Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 2.djvu/468

 sent to St. Louis, and as it marched through the streets General Curtis pronounced it one of the finest looking regiments he had seen in the service. The regiment remained in the city until the latter part of May guarding military prisons, when it moved out on the Pacific Railroad. In January, 1864, it was sent to Rock Island to guard prisoners at that place. In June the regiment was sent south to Memphis, Tennessee, where it was employed in guard and picket duty. On the 5th of July a detail of fifty men from the regiment, sent out to guard a supply train on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, was attacked by guerillas and Corporal Charles Young and Samuel Coburn were killed and two others wounded. From Memphis the regiment was sent to Indianapolis, Indiana, whence five companies were moved to Cincinnati under Colonel Kincaid, three under Lieutenant-Colonel West being stationed at Columbus, and the other two at Gallipolis, Ohio, where they remained until the middle of May, 1865, when the regiment was united at Cincinnati. On the 20th the regiment started for Davenport, where it was mustered out of the service on the 24th. During the two and a half years of service the regiment had lost from death by disease one hundred thirty-four members; two were killed in battle and three wounded. The patriotic services were appreciated by the commander, as will be seen by the following letter from General Willich, the last officer under whom they served:

, May 13, 1865.

Brigadier-General L. Thomas, Adjutant-General U. S. Army.

General:—I have the honor to submit the following for your consideration: The Thirty-seventh Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, called the Gray-Beards, now on duty at this post, consists exclusively of old men—none under forty-five years of age and many over sixty. After the men of this regiment had devoted their sons and grandsons, numbering 1,300 men, to the service of their country their patriotism induced them to enlist themselves for garrison duty, thus enabling the Government to send the young men to the front. Officers and men would cheerfully remain in the service as long as they are wanted, though they are very badly needed