John Malcolm Culpepper was born in Randolph County, Alabama in 1835. He along with two brothers enlisted April 28, 1862 in Company B of the Alabama 37th Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, CSA. The regiment saw action almost exclusively in the Western Theatre of the American Civil War, including the hellish 48-day defense of Vicksburg, Mississippi. These men also fought against Sherman throughout Georgia, which culminated in several battles around Atlanta.

The 37TH ALABAMA surrendered April 26, 1865 at Durham Station, Orange County, North Carolina. Of the 1,100 men who once served the 37TH ALABAMA — only about 75 officers and men of the original 37TH ALABAMA comprised the regiment at its end. Of the three brothers, only John Malcolm Culpepper was present for the end of hostilities. One was back home in Alabama recovering from wounds — the other lay buried in the soil of Mississippi.

Several years later, John Malcolm Culpepper moved his large family from Alabama to Jefferson County, Arkansas. Two of his sons served the Pine Bluff Police Department, one as Captain, the other as Chief of Police.

C.C. (Chip) Culpepper, a great-grandson of John Malcolm Culpepper has researched the 37TH ALABAMA regiment for five years. He has recently completed a day-by-day account of this unit which (as many other Western Theatre operations) has long been overlooked by historians, and it is available at: gen.culpepper.com/Historical/CivilWar/AL37/.