7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Active | September 2, 1861 – July 2, 1865 |
Country | United States |
Allegiance | Union |
Branch | Infantry |
Size | Regiment |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Colonel | Joseph Van Dor |
Colonel | William W. Robinson |
Colonel | Mark Finnicum |
Lt. Col. | Hollon Richardson |
The 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was a component of the famous Iron Brigade in the Army of the Potomac throughout the war.
Service[]
The 7th Wisconsin was raised at Madison, Wisconsin, 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 Austrian Lorenz rifles. 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 Minie ball. The regiment saw its first action at Second Bull Run, followed by the Maryland Campaign which produced severe casualties.
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 brigade off McPherson's Ridge, and then stubbornly defended the heights later in the day before withdrawing to Seminary Ridge. When the I Corps retreated to Cemetery Hill, the Iron Brigade and the 7th Wisconsin were sent over to nearby Culp's Hill, where they entrenched. They saw comparatively little action the rest of the battle. The regiment later served that year in the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/COL_W._W._Robinson.png/220px-COL_W._W._Robinson.png)
In the spring of 1864, the regiment signed up for another three years of service and thence fought in the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg.
The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865, and then mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 2, 1865.
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.[1] 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.[2]
Commanders[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/1LT_Hollon_Richardson.jpg/220px-1LT_Hollon_Richardson.jpg)
- Colonel Joseph Van Dor (September 2, 1861 – January 1862) resigned to accept a diplomatic post.
- Colonel William W. Robinson (January 1862 – May 6, 1864) began the war as lieutenant colonel and was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Later served as brigade commander between July 1863 and his resignation in June 1864.
- Colonel Mark Finnicum (May 6, 1864 – December 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 Overland Campaign and resigned.
- Lt. Col. Hollon Richardson (December 17, 1864 – July 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. He distinguished himself in this role during the Battle of Gettysburg and was later made acting lieutenant colonel of the regiment.
Notable people[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Julian_Lewis_CDV_by_Fuller%2C_1860s.png/220px-Julian_Lewis_CDV_by_Fuller%2C_1860s.png)
- Allen R. Bushnell - 1st Lieutenant of Co. C, later promoted to captain. After the war became a state legislator and U.S. congressman.
- Jefferson Coates - Co. H, received brevet to captain and the Medal of Honor for actions at Gettysburg, where he lost his eyes.
- Horace Ellis - Sergeant in Co. A, received the Medal of Honor for actions at the Battle of Globe Tavern.
- Judson G. Hart
- Martin C. Hobart - Lieutenant in Co. B, later lieutenant colonel. After the war became a state legislator.
- Herman H. Hoffman - Enlisted in Co. E. After the war became a state legislator.
- Henry G. Klinefelter - Enlisted in Co. D, later commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the 51st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war became a state legislator.
- William H. Morgan - Received brevet to brigadier general.
- Albert O'Connor - Sergeant in Co. A, received the Medal of Honor for actions at the Battle of Five Forks.
- Henry Palmer - Regiment surgeon, later promoted to brigade surgeon, and was chief surgeon at York U.S. Army Hospital. After the war was mayor of Janesville, Wisconsin, and Surgeon General of Wisconsin.
- Levi E. Pond - Captain of Co. E. After the war became a state legislator.
- John Scanlon - Enlisted in December 1864. After the war became a state legislator.
- Sidney Shufelt - After the war became a state legislator.
- William Sickles - Sergeant in Co. B, received the Medal of Honor for actions at the Battle of Five Forks.
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ^ 7th Wisconsin Archived March 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 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