The regiment was created in response to Battle of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to serve for 3 months (the longest time allowed by the Constitution without Congressional approval). At the very beginning of the war the only place for Illinoisans to enlist was the state capital at Springfield. Because of this the majority of recruits were from Sangamon County. This included several militia companies that were already uniformed and partially trained; notably the "Springfield Grays" which made up Company I. The recruits were organized at Camp Yates on the outskirts of Springfield and mustered into Federal service by Captain John Pope on April 25, 1861, for 90-days service. Camp Yates was located at the old Illinois State Fairgrounds site (currently the site of Dubois Elementary School). Throughout their training the men lived in the state fair's stables, which provided considerable comfort and relief from the elements. Despite being the first troops raised in Illinois, the regiment was numbered the 7th Illinois, paying homage to the six Illinois infantry volunteer regiments that were raised to fight in the Mexican–American War fourteen years earlier. During their service part of the regiment wore gray zouave uniforms with orange piping.[2]
Departing Camp Yates in May 1861, they went on duty at Alton, Cairo, and Mound City, Illinois, and then at St. Louis, Missouri, until July, 1861. Companies "E" and "G" formed part of an expedition from Cairo to the Little River in Missouri on June 22 and 23.
The regiment mustered out of service on July 9, 1865.
Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties
Organizational affiliation
The three-month 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Yates, IL and served in the Department of the Missouri.[4] The three-year 7th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized at Cairo, IL and served with the following organizations:[4]
District of Cairo to October, 1861
Cook's 4th Brigade, District of Cairo, to February, 1862
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee (AoT), to July, 1862
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Corinth (DoC), Department of the Tennessee (DoT), to November, 1862
3rd Brigade, DoC, Left Wing, XIII Corps (Old), DoT, to December, 1862
3rd Brigade, DoC, XVII Corps, AoT, to January, 1863
3rd Brigade, DoC, XVI Corps, AoT to March, 1863
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XVI Corps, AoT to September, 1864
3rd Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps, AoT to July, 1865.
Battles
The 7th Illinois fought in the following battles:[4]
The regiment's detailed service and locations are as follows:[4]
1861
Duty at Alton, Cairo, Mound City, IL, and St. Louis, MO, till July - 3 mos. regt.
Expedition from Cairo to Little River June 22-23 (Cos. "E" and "G") - 3 mos. regt.
Mustered out July 25, 1861, expiration of term - 3 mos. regt.
Moved to Ironton, Mo., thence to Cape Girardeau, Mo., August 23, 1861 - 3 yr. regt. from here
Duty there and at Fort Holt, KY, till February, 1862
Expedition toward Columbus, KY, September 21-22, 1861
Skirmish at Mansfield's Creek September 22
Expedition to Elliott's Mills during Belmont November 6-7.
1862
Reconnoissance of Columbus, KY, January 13-20
Movements against Fort Henry, TN, February 2-6
Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, TN, February 12-16
Expedition to Clarksville and Nashville, TN, February 19-21
Moved to Pittsburg Landing, TN, arriving there March 22
Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7
Advance on and siege of Corinth, MS, April 29-May 30
Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 11
Duty at Corinth, Miss., till October
Battle of Corinth October 3-4
Pursuit to Hatchie River October 5-12
Duty at Corinth till April, 1863
Dodge's Expedition to intercept Forest, and operations in West Tennessee, December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863
1863
Dodge's Expedition to Northern Alabama April 15-May 8
Iuka, MS, April 16
Great Bear Creek, Cherokee Station and Lundy's Lane April 17
Rock Cut, near Tuscumbia, April 22
Tuscumbia April 23
Town Creek April 28
Guard Railroad from Bethel to Jackson, TN, May 12 to June 8
Regiment mounted June 18
Engaged in scout and patrol duty through West Tennessee till October, participating in numerous expeditions and skirmishes
Expedition from Corinth to Henderson, TN, September 11-16
Skirmish at Clark's Creek Church September 13
Henderson's Station September 14
Expedition into West Tennessee September 27-October 1
Swallow's Bluff September 30
At Chewalla October 4-26
Moved to Iuka October 26
Thence marched to Pulaski, TN, November 1-12
Scout to Lawrenceburg November 17-19
Scout duty around Pulaski till December 22
Skirmishes near Florence December 1
Near Eastport December 2
Scout to Florence December 11-17
Shoal Creek, near Wayland Springs, December 12
Regiment Veteranize December 22 and mustered in as Veterans January 5, 1864
1864
Veterans on furlough January and February, 1864
Return to Pulaski February 23-27
Duty at Florence, AL
Patrolling Tennessee River till June
At Florence, Sweetwater and Centre Store till June 14
Repulse of Roddy's attack on Florence May 7
Decatur May 8
Pulaski May 13
Regiment dismounted and moved to Chattanooga, TN, June 14-17
Thence to Tilton, GA
Patrol Railroad from Dalton to Resaca, GA, till July 7
Moved to Rome, GA, July 7
Duty at Rome till October. (Non-Veterans mustered out July 29, 1864.)
Action at Etowah River September 15
Operations against Hood September 29-November 3
Defence of Allatoona Pass October 4-5
Reconnoissance from Rome on Cave Springs Road and skirmishes October 12-13
March to the sea November 15-December 10
Regiment remounted November 21
Ogeechee Canal December 9
Siege of Savannah December 10-21
Hinesville December 16
1865
Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865
Hickory Hill, SC, February 1
Salkehatchie Swamps February 2-5
Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Salkehatchie, February 6
South Edisto River February 9
North Edisto River February 11-12
Columbia February 15-17
Lynch's Creek February 26
Cheraw March 2-3
Expedition from Cheraw to Florence and skirmishes March 4-6
Battle of Bentonville, NC, March 19-21
Occupation of Goldsborough, March 24
Occupation of Raleigh April 14
Bennett's House April 26
Surrender of Johnston and his army
March to Washington, DC, via Richmond, VA, April 29-May 19
Grand Review May 24
Moved to Louisville, KY, June, and duty there till July
Mustered out July 9, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 8 officers and 81 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 3 officers and 174 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 266 fatalities.[5]
Commanders
Colonel John Pope Cook - Promoted to brigadier general March 21, 1862.
Colonel Andrew J. Babcock - resigned February 1865.
Ambrose, D. Leib (1868). "History of the Seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, From its First Muster into the U.S. Service, April 25, 1861, to its Final Muster out, July 9th, 1865." Springfield, IL. Illinois Journal Company.
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