Solomon Fraley & the 37th Virginia Infantry

My Great Grandfather, Solomon O. FRALEY, was 17 when Virginia seceded from the Union and called for volunteers. The following is a possible account of his participation as a volunteer in the 37th based upon the units history, Solomon's military records and other research done by my 2nd cousin Mr. William Hoover.

"Solomon was born in Russell County, Va. (southwestern Virginia) in 1845. He was about seventeen when Virginia, on 4/17/1861, seceded from the Union and called for volunteers. He joined a volunteer infantry company that was organized in Lebanon, Va. on 5/10/1861. In late May this company along with seven other volunteer companies from southwestern Virginia were ordered to Richmond, Va. His first march was 30 miles from Lebanon to Abingdon, Va., where his company joined with the other seven and left by train for Richmond arriving late May. They were housed in the animal barns at the fairgrounds, issued uniforms, equipment, including Enfield rifles and started their military training.

These eight volunteer companies were shortly thereafter organized into the 37th Virginia Volunteers- a regiment that would soon grow to ten companies and have about 1000 men total. Solomon was in Company C. This regiment remained in training at Richmond until mid June.

In May, both the Union and the Confederacy recognized the military significance of northwest Virginia (now West Virginia). The Confederacy was unable to raise the troops for its defense from the local populace of NW Virginia because of their strong pro-union beliefs: therefore, Robert E. Lee had to commit a part of the army he was organizing at Richmond to this area- the 37th Va. was part of this commitment.

Leaving Richmond between 6/9/ and 6/15/1861, the 37th rode the train to Staunton, Va., and from there by foot traveled 174 miles to the front at Laurel Hill, arriving late June. Solomon was now not only one of the first to leave SW Virginia for the war but was also now one of their first to be in combat (about six weeks after he volunteered).

He participated in many of the engagements in the Alleghenies until the war shifted east to the Shenandoah Valley. The 37th moved to the valley and became part of Stonewall Jackson's army.

Solomon's original enlistment was for one year. Virginia, realizing that the war was going to last longer, offered all volunteers a $50 bounty (bonus) and a 30 day furlough for re-enlisting for an additional 3 years. Solomon did so on 2/10/1862 at Camp Mason, Va.

Throughout 1862 the 37th was involved in engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. When the war again shifted east, and it appeared that the Union Army was going to make an assault on Richmond by an east coast route, Stonewall Jackson's army was in late November 1862 ordered east to help defend Richmond. Apparently, Solomon had enough and on November 28, 1862 he deserted.

He apparently knew what would happen if caught (courtmartial and execution), so he headed to northwest Virginia, a safe area that was pro-union and an area that he knew from having fought there earlier in the war. At the end of the war, Solomon was one of 158 men of the 37th Virginia that were listed as deserters. I have been told that he never went home to Virginia again."



**As a footnote, it was later learned that Solomon did, at some future date after the war, get into contact with his brother James.