks the line taken by the 37th Infantry unit after its arrival on July 2, 1863 until July 5, 1863, when it was involved in the pursuit of Lee’s Confederate army. The monument stands approximately 100 yards in front of where the line of battle was.
How is it inscribed? (On base tier:) 37TH MASS. (On base tier:) 3RD DIV. (On base tier:) JULY 2ND 1863 (On base tier:) 2ND BRIG
When was this photograph taken? February 6, 2009.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, Sedgwick Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located on the east side of south Sedgwick Avenue.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been changed or materially altered. Along with a number of other Gettysburg monuments in the southern area of the battlefield, this piece was vandalized on March 4, 1913.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
At Gettysburg
The 37th Massachusetts Infantry served as a member of Shaler’s Brigade in Newton’s Division of the Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Col. Oliver Edwards (1835-1904)
Number Engaged: 593
Casualties: 2 killed, 26 wounded, 19 missing
Soldiers Buried in the Massachusetts Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Enos Besoncon, Company B, C-34
- Pvt. Elihu Colville, Company F, E-35
- Pvt. James Crampton, Company K, E-15
- Pvt. Charles Gurney, Company E, C-33
- Pvt. James H. Perkins, Company E, E-28
General Information
Raised: Berkshire, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Pittsfield August 30, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 7. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, and Army of the Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.–At Downsville, Md., until October 20. Movement to Stafford C. H., Va., October 20-November 19, and to Belle Plains December 5. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2. Maryes Heights, Fredericksburg, May 3. Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-4. Detached for duty at New York and duty at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor, July 30 to October 17. Rejoined army at Chantilly, Va., October 17. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Brandy Station until April, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg to July 9. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 9-11. Repulse of Early’s attack on Fort Stevens and the Northern Defences of Washington July 11-12. Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Near Charlestown August 21-22. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Provost duty at Winchester until December 13. Moved to Petersburg, Va., December 13-16. Siege of Petersburg December 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Moved to Danville, Va., April 23-27. Moved to Wilson’s Station May 3; thence march to Washington, D.C., May 18-June 2. Corps Review June 8. Moved to Readville, Mass., June 22-23. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 165 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 92 Enlisted men by disease. Total 261.
Massachusetts at Gettysburg
1st Infantry :: 1st Company Sharpshooters :: 2nd Infantry :: 2nd Company Sharpshooters :: 7th Infantry :: 9th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 11th Infantry :: 12th Infantry :: 13th Infantry :: 15th Infantry :: 16th Infantry :: 18th Infantry :: 19th Infantry :: 20th Infantry :: 22nd Infantry :: 28th Infantry :: 32nd Infantry :: 33rd Infantry :: 37th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 1st Light A :: 3rd Light C :: 5th Light E :: 9th Light
