7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The companies of the Seventh were recruited in different parts of the state, upon recruitment, the Regiment was mustered into U.S. service, Aug. 22, 1861, at Monroe. It was composed of the "Union Guard" of Port Huron, the "Curtenius Guard" of Mason, the "Jonesville Light Guard" of Jonesville, the "Monroe Light Guard" of Monroe, the "Tuscola Volunteers" of Tuscola, the "Blair Guards" of Farmington, the "Lapeer Guards" of Lapeer, one company from Pontiac, the "Prairieville Rangers" of Prairieville and the "Burr Oak Rangers" from Burr Oak.

The Seventh left Monroe Sept. 5, 1861, with 884 officers and enlisted men, under the command of Colonel Ira B. Grosvenor, then set out to join the Army of the Potomac. The next month after its arrival at the front, the Regiment took part in the battle of Ball's Bluff.

In the spring of 1862 the Regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Corp, under the overall command of McClellan in the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. It fought gallantly at Yorktown, Fair Oak, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, Malvern Hill, and Manassas. The Regiment was complimented on numerous occasions by commanding Generals during this campaign for its steadiness under fire,its gallantry in action and its stubborn resistance when confronting the Confederate Forces. Though its losses were severe the ardor of the men never failed to respond to the orders of their officers under the most trying of circumstances.

Colonel Norman J. Hall was commissioned to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Colonel Grosvenor, assuming command in July. He led the Regiment at the battle of Antietam, where its ranks were decimated by nearly one half, among which those lost, were a large number of fearless line officers.

The Seventh gained an enviable reputation at Fredericksburg in Dec., 1862 when it volunteered to cross the Rappahannock River in pontoon boats, under the fire of opposing sharpshooters, to drive the Confederate skirmishers from their cover behind walls, rifle pits, and stone buildings, who had by their well directed fire stopped the engineers from laying a pontoon bridge so the army of General Burnside could cross. Many were killed and wounded while crossing in the boats, among the latter being Colonel Baxter; but, they pushed on until the opposite bank was reached, where they charged the Confederate's, driving them from cover, capturing a large number of prisoners.

The Seventh entered the Pennsylvania Campaign in 1863 with the Army of the Potomac, and by long and forced marches reached Gettysburg on the 2nd of July, being assigned to a position on Cemetery Ridge, where it remained until the close of battle on the 3rd of July. The Regiment took 14 officers and 151 men into action. Following the two days of fighting they lost 21 killed and 44 wounded, an eloquent eulogy upon the heroism of this regiment. The Seventh joined in the pursuit of the Confederate army upon its retreat into Virginia. Then on Aug. 20th sailed from Alexandria, Va., to New York, to remain during the progress of the draft riots, which were causing turbulent times there. The following October it was again with the Army of the Potomac, fighting a spirited battle at Bristo Station. The Regiment was on active duty, marching, fighting and building earth works until December, when 162 of its members re-enlisted, returning to Monroe on January 2, 1864, where it was furloughed for 30 days.

It reassembled again at the end of 30 days, then returned to its old camp at Barry's Hill.

In May the regiment started on the long campaign which finally ended in the Seige of Petersburg and the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomatox Court House.

It was part of the famous Second Corp, and crossed the Rapidan River at Ely's Ford on the 4th, then shortly afterwards engaged with the Confederates at the fearful battle of the Wilderness. Every day of this march was written in the blood of the Seventh. It fought at Spottsylvania, where it assaulted the Confederate works with great loss. It took part in the series of engagements following Spottsylvania and was in the disastrous charge at Cold Harbor.

The regiment crossed the James River and arrived before Petersburg on the 15th, where it assisted in building fortifications, performing its share of picket duty until the end of July. While in front of Petersburg it took part in the numerous actions in the vicinity, engaging the opposing forces at Deep Bottom, Reams Station, Hatcher's Run and Boynton Plank Road.

When General Grant commenced his famous flanking movement around Petersburg the Seventh took a conspicuous part, moving to High Bridge and Farmville. It was still on the march April 9, 1865, when General Lee Surrendered at Appomatox Court House. After the surrender the Seventh marched to Burkville, then to Richmond, and finally to Washington, where it took part in the Grand Review.

June 6th the Regiment was ordered to report to General Logan at Louisville, Kentucky arriving in that city on the 22nd. July 5th it was mustered out of service, returning to Jackson, Mich., where it was paid off and disbanded.

During their term of Federal service they were engaged at:

Ball's Bluff, Va.	Yorktown, Va.	West Point, Va.
Fair Oaks, Va.	Peach Orchard, Va.	Savage Station, Va.
White Oak Swamp, Va.	Glendale, Va.	Malvern Hill, Va.
2nd Bull Run, Va.	South Mountain, Md.	Antietam, Md.
Fredericksburg, Va.	Chancellorsville, Va.	Haymarket, Va.
Gettysburg, Pa.	Falling Waters, Md.	Bristo Station, Va.
Roberts Tavern, Va.	Mine Run, Va.	Wilderness, Va.
Po River, Va.	Spottsylvania, Va.	North Anna, Va.
Tolopotomy, Va.	Cold Harbor, Va.	Petersburg, Va.
Deep Bottom, Va.	Strawberry Plains Va.	Reams's Station, Va.
Boydton Road, Va.	Hatcher's Run, Va.	Cat Tail Creek, Va.
Seige of Petersburg Va.	Farmville, Va.

ORGANIZATION

Organized at Monroe, Mich., and mustered in August 22, 1861.
Left State for Washington, D.C., September 5.
Attached to Lander's Brigade, Stone's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1863.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac to July, 1865.

1861-1865

Total Enrollment	1375
Killed in Action	127
Died of Wounds	56
Died in Confederate Prisons	17
Died of Disease	147
Discharged from Wounds	344
Total Casualty Rate	50.2%

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Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2391 men. Bibliography for Research:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

U. S. Government Printing Office. Official Records of the American Civil War Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

Clark, James S. 'General Lyon and the Fight for Missouri.' In War Sketches and Incidents (MOLLUS, IA, Vol. 2). Des Moines, IA: Kenyon, 1897. pp. 274-92 (10 photocopied pages). E464M5.1991v56.

Michigan. Legislature. Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865. 46 vols. Kalamazoo: Everard, 1903. Minnesota.

Minnesota Adjutant General's Report of 1866. Roseville: Park Genealogical Books, 1997. Ingersoll, Lurton D. Iowa and the Rebellion.... Phila: Lippincott, 1867. E507I47. Brief Regimental Histories

Iowa. AGO. Roster and Records of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion Together With Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations, 1861-1865. Vol. 1. Des Moines, IA: E.H. English, 1908. UA43I82v1.

Ritner, Jacob B. Love and Valor: The Intimate Civil War Letters Between Captain Jacob and Emeline Ritner. [Ed by Charles F. Larimer] Western Springs, IL: Signourney, 2000. 453 p. E507.5.1st.L68.

Stuart, Addison. Iowa Colonels and Regiments.... Des Moines, IA: Mills, 1865. E507S92.

Wilkie, Franc B. Pen and Powder. Boston: Ticknor, 1888. 383 p. E601W69.