Colonel David Ireland received authority to recruit this regiment. The original regiment was organized at Binghamton, NY, from companies raised in the Twenty-fourth Senatorial District, - Broome, Tompkins, and Tioga Counties. Recruiting commenced August 15, 1862, the full regiment being mustered into service on the 25th of the following month.
Leaving Binghamton, two days later, 1008 strong, it went to Harper's Ferry, arriving there on September 30, 1862. While there, it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division (Geary's). This regiment won special honors at Gettysburg, then in Greene's Brigade, which alone and unassisted, held Culp's Hill during a critical period of that battle against a desperate attack of vastly superior force. The casualties in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh at Gettysburg exceeded those of any other regiment in the corps, amounting to 40 killed, 87 wounded, and 10 missing. The gallant defense of Culp's Hill by Greene's Brigade forms one of the most noteworthy incidents of the war.
The Twelfth Corps left Virginia in September, 1863, and went to Tennessee, joining Grant's Army at Chattanooga. In the month following their arrival the regiment was engaged in the midnight battle at Wauhatchie, Tennessee, where it lost 15 killed and 75 wounded; and, a few weeks later, fought with Hooker at Lookout Mountain in the famous "battle above the clouds", casualties in that battle, 6 killed and 32 wounded.
In April, 1864, the corps number was changed to the Twentieth, General
Hooker being placed in command. A large accession was received from the
Eleventh Corps, but Colonel Ireland and General Geary retained their respective
commands. The One Hundred Thirty-seventh shared in all the marches and battles
of the Atlanta campaign and then marched with Sherman to the Sea.
The unit was also present at Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Cassville, Lost Mountain, the Carolinas, and Averasboro. The unit commanded by Col. VanVoorhees was mustered out June 9, 1865 at Bladenburg, MD.
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