Confederate Regiments & Batteries * Louisiana
The 7th Louisiana Infantry enrolled 1,077 men during the Civil War. Of these, 190 men were killed or died of their wounds, 68 died of disease, 2 were killed in accidents, 1 was murdered and 1 executed. Fifty three were known to have deserted and 57 took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
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1861
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| May | Organized at Camp Moore from men from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville and Livingston. |
| June 5 | Mustered in at Camp Moore with 944 men under the command of Colonel Harry T. Hays, Lieutenant Colonel Charles DeChoiseul and Major Davidson B. PennCompany A – “Continental Guards” – Captain G. Clark Company B – “Baton Rouge Fencibles” – Captain A.S. Herron Company C – “Sarsfield Rangers” – Captain C.M. Wilson Company D – “Virginia Guards” – Captain R.B. Scott Company E – “Crescent Rifles Company C” – Captain S.H. Gilman Company F – “Irish Volunteers” – Captain W.B. Ratliff Company G – “American Rifles, Company A” – Captain W.D. Rickarby Company H – “Crescent Rifles, Company B” – Captain H.T. Jett Company I – “Virginia Blues” – Captain D.A. Wilson Company K – “Livingston Rifles” – Captain T.M. Terry |
| June | Moved to Lynchburg, mustering over 850 men. |
| June 22-23 | Companies A-E under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles DeChoiseul moved from Lynchburg to Maassas Junction on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. Assigned to the Brigadier General Jubal Early’s Brigade at Camp Pickens. |
| July 18 |
Blackburn’s FordTwo men were killed and to were wounded. |
| July 21 |
First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run)The regiment was temporarily assigned to Longstreet’s Brigade and was posted on Chinn Ridge. It participated in the pursuit of the Federal army towards Poplar Ford. In the evening it was stationed a mile northwest of the Stone Bridge over Bull Run at the Carter farm, Pitsylvania, soon known as Camp Hays. The regiment lost 3 men killed and 20 or 23 men wounded. |
| July | Assigned to Walker’s Brigade, 1st (Provisional) Corps, Army of the Potomac. Lieutenant Colonel DeChoiseul took temporary command of Wheat’s Special Battalion while Colonel Wheat recovered from his wound at Manassas. |
| July 25 | The regiment was brigaded under Colonel I.G. Seymour, senior colonel of the Brigade, with the 6th, 8th and 9th Louisiana Infantry Regiments and Wheat’s Battalion. |
| September 29-October 1 | Reconnaissance to Great Falls. |
| October 21 | The regiment was brigaded in the Eighth Brigade of the Army of the Potomac under Brigadier General Taylor with the 6th, 8th and 9th Louisiana Infantry Regiments and Wheat’s Battalion as the First Louisiana Brigade and was assigned to Ewell’s Division. |
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1862
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| May |
Shenandoah Valley CampaignAttached to Taylor’s Louisiana Brigade of Ewell’s Division, which joined Jackson’s Army of the Valley in the Shenandoah. |
| May 7 | Somerville Heights (detachment) |
| May 23 |
Battle of Front RoyalThe regiment was in reserve and suffered only two men wounded |
| May 24 | Middletown |
| May 25 |
First Battle of Winchester |
| June 1 | Mount Caramel |
| June 8-9 |
Battles of Cross Keys and Port RepublicThe regiment lost 132 men, nearly 50% of those engaged, charging a battery supported by the 7th Ohio Infantry. Colonel Hays was badly wounded and Lt. Colonel DeChoisul was mortally wounded. |
| June 19 | Lieutenant Colonel DeChoisel died from his Port Republic wound in Richmond. Major Penn was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Captain Thomas M. Terry of Company K was promoted to major. |
| June 25 – July 1 |
Seven Days BattlesThe 7th Louisiana lost 68 men. |
| July 25 | Colonel Hays was promoted to brigadier general and given permanent command of the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Penn was promoted to colonel and Major Terry was promoted to lieutenant colonel. |
| June 27 |
Battle of Gaines’ Mill |
| July 1 |
Battle of Malvern Hill |
| August 9 |
Battle of Cedar Mountain |
| August 26 | Bristoe Station |
| August 27 | Ketle Run |
| August 28-30 |
Second Battle of Manassas |
| September 1 |
Battle of Chantilly |
| September |
Maryland CampaignThe regiment lost 69 men in the campaign. |
| September 12-15 |
Siege and Capture of Harpers Ferry |
| September 17 |
Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam)Commanded by Colonel Penn, who was wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Terry took over the regiment, which suffered 69 casualties. |
| December 13 |
Battle of FredericksburgThe regiment was in reserve near Hamilton’s Crossing. |
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1863
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| May 1-4 |
Battle of Chancellorsville |
| May 3 |
Marye’s HeightsThe regiment lost 80 men. Colonel Penn and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Terry were captured. |
| June 14-15 |
Second Battle of WinchesterHay’s Brigade circled around the west side of Winchester and assaulted the Star Fort on the northwest side of town. The 6th, 7th and 9th were in the front line with the 5th and 8th in support as the brigade stormed the fort, capturing its artillery and driving off the defenders. The 7th Louisiana lost 24 men. Captain J. Moore Wilson was wounded and Lieutenant Vitrivius P. Terry (brother of Lt. Colonel Terry) was mortally wounded. |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgThe regiment was commanded by Colonel David B. Penn and brought 235 men to the field. It lost 13 men killed, 40 wounded and 5 captured, mostly in the assault on Cemetery Hill on the evening of the second day. Lieutenant W.P. Talbot was killed on July 2. From the monument to Hays’s Brigade at Gettysburg: July 1. Advancing at 3 P. M. with Hoke’s Brigade flanked Eleventh Corps aided in taking two guns pursued retreating Union troops into town capturing many and late in evening halting on East High St. July 2. Moved forward early into the low ground here with its right flank resting on Baltimore St. and skirmished all day. Enfiladed by artillery and exposed to musketry fire in front it pushed forward over all obstacles scaled the hill and planted its colors on the lunettes capturing several guns. Assailed by fresh troops and with no supports it was forced to retire but brought off 75 prisoners and 4 stands of colors. July 3. Occupied a position on High St. in town. July 4. At 2 A. M. moved to Seminary Ridge. After midnight began the march to Hagerstown. |
| November 7 |
Battle of Rappahannock StationThe regiment was part of two brigades defending a bridgehead on the north bank of the Rappahannock River that was overrun in a rare night attack. Over 1,600 Confederate prisoners were taken from the eight understrength regiments defending the bridgehead, with only a few men swimming across the river at their backs. Of the 1200 men of Hays’ Louisiana Brigade, 699 were captured, with 180 captured from the 7th Louisiana. Colonel Penn was captured, and Major J. Moore Wilson took command of the regiment. |
| Late November | The Louisiana Brigade was so reduced by casualties that the 5th, 6th, and 7th Louisiana Infantry Regiments were consolidated into a single company. |
| November-December |
Mine Run Campaign |
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1864
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| March | 500 of the 699 men from the brigade captured at Rappahannock Station were exchanged and returned to duty |
| May 5-6 |
Battle of the Wilderness |
| May 8-21 |
Battle of Spotsylvania Court HouseMajor Wilson was taken prisoner |
| June 1-3 |
Battle of Cold Harbor |
| June | Lynchburg Campaign |
| June -October |
Early’s Shenandoah Valley CampaignAssigned to Hays’ Brigade (Colonel William R. Peck commanding) of Brigadier General Zebulon York’s Consolidated Louisiana Brigade in Gordon’s Division of the Army of the Valley |
| July 9 |
Battle of MonocacyCommanded by Lt. Colonel Thomas M. Terry |
| July 24 |
Second Battle of Kernstown |
| August 25 | Shepherdstown |
| September 19 |
Third Battle of Winchester |
| September 21-22 |
Battle of Fisher’s Hill |
| October 19 |
Battle of Cedar Creek |
| October | The ten regiments of the Louisiana brigade were reorganized as a battalion of six companies with less than 500 men, although it would continue to be referred to as a brigade. Colonel Raine Peck (at 6’3″ and 300 pounds known as “Big Peck”) was given command of the brigade. |
| December | The regiment left the Army of the Valley and returned to the Petersburg defences with the remnants of the Second Corps |
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1865
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| January-March |
Siege of Petersburg |
| February 5-7 |
Battle of Hatcher’s Run |
| February 18 | Colonel Peck was promoted to brigadier general and transferred to the Western Theater. Colonel Eugene Waggaman of the 10th Louisiana was given command of the brigade of 400 men |
| March 25 |
Battle of Fort Stedman |
| April 2 |
Final Assault on Petersburg |
| April 6 |
Battle of Sayler’s Creek |
| April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseThe 7th Louisiana Infantry surrendered 42 enlisted men. There were no officers. The entire brigade only had 373 men. |