37th Infantry Regiment
Nickname: Irish Rifles; Seventy-fifth Militia; Seventy-fifth Rifles
Mustered in: June 7, 1861
Mustered out: June 22, 1863
The following is taken from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.
This regiment, Col. John H. McCunn, was accepted by the State May 25, 1861; organized in New York city, and there mustered in the service of the United States for two years, June 6 and 7, 1861. The 75th Militia formed the nucleus of the regiment; and the companies were recruited, H at Allegany, I at Ellicottsville, K at Pulaski, the others at New York city. December 24, 1862, the enlisted men of the 101st N. Y. Volunteers joined this regiment by transfer; and May 25, 1863, the three years' men of the regiment were consolidated into two companies, and these transferred, May 29, 1863, to the 4Oth Infantry as Companies I and K.
The regiment left the State June 23, 1861; served at and near Washington, D. C., from June 24, 1861; in McCunn's Brigade, Army of Northeastern Virginia, from July 21, 1861; in Hunter's Brigade, Division of Potomac, from August 4, 1861; in Richardson's Brigade, from August 22, 1861; in same brigade, Heintzelman's Division, Army of the Potomac, from October 15, 1861; in 3d, Berry's, Brigade, Hamilton's Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from March 13, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, from July, 1862; Companies H and I served detached from the regiment at Fort Washington, D. C., from August, 1861, to March, 1862; and the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out, under the command of Col. S. B. Haytnan, June 22, 1863, at New York city.
During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 3 officers, 52 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 24 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 57 enlisted men; total, 6 officers, 113 enlisted men; aggregate, 119; of whom 2 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.
The following is taken from The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 -- records of the regiments in the Union army -- cyclopedia of battles -- memoirs of commanders and soldiers. Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. volume II.
Thirty-seventh Infantry.—Cols., John H. McCunn, Samuel B. Hayman; Lieut.-Cols., John Burke, Gilbert Riordan; Majs., Dennis C. Minton, Gilbert Riordan, Patrick H. Jones, William DeLacy. ' The 37th, the "Irish Rifles," was composed of seven companies from New York city, two from Cattaraugus county, one from Pulaski, and was mustered into the U. S. service on June 6 and 7, 1861, at New York city, for a two years' term. It left New York on June 23 for Washington; camped at the foot of East Capitol street; participated in the first movement to Manassas in Gen. McDowell's reserves and went into winter quarters near Bailey's cross-roads. After several temporary assignments the regiment finally became a part of the 3d brigade, 1st division, 3d corps, and in March, 1862, embarked for Fortress Monroe. It was active in the siege operations before Yorktown and at Williamsburg it won complimentary mention from Gen. Kearny for gallantry in action. The loss in this battle was 95 killed, wounded and missing. At Fair Oaks and in the Seven Days' battles the regiment was closely engaged, after which it went into camp at Harrison's landing; moved from there to Alexandria; was present at the battles of Bull Run and Chantilly; reached Fal-mouth Dec. 6, 1862; was active at Fredericksburg with a total loss of 35 members; and encamped near Falmouth during the rest of the winter. On Dec. 24, 1862, the regiment received the veterans of the 101st N. Y. The heaviest loss was suffered in the Chancel-lorsville campaign in May, 1863, when 222 of the 37th were killed, wounded or missing. The three years men were transferred to the 40th N. Y. on May 29, 1863, and on June 22, the regiment was mustered out at New York city, having lost 26 by death from wounds and 38 from accident, imprisonment or disease.
NYSMM Online Resources
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (pdf)
Battles and Casualties from Phisterer (spreadsheet)
Historical Sketch from the 3rd Annual Report of the Bureau of Military Statistics
