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 severe and bloody fighting in the Maryland Campaign which produced a combined casualty list 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 Confederatebrigade 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 Badgers would suffer heavily during the battle, out of 370 effective men, 194 would not return after July 3rd. The regiment later served that year in the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns.
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. At The Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia Chippewa/Ojibwa troops of the 7th Wisconsin aided troops of the 6th Wisconsin employing native skirmishing tactics. [1]
The 7th Wisconsin Infantry initially mustered 973 men and later recruited an additional 369 men, for a total of 1,342 men.[2]
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.[3]
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.
Lt. Col. John Benton Callis (March 3, 1863 – June 1863) commanded the regiment when Colonel Robinson was recuperating from wounds. He was shot in the chest at the Battle of Gettysburg and resigned due to disability in December 1863. After the war, he was a U.S. congressman from Alabama.
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
Private Julian C. Lewis of Company B, 7th Regiment - killed in action at the Second Battle of Bull Run
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 for actions at Gettysburg, where he lost his eyes.
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.
Samuel Monteith, brother of John Monteith, was a sergeant in Co. H and was killed at Antietam.
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, and Surgeon General of Wisconsin.
Levi E. Pond was captain of Co. E. After the war he became a Wisconsin legislator.
John Scanlon 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.
^"Service With the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers," Chapter 12, Dawes, Rufus R., Morningside Bookshop, January 1984, p. 265. Wisconsin Historical Society [1]
