7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
in June 1861 and mustered in for three years service. It was often referred to as the "Irish Seventh" given the large number of Irish immigrants who were enlisted in its ranks.
The regiment was a special project supported by General Nathaniel Lyon. Most of the volunteers in Missouri's early regiments were German immigrants, and Lyon supported the creation of a regiment recruited from St. Louis' Irish-American population to demonstrate that the Union cause in Missouri had support beyond the German-American community. Many St. Louis Irish (the second largest immigrant community in the city) were ambivalent about the new Republican Party and Federal military action against seceding states. In addition, Irish Americans were strong participants in the pre-war Missouri Volunteer Militia
, and many resented the May 10, 1861 Federal arrest of the Militia for suspected secession activity. The 7th Missouri was intended to attract ethnic-Irish support by focusing on the Irish community's "ownership" of the regiment, and make a public political statement by demonstrating that there were Irish Unionists in Missouri.
The regiment was attached to Booneville, Missouri, to September 1861. Fremont's Army of the West to February 1862. Lexington, Missouri, Department of the Missouri
, to July 1862. Unattached, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, Army of the Tennessee
, to September 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tennessee, to November 1862. 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, Left Wing, XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to December 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVII Corps, to April 1864. Maltby's Brigade, District of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to June 1864. 1st Brigade, District of Memphis, Tennessee, XVI Corps, to August 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XIX Corps, Department of the Gulf, to December 1864.
The 7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry ceased to exist on December 17, 1864 when it was consolidated with the 11th Missouri Infantry.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry was organized at St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in June 1861 and mustered in for three years service. It was often referred to as the "Irish Seventh" given the large number of Irish immigrants who were enlisted in its ranks.
The regiment was a special project supported by General Nathaniel Lyon. Most of the volunteers in Missouri's early regiments were German immigrants, and Lyon supported the creation of a regiment recruited from St. Louis' Irish-American population to demonstrate that the Union cause in Missouri had support beyond the German-American community. Many St. Louis Irish (the second largest immigrant community in the city) were ambivalent about the new Republican Party and Federal military action against seceding states. In addition, Irish Americans were strong participants in the pre-war Missouri Volunteer Militia
Missouri State Militia (pre-Missouri State Guard)
The Missouri Volunteer Militia was the state militia organization of Missouri prior to the Missouri State Guard in the American Civil War.Prior to the Civil War, Missouri had an informal state militia that could be called up by the governor for emergencies or annual drill "in accordance with the...
, and many resented the May 10, 1861 Federal arrest of the Militia for suspected secession activity. The 7th Missouri was intended to attract ethnic-Irish support by focusing on the Irish community's "ownership" of the regiment, and make a public political statement by demonstrating that there were Irish Unionists in Missouri.
The regiment was attached to Booneville, Missouri, to September 1861. Fremont's Army of the West to February 1862. Lexington, Missouri, Department of the Missouri
Department of the Missouri
Department of the Missouri was a division of the United States Army that functioned through the American Civil War and the Indian Wars afterwards.-Civil War:...
, to July 1862. Unattached, Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, Army of the Tennessee
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
, to September 1862. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tennessee, to November 1862. 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, Left Wing, XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to December 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVII Corps, to April 1864. Maltby's Brigade, District of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to June 1864. 1st Brigade, District of Memphis, Tennessee, XVI Corps, to August 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XIX Corps, Department of the Gulf, to December 1864.
The 7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry ceased to exist on December 17, 1864 when it was consolidated with the 11th Missouri Infantry.
Detailed service
Moved to Booneville, Mo., July 1-4, 1861, then to Rolla August 30 and to Syracuse, Mo., October 5-10. Fremont's Campaign against Springfield October 21-November 2. Moved to Sedalia November 10-14, then to Otterville December and duty there until February 1862. Expedition to Blue Springs January 20-February 3, 1862 (Companies B, F, and H detached from regiment November 21, 1861, and ordered to Kansas City. Rejoined regiment at Lexington, Mo., February 1862.) Moved to Lexington, Mo., February 3-10, 1862, and duty there until May 9. Reconnaissance from Greenville February 23-24 (Company H). Skirmish at Mingo Creek, near St. Francisville, February 24 (Company H). Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., May 9-14, and guard and fatigue duty there until August 15. Moved to Jackson, Tenn., August 15-29, and duty there until October. Medon Station, Mississippi Central Railroad, August 31. Chewalla and Big Hill October 5. Medon Station October 10. Moved to Corinth with McPherson and to Jackson October 14. To Lagrange November 2. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 2, 1862 to January 10, 1863. At Memphis, Tenn., January 17-February 21. Moved to Lake Providence, La., February 21, and duty there until April. Moved to Milliken's Bend, La., April 12. Passage of Vicksburg batteries April 22 (detachment). Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-39. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Bayou Pierrie May 2. Battles of Raymond May 12. Champion Hill May 16. Big Black River Bridge May 17. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4. Provost duty there until June 1864. Stevenson's Expedition from Vicksburg to Monroe, La., August 20-September 2, 1863. Expedition toward Canton October 14-22. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Expedition from Vicksburg to Sunnyside Landing, Ark., January 10-16, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Clinton February 5. Veterans on furlough March to May. Non-veterans mustered out June 14, 1864. Veterans at Memphis, Tenn., and Vicksburg, Miss., until July 29. Moved to Morganza, La., July 29 and duty there until September 3. Moved to mouth of White River, Ark., September 3-8 and duty there until October 18. Movement to Memphis and return October 18-30. Moved to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., November 9, then to Memphis, Tenn., November 28.Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 186 men during service; 4 officers and 52 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 128 enlisted men died of disease.Commanders
- Colonel John Dunlap StevensonJohn Dunlap StevensonJohn D. Stevenson was an American attorney, politician, and soldier in the U.S. Army in two wars. He was promoted to brevet major general of volunteers at the end of the American Civil War....
- MajorMajor (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
Edwin Wakefield - commanded at the battle of Raymond - Captain Robert Buchanan - commanded at the battle of Champion Hill and during the siege of Vicksburg
- Captain William B. Collins - commanded during the siege of Vicksburg
See also
- Missouri Civil War Union unitsMissouri Civil War Union Units-Long-Enlistment Infantry Regiments:*2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry*3rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry*4th Missouri Volunteer Infantry "Schwarze Jäger"*5th Missouri Volunteer Infantry*6th Missouri Volunteer Infantry*7th Missouri Volunteer Infantry...
- Missouri in the Civil WarMissouri in the Civil WarIn the Civil War, Missouri was a border state that sent men, armies, generals, and supplies to both opposing sides, had its star on both flags, had separate governments representing each side, and endured a neighbor-against-neighbor intrastate war within the larger national war.By the end of the...