From teenagers who died of disease before a shot was fired, to the middle-aged men who died alongside them in battle, to the revered old veterans who lived well into the 20th century, collected here are the known (and suspected) burial locations for more than 275 former members of the 37th Alabama.

Perhaps Thomas J. Carlisle (Co. D & I) summed it up best when he wrote of visiting a military cemetery in 1862:

" ... (We) walked out to view the soldiers’ grave-yard. A vast number of soldiers were there ... occasionally two in the same grave. We walked reverently among the rough and lonely mounds of the heroic dead. No marble shafts mark the last resting place of these soldier boys. But there is a solitary grandeur rising from the soldiers’ graves, which far exceed the towering monuments reared by pomp and gold. While there is honor in being buried upon the battle field or in the soldiers’ cemetery, yet every soldier prefers having his last resting place in the graveyard at home, where dear ones may resort and spread flowers of never fading love and affection ... ."

The affections of those at home, about which Carlisle wrote so eloquently is also well represented by the diary of Miss Emily Forman. She was the sister-in-law of a soldier, 1st Sgt. Henry B. Wooddy of Carlisle’s own Co. I. Wooddy’s family knew he was sick. They probably even suspected he was dying, but still the news of his death came as a shock to young Emily who joined her grieving sister Julia at Henry's burial. She confided to her diary the following passage on June 5, 1863. Something she intended to be read by strangers:

"There is something which I wish to write down here as it may be of service to some one hereafter. The body of Henry B. Wooddy, which was interred near Vicksburg, Miss., was placed in a coffin made of cypress wood, painted or otherwise stained black on the outside, and lined inside with white linen. Three notches were cut under the right elbow. The coffin sloped from the shoulder, was straight from the shoulder to the elbow, and sloped from the elbow to the footpiece. The body was dressed in a brown jeans coat and pants and a camp shirt. There were brass buttons on the coat. The design on the buttons was an eagle with its wings spread, which was encircled by stars near the edge of the button."

Emily also wrote a poem about Lorene Stamps Wooddy (Henry’s mother). It is repeated here in honor of all the members of the 37th Alabama now buried somewhere – known or forgotten:

"And my first born lies surrounded by the gallant and the good,
Where the grand old Mississippi onward rolls his mighty flood."

Thanks to all those who’ve contributed information to this section of the site. Special thanks to Scott Dawsey for his diligent and tireless research in collecting much of this information, and to Charles R., Amanda and Christopher East for additional information and numerous photos of regimental members’ grave markers. Photo above of Matthew Garrett’s (Co. G) grave marker courtesy of John Simmons.

Known and Suspected Burial Locations/Memorial Marker Locations:

Burials for names: Allen-Lunceford
Burials for names: Mallard-Yates

37th Alabama Regiment of Volunteer Infantry CSA
2300 Cottondale Lane Little Rock, AR 72202
cculpepper@aristotle.net

© Copyright 2007 C.C. (Chip) Culpepper