Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg? Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen. We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.
Muster In: Organized at Pittsfield August 30, 1862.1
Muster Out: Mustered out June 30, 1865.2
Commander(s):
Colonel Oliver Edwards
3
Lieutenant Colonel George L. Montague
4
Major Rufus P. Lincoln
5
Captain Archibald Hopkins
Commander Image
First Offensive Order of Battle: Fourth Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6,7
- Commander:
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)8
Second Offensive Order of Battle: Fourth Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army9,10
- Commander: Lieutenant Colonel George L. Montague (June 30, 1864)11
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)12
- Note: Both the 7th Massachusetts and the 10th Massachusetts were ordered home for muster out and their remnants attached to the 37th Massachusetts on June 14 and June 19, 1864 respectively.13
Third Offensive Order of Battle:
Fourth Brigade | Second Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (July 1-6, 1864)14
Third Brigade | First Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (July 6-31, 1864)15
- Commander: Lieutenant Colonel George L. Montague (July 31, 1864)16
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: The 2nd Rhode Island still appears to have been attached to the 37th Massachusetts in the field and was not an independent command at this time. More research is needed.
- Note: The 37th Massachusetts was transferred from 4/2/VI/AotP to 3/1/VI/AotP on July 6, 1864.17
- Note: The Third Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps moved to City Point, Va. on July 9 and embarked for Washington, D.C. on July 10, 1864.18,19
Fourth Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.20
Fifth Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.21
- Weapons:
- Spencer’s Breech-loading Rifles (.52 caliber) (September 30, 1864)22
- Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (September 30, 1864)23
Sixth Offensive Order of Battle:
- Not present at the Siege of Petersburg.24
Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25
- Commander: Major Rufus P. Lincoln (December 31, 1864)26
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: This unit moved to the Siege of Petersburg from December 13-16, 1864.27
Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army28,29,30
- Commander:
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
- Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.33
Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | VI Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army34,35
- Commander: Captain Archibald Hopkins (March 31, 1865)36
- Unit Strength:
- Weapons:
Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles37:
- 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.
- …away…
- 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.
Bibliography:
Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:
- Petersburg Medals of Honor: At the “Breakthrough”
- OR XLVI P1 #115: Reports of Captain Archibald Hopkins, 37th MA, April 2-6, 1865
Sources:
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- Oliver Edwards image. MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 84, Page 4241. United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
- George L. Montague image. MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 84, Page 4241. United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
- Rufus P. Lincoln image. MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 84, Page 4242L. United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 227 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 548 ↩
- Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 37th Massachusetts Entry, Page 88; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 227 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 548 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 548 ↩
- Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 37th Massachusetts Entry, Page 88; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 227 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 258 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 257 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXVII, Part 2 (Serial Number 71), page 550 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 258 ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XXVII, Part 1 (Serial Number 70), page 271 ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 37th Massachusetts Entry, Page 82; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
- Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 37th Massachusetts Entry, Page 82; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1119: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1119: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 330: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 743: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 67: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 330: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 743: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 67: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 571: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 587: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 571: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
- A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩