The 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a

volunteer Volunteering is an elective and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency ...

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

that served in the Union Army during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. It was a component of the famous

Iron Brigade The Iron Brigade, also known as The Black Hats, Black Hat Brigade, Iron Brigade of the West, and originally King's Wisconsin Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Although it fought ent ...

in the

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the primary field army of the Union army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the Battle of ...

throughout the war, participating in most of the critical battles of the eastern theater of the war, including

Antietam The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgin ...

, Gettysburg, and Grant's

Overland Campaign The Overland Campaign, also known as Grant's Overland Campaign and the Wilderness Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, towards the end of the American Civil War. Lieutenant general (United States), Lt. G ...

Service

The 7th Wisconsin was raised at

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...

, and mustered into Federal service September 2, 1861. The regiment was initially equipped with smoothbore .69 caliber muskets converted from flintlock to percussion; in early 1862, they were replaced with the M1854 Austrian Lorenz rifle. Unlike their sister regiment the 2nd Wisconsin, which had Lorenz rifles in the unmodified .54 caliber, the 7th's were bored out to .58 caliber to fit a standard

Minié ball The Minié ball, or Minie ball, is a type of hollow-based bullet designed by Claude-Étienne Minié for muzzle-loaded, rifled muskets. Invented in 1846 shortly followed by the Minié rifle, the Minié ball came to prominence during the Crime ...

. The regiment saw its first action at

Second Bull Run The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederate ...

, followed by severe and bloody fighting in the

Maryland Campaign The Maryland campaign (or Antietam campaign) occurred September 4–20, 1862, during the American Civil War. The campaign was Confederate States Army, Confederate General (CSA), General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the Northern United Stat ...

which produced a combined casualty rate of 323. When the 7th Wisconsin marched into Pennsylvania in June 1863, it had not seen any combat action in nine months. During the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, the 7th pushed a part of James J. Archer's

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

off

McPherson's Ridge McPherson Ridge is a landform used for military engagements during the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, when the I Corps of the Union Army had a headquarters on the ridge and was defeated by the Confederate division of Major General Henry Heth. Th ...

, and then stubbornly defended the heights later in the day before withdrawing to

Seminary Ridge Seminary Ridge is a dendritic ridge that served as an area of military engagements during the Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, which was fought between July 1 and July 3, 1863 in and around Gettysburg, Pennsy ...

. When the I Corps retreated to

Cemetery Hill Cemetery Hill is a landform on the Gettysburg Battlefield that was the scene of fighting each day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863). The northernmost part of the Army of the Potomac defensive " fish-hook" line, the hill is gent ...

, the Iron Brigade and the 7th Wisconsin were sent over to nearby

Culp's Hill Culp's Hill,. The modern U.S. Geographic Names System refers to "Culps Hill". which is about south of the center of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, played a prominent role in the Battle of Gettysburg. It consists of two rounded peaks, separated b ...

, where they entrenched. They saw comparatively little action the rest of the battle. The Badgers would suffer heavily during the battle, out of 370 effective men, 194 would not return after July 3. The regiment later served that year in the Bristoe and

Mine Run Campaign The Battle of Mine Run, also known as Payne's Farm, or New Hope Church, or the Mine Run campaign (November 27 – December 2, 1863), was conducted in Orange County, Virginia, in the American Civil War. An unsuccessful attempt of the Union ...

In the spring of 1864, the regiment signed up for another three years of service and thence fought in the

and the

Siege of Petersburg The Richmond–Petersburg campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War. Although it is more popularly known as the siege of Petersburg, it was not a c ...

. At The Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia Chippewa/Ojibwa troops of the 7th Wisconsin aided troops of the 6th Wisconsin employing native skirmishing tactics. The regiment participated in the

Grand Review of the Armies The Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in the national capital city of Washington, D.C., on May 23–24, 1865, following the Union victory in the American Civil War (1861–1865). Elements of the Union Army in th ...

on May 23, 1865, and then mustered out at

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

, on July 2, 1865.

Commanders

* Colonel Joseph Van Dor (September 2, 1861January 1862) resigned to accept a diplomatic post. * Colonel William W. Robinson (January 1862May 6, 1864) began the war as lieutenant colonel and was wounded at the

Second Battle of Bull Run The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederate ...

. Later served as brigade commander between July 1863 and his resignation in June 1864. ** Lt. Col. John Benton Callis (March 3, 1863June 1863) commanded the regiment when Colonel Robinson was recuperating from wounds. He was shot in the chest at the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

and resigned due to disability in December 1863. After the war, he was a U.S. congressman from

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

. * Colonel Mark Finnicum (May 6, 1864December 17, 1864) began the war as captain of Co. H and served as acting commander of the regiment when Colonel Robinson commanded the brigade. Wounded in the

and resigned. * Lt. Col. Hollon Richardson (December 17, 1864July 2, 1865) began the war as a private in Co. A, he was commissioned a captain in February 1863 and served on the staff of General

Solomon Meredith Solomon Meredith (May 29, 1810 – October 2, 1875) was an Indiana farmer, politician, and lawman who became a controversial Union Army general in the American Civil War. One of the commanders of the Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac, ...

. He distinguished himself in this role during the Battle of Gettysburg and was later made acting lieutenant colonel of the regiment.

Total enlistments and casualties

The 7th Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 973 men and later recruited an additional 369 men, for a total of 1,342 men. The regiment suffered 10 officers and 271 enlisted men killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another 143 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 424 fatalities.

Notable people

* David Cooper Ayres was regiment surgeon throughout the war. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator. * Joseph N. P. Bird was 1st lieutenant of Co. I and was wounded at Gainesville. He was promoted to captain but was detailed from the regiment for most of 1863 and 1864. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * Allen R. Bushnell was 1st lieutenant of Co. C, and later promoted to captain. After the war became a Wisconsin legislator and U.S. congressman. * Jefferson Coates was corporal and later sergeant in Co. H; he received a brevet to captain and the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

for actions at Gettysburg, where he lost his eyes. * Horace Ellis was sergeant in Co. A and received the

for actions at the

Battle of Globe Tavern The Battle of Globe Tavern, also known as the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, fought August 18–21, 1864, south of Petersburg, Virginia, was the second attempt of the Union Army to sever the Weldon Railroad during the siege of Petersbur ...

. * Martin C. Hobart was captain of Co. B. He was wounded at Gainesville and captured at the Wilderness. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * Herman H. Hoffman was a corporal in Co. E. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * Henry G. Klinefelter was enlisted in Co. D and later commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 51st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * John Monteith was enlisted in Co. H and rose to the rank of sergeant. He was wounded at Gainesville and discharged due to disability. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * Robert W. Monteith, brother of John Monteith, was enlisted and rose to become captain of Co. H. * Samuel Monteith, brother of John Monteith, was a sergeant in Co. H and was killed at Antietam. * Albert O'Connor was a sergeant in Co. A, received the

for actions at the

Battle of Five Forks The Battle of Five Forks was fought on April 1, 1865, southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, around the road junction of Five Forks, Dinwiddie County, at the end of the Siege of Petersburg, near the conclusion of the American Civil War. The Union A ...

. * Henry Palmer was briefly regiment surgeon but was promoted to brigade surgeon in April 1862, and was chief surgeon at York U.S. Army Hospital. After the war he was mayor of

Janesville, Wisconsin Janesville is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 65,615, making it the List of cities in Wisconsin, tenth-most populous city in Wis ...

, and Surgeon General of Wisconsin. * Levi E. Pond was captain of Co. E. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. *

John Scanlon John Scanlon (September 10, 1841 – December 6, 1895) was an American farmer from Symco, Wisconsin, Symco, Wisconsin who spent one term as a Greenback Party member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Background Sc ...

was drafted into Co. E in December 1864. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * Sidney Shufelt was drafted into Co. D in December 1864. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator. * William Sickles was a sergeant in Co. B and received the

for actions at the

. * George H. Walther was captain of Co. I and was wounded at Gainesville. Later served as major of the 34th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and lieutenant colonel of the 35th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war he served as a Wisconsin legislator.

Nickname

According to veteran of the

2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent most of the war as a member of the famous Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac. It suffered the largest numbe ...

and

Cullen B. Aubery, the 7th Wisconsin was nicknamed "The Huckleberries" or "Huckleberry Seventh", it is also commonly called the "Hungry Seventh". This nickname was supposedly given to the regiment by Edward S. Bragg, commander of the

6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 6th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Throughout the war, it was part of the brigade that came to be known as the Iron Brigade in the Army of the Pot ...

, who said the boys of the 7th were always talking about pies and other hard-to-get delicacies.

References

{{reflist

External links

The Civil War Archive
Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Units and formations of the Union army from Wisconsin Iron Brigade 1861 establishments in Wisconsin

Service

Commanders

Total enlistments and casualties

Notable people

Nickname

See also

Further reading

References

External links