7th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry

HISTORICAL NOTES: The One Hundred and Nineteenth Indiana Regiment (7th Indiana Cavalry). This regiment, the 119th of the line, was organized at Indianapolis in the summer of 1863, by authority of the secretary of war, for three years, and was mustered in by companies, the organization being completed Oct. 1. It left the state Dec. 6, reporting at Louisville, and was ordered to Union City, Tenn. On the 14th a detachment, in command of Maj. Beck, moved towards Paris, but finding the enemy's cavalry in heavy force at that point retraced its steps. It was assigned to the 1st brigade (Brig. -Gen. Grierson commanding), 6th division, 16th army corps. It moved with a force on Dec. 24, into Mississippi to cut off Forrest in his retreat from Jackson, Tenn., being in a brisk skirmish with his forces near Paris. It was engaged in a sharp fight at Egypt Station, Miss., and in a severe battle near Okolona, Feb. 22, 1864. The enemy drove the Union forces from the field, but the 7th cavalry held the enemy in check and saved the train after the division had fled. Later, it made a saber charge, saving a battery that had been abandoned, but was compelled to retire, with a loss of 11 killed, 36 wounded and 37 missing. It was complimented by the commanders for its valor. It was stationed near Memphis for some time, engaged in scouting. Moving with Sturgis' forces upon Forrest, the enemy was engaged at Guntown, Miss., in heavy force, a desperate fight ensuing, in which the 7th took part. It was again complimented by Gen. Grierson for having repulsed repeated charges by superior numbers. It was on railroad guard duty near Memphis, being in a fight at La Mavoo, Miss., Aug. 18, and had 7 men killed near Memphis, Oct. 4, by guerrillas. Leaving Memphis in Nov., 1864, it marched with Mower's division through Arkansas in pursuit of Price's forces, proceeding as far as Cape Girardeau, where it took steamers to St. Louis, marching into the interior of Missouri. Returning to Memphis, it took part in an expedition in search of Forrest, surprising his dismounted force at Vernon, capturing the camp and a large quantity of stores, 16 cars loaded with pontoons for Hood's army, and 4,000 new English carbines. On the 28th the enemy was attacked at Egypt Station, his forces captured or dispersed and a train of 14 cars destroyed. The regiment was actively engaged in scouting and on provost duty near Memphis until June, 1865, when it moved to Alexandria, La., and on June 21 was consolidated into six companies. It was ordered to Hempstead, Tex., where, on Oct. 10, Col. Shanks was mustered out for disability and Lieut. -Col. Browne was appointed colonel. The regiment was mustered out Feb. 18, 1866. Original strength, 1,202; gain by recruits, 127; total, 1,392. Loss by death, 243; desertion, 169; unaccounted for, 29.

Dyer state the losses were 1 Officer and 47 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 243 Enlisted men by disease. Total 294.
OFFICERS: Cols., John P. C. Shanks, Thomas M. Browne;
Lieut. -Cols., Thomas M. Browne, Samuel E. W. Simonson;
Majs., Christian Beck, Samuel E. W. Simonson, John C. Febles, James H. Carpenter, John M. Moore.
ASSIGNMENTS: Organized at Indianapolis, Ind., and mustered in October 1, 1863. Left State for Union City, Tenn., December 6, 1863. Attached to District of Columbus, Ky. 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, December, 1863. Waring's Cavalry Brigade, 16th Army corps, to January, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee, to June, 1865. Dept. of Texas to February, 1866.
SERVICE: Expedition to Paris, Tenn., December 14-23, 1863. Action at Huntington, Tenn., December 27. Expedition from Union City to Trenton January 22-24, 1864. Bolivar February 6 (Detachment). Smith's Expedition to Okolona, Miss., February 11-26. West Point February 20-21. Okolona February 21-22. Ivey's Hill February 22. Hudsonville February 25. Regiment complimented by Generals Smith and Grierson for soldierly bearing and conduct during the Expedition. Near Raleigh, Tenn., April 3. Wolf River April 8. Near Raleigh April 9 (Detachment). Cypress Swamp April 10. Sturgis' Expedition to Ripley, Miss., April 30-May 9. Sturgis' Expedition to Guntown, Miss., June 1-13. Ripley June 7. Brice's Cross Roads (or Tishamingo Creek), near Guntown, June 10. Ripley June 11. White's Station June 20 and 26. Byhalia Road, near Colliersville, July 2. Action at Port Gibson, Miss., July 17. Grand Gulf July 19. Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Tallahatchie River August 7-9. Hurricane Creek August 9-13-14 and 19. Oxford August 9 and 11. Lamar August 14. Colliersville August 28. White Station October 4. Near Memphis October 4 (1 Company). Memphis, Tenn., October 20 and 24. Nonconah Creek October 29 (Co. "F"). March through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September-November. Action at Little Blue, Mo., October 21. Independence October 22. Big Blue and State Line October 22. Westport October 23. Mine Creek, Marias Des Cygnes, October 25. At the Marmiton, or Battle of Chariot, October 25. Grierson's Expedition from Memphis to destroy le & Ohio R. R. December 21, 1864, to January 15, 1865. Capture of Verona December 25, 1864. Egypt Station December 28. Lexington January 2, 1865. Duty at Memphis and along Memphis & Charleston R. R. until June, 1865. Expedition from Memphis to Marion, Ark., January 19-22 (Detachment). Expedition from Memphis into Northern Mississippi March 3-11, 1865. Moved to Alexandria, La., June 6-16. Consolidated to 6 Companies July 21. March to Hempstead, Texas, August 5-26. Duty there and at Austin, Texas, until February, 1866. Mustered out at Austin, Texas, February 18, 1866.
ROSTERS: The roster of this unit has the names of 2200 men.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

REFERENCES: REF: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
"The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3