Solomon F. Blackmon enlisted in the 37th Regiment on May 14th, 1862 at Enterprise, Mississippi in Clarke County and was mustered into service at Columbus, Miss. Solomon was 19 years of age at this time. When first formed, the 37th was under the command of General Sterling Price and was used to protect Northeast Mississippi. Solomon was one of about 450 men in the 37th Regiment that fought with Gen. Price in the battle of Iuka. On September 19th, 1862, in going over a fence this regiment met a fierce cross fire and lost (5 killed and 27 wounded) in the first try. On October 5th, 1862 Gen. Price and his army arrived at Corinth, Miss. and joined VanDorn in the battle of Corinth and lost another 19 killed and 62 wounded.
On May 17th of 1863, the 37th had now found themselves in the trenches along Graveyard Road in Vicksburg, Miss. meeting the advancing army of General Grant. The artillery fire started this day and lasted for 48 long days and nights. The 37th, 36th and 7th Battalion repulsed attack after attack by the Union army on the 19th and 22nd of June and the 37th Regiment lost another 17 with 56 wounded. Still, Sol and his comrades fought on until July 4th when they were ordered to stack arms in front of the trenches and bivouac to the rear of their lines where they were paroled .
By an act of the Confederate Congress February 17, 1864, the men and officers of the 37th Regiment received thanks For their patriotic determination to continue in service until the independence of these states has been firmly established.
Back in Enterprise, Miss. at parole and exchange camp, Solomon re-enlisted in the 37th regiment and by May of 1864 was now fighting across Georgia and Tenn. Solomon was now under the command of General Walthall and on November 20, 1 864, they crossed the Tenn. river and moved to Columbia where they occupied the town. On November 29, they made a forced march to Spring Hill where they crossed !he Duck river and followed the retreating army into Franklin, Tenn. Here Solomon and his comrades were subjected to the deadliest battle of their lives.
The 37th continued on to Nashville, despite heavy casualties, but without Solomon Blackmon who was seriously wounded in the Battle of Franklin and was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment of wounds to his neck, leg, and scrotum which was completely lacerated. (Since he had 14 children, I assume there was no lasting damage.)
After being released sometime later, Solomon was returned to his regiment and under the command of General Joseph Johnston, surrendered with his regiment at Greensboro, N.C. on May 1, 1865 and returned home by Mobile & Ohio R.R. with 3 days rations.
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