The 37th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (1862–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. It was originally designated as the 29th Arkansas Infantry Regiment and was also known as 1st Trans-Mississippi Infantry Regiment. The unit served in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi from its formation in the summer of 1862 until the surrender in May 1865.
Organization
The 37th Arkansas Infantry Regiment was organized in Pope County by individual companies during March through June 1862 and organized as the 29th Arkansas Infantry Regiment upon its acceptance into Confederate service on June 6, 1862, under the command of Colonel Joseph C. Pleasants. The unit was also at one time designated as the 1st Trans-Mississippi Infantry Regiment. The unit's Field Officers were Lieutenant Colonel Jeptha C. Johnson and Major John A. Geoghegan. It was renamed as the 37th Arkansas Infantry regiment following the Battle of Prairie Grove. The unit was composed of volunteer companies from the following counties:
Company A, Commanded by Captain William J. Donaldson, organized at Hamburg, Arkansas, on March 15, 1862. Company B, Commanded by Captain George W. Hurley, organized in Searcy, Arkansas, on March 29, 1862. Company C, Commanded by Captain J. J. Hall, organized at Augusta, Arkansas, on April 30, 1862. Company D, Commanded by Captain John N. Bradley, organized at Hillsboro, Arkansas, on April 26, 1862. Company E, Commanded by Captain Joe P. Vann, organized at Princeton, Arkansas, on May 8, 1862. Company F, Commanded by Captain William J. Smith, organized in Clark County, Arkansas, on May 7, 1862. Company G, Commanded by Captain William H. Bell, organized in Hamburg, Arkansas, on May 10, 1862. Company H, Commanded by Captain James L. Weatherspoon, organized at Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on May 15, 1862. Company I, Commanded by Captain W. R. Basden, organized at Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, on May 20, 1862. Company K, Commanded by Captain William Goodrum, organized at Camp Hindman, Arkansas, on June 7, 1862.
Maj John A. Geoghagan was assigned as Lieutenant Colonel and Captain Sam S. Bell was assigned as Major, with date of rank June 17, 1862.
Captain J.B. Dugger was appointed as the Assistant Quarter Master of the regiment. Lieutenant Lieut C.H. Rundell was appointed as the Adjutant of the regiment.
Service
On November 15, 1862, General Hindman moved the Arkansas infantry to Massard Prairie, three miles southeast of Fort Smith to drill and organize divisions. The 37th Arkansas was assigned to Brigadier General James F. Fagan's 1st Brigade of Brigadier General Francis A. Shoup's 2nd Division, of Major General Thomas Carmichael Hindman's 1st Corps of Lieutenant General Theophilus Holmes's Army of the Trans-Mississippi. The unit was brigaded with the 34th Arkansas Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel William H. Brooks, the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel James P. King, the 39th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Alexander T. Hawthorn and Chew's Arkansas Infantry Battalion, commanded by Major Robert E. Chew .
At the very end of November the cavalry was sent north toward Washington County. Early in December the infantry followed heading north. The brigade crossed the Arkansas River on December 2, 1862. On December 4, the column reached Oliver's Store on Lee creek in the Boston Mountains. There battle flags were presented to the regiments of the division.