This photograph includes twelve members of the 37th Illinois Infantry Regimental Band; members on the right side of the top row are holding instruments similar to the Saxhorn that belonged to Musician Samuel Burg.
Written on the bottom of the photograph is “37th Ill-Reg-Band-Taken-in The P2’ lot 1864 Property I. H. Herman.” There is no record of a I. H. Herman serving in the 37th Illinois Infantry.
The 37th Illinois was heavily engaged during the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7-8, 1862, particularly along the Leetown Road and in Morgan’s Woods, where the brush and smoke were so dense it was extremely difficult to tell friend from foe. While forced to retreat, they fought a delaying action and inflected heavy casualties on the Confederates. Company A, armed with Colt revolving rifles, lost 29 of their 55 members killed or wounded. Undocumented reports indicate the 37th Illinois may have captured the flag of the 16th Arkansas.
Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11957
