Country United States Branch Cavalry | Allegiance Union | |
Active October 13, 1861 to October 20, 1865 Engagements Siege of Corinth
Battle of Nashville | ||
The 7th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Contents
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, 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.
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.