Glorious Colour

Confederate Flags 37th Virginia Battle Flag

The 37th VA. Infantry was raised from volunteers who resided in the far southwestern part of the state, primarily Washington, Lee, Russell and Scott counties. They would spend five months fighting the indecisive Allegheny Mountain Campaign, before finally being assigned to Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson at Winchester, VA, during November, 1861. Jackson would lead his army on the abortive Romney expedition during January, 1862.The regiment would recover it's honor at Kernstown the first battle of Jackson's brilliant "Valley Campaign". The 37th VA participated in every battle of the Valley Campaign except Cross Keys, and would receive honors for their exceptional service at Kernstown, McDowell, and Port Republic. The regiment left the valley with Jackson and participated in the so-called "Seven Days" battles, and although not heavily engaged, they were present at Gaines Mill. During August, 1862, Jackson's Command met with near disaster at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, but were able to avenge themselves at the Confederate victory of Second Manassas. They would participate in Jackson's capture of Harper's Ferry and would subsequently be engaged in brief but ferocious fighting at the Battle of Sharpsburg during the action at the West Woods. The regiment did not take an active part in the Battle of Fredricksburg. At Chancelorsville, the 37th was part of Jackson's brilliant flank attack.They would suffer severe casualties the next morning in the attack against the Federal breastworks guarding the Orange turnpike and plank road near Fairfield. At Gettysburg, 98 men of the regiment would become casualties at the fighting on Culp's hill. The two days prior to the battle the 37th had marched over thirty miles. General Ewell decided against an all-out attack on Culps Hill.The second day saw the advance of Ewell's Corps, the 37th being assigned at that time to the brigade of General George "Maryland" Steuart. They fought at Culp's Hill and charged down the slope now known as Pardee's Field. Terrible fire assailed them from the left and front, and the entire left wing of Steuart's line was pinned down. All except one company (company A) of the 37th lay down to try to protect themselves from the galling fire. The fire was so terrible that only two men of Company A were left standing by the time they reached the base of Pardee's field. After Gettysburg, the 37th was engaged briefly at the Wilderness, and spared great carnage. However at Spotsylvania disaster struck. Assigned to the ill-fated mule shoe salient, they were caught in the full force of a Federal advance consisting of 16,000 men. Two hundred of the 270 men present for duty that morning were either killed, wounded, or captured. The regimental colors were lost. The remnants of the regiment went on to fight in a consolidated brigade under General Terry. They participated in Jubal Early's second Valley Campaign, and were honored for their parts at the Battles of Monocacy and Second Kernstown. They also fought at Second Winchester, Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek, before returning to the Petersburg line during November, 1864. A number of men from the 37th were captured at the attack on Fort Steadmen, the last offensive action by the Army of Northern Virginia. They would abandon the trenches at Petersburg and retreated with the rest of the army during the first week of April, 39 men surrendered with Lee at Appomattox.

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