7th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry
Encyclopedia
The 7th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
After the fall of Vicksburg, the 7th Illinois Cavalry served with the Third Cavalry Brigade of the XVI Army Corps, headquartered at Memphis, Tennessee. It was camped north of Collierville, Tennessee
, when General Chalmers(CSA) attacked the garrison with 2,500 troops on 11 October 1863. A portion of the troops circled around the north side of the town and attacked the camp of the 7th Illinois Cavalry and routed them, capturing and burning their supplies. The 7th Illinois Cavalry was able to regain their reputation when General Chalmers repeated the attack on Collierville on 3 November 1863. The Confederates were repulsed at this second Battle of Collierville
by the Union Colonel Edward Hatch, while leading the 7th Illinois Cavalry, the 6th Illinois Cavalry, 2nd Iowa Cavalry and the 1st Illinois Light Artillery.
The regiment was mustered out on October 20, 1865.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
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 Illinois Cavalry was mustered into service at Camp Butler, Illinois on October 13, 1861.After the fall of Vicksburg, the 7th Illinois Cavalry served with the Third Cavalry Brigade of the XVI Army Corps, headquartered at Memphis, Tennessee. It was camped north of Collierville, Tennessee
Collierville, Tennessee
Collierville is a town in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and a suburb located in the Memphis metropolitan area. The town had a population of 43,965 at the 2010 census....
, when General Chalmers(CSA) attacked the garrison with 2,500 troops on 11 October 1863. A portion of the troops circled around the north side of the town and attacked the camp of the 7th Illinois Cavalry and routed them, capturing and burning their supplies. The 7th Illinois Cavalry was able to regain their reputation when General Chalmers repeated the attack on Collierville on 3 November 1863. The Confederates were repulsed at this second Battle of Collierville
Battle of Collierville
The Battle of Collierville was a battle of the American Civil War, in Shelby County, Tennessee. Four minor battles occurred in 1863 at Collierville, Tennessee, during a three-month period. The two largest battles occurred on October 11 and November 3, 1863. The battle on October 11 was the...
by the Union Colonel Edward Hatch, while leading the 7th Illinois Cavalry, the 6th Illinois Cavalry, 2nd Iowa Cavalry and the 1st Illinois Light Artillery.
The regiment was mustered out on October 20, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 5 officers and 59 enlisted men who were killed in action or who died of their wounds and 3 officers and 267 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 334 fatalities.Commanders
- Colonel William Pitt Kellogg - resigned June 1, 1862
- Colonel Edward Prince - mustered out October 15, 1864.
- Colonel John M. Graham - mustered out with the regiment.
See also
- List of Illinois Civil War Units
- Illinois in the American Civil WarIllinois in the American Civil WarThe state of Illinois during the American Civil War was a major source of troops for the Union army , and of military supplies, food, and clothing. Situated near major rivers and railroads, Illinois became a major jumping off place early in the war for Ulysses S...
- Battle of ColliervilleBattle of ColliervilleThe Battle of Collierville was a battle of the American Civil War, in Shelby County, Tennessee. Four minor battles occurred in 1863 at Collierville, Tennessee, during a three-month period. The two largest battles occurred on October 11 and November 3, 1863. The battle on October 11 was the...